Katherine Nicolai

watching the surface of the water ripple and shimmer as it came down. I remembered swimming in the rain as a kid, on days that had started out as hot and sunny, when a sudden shift of clouds would block out the bright day and raindrops fell all around me.

watching the surface of the water ripple and shimmer as it came down. I remembered swimming in the rain as a kid, on days that had started out as hot and sunny, when a sudden shift of clouds would block out the bright day and raindrops fell all around me.

watching the surface of the water ripple and shimmer as it came down. I remembered swimming in the rain as a kid, on days that had started out as hot and sunny, when a sudden shift of clouds would block out the bright day and raindrops fell all around me.

One summer we'd had a little inflatable boat just big enough for me and my friend from down the street to fit into. We'd paddle around in the shallow water, pretending to be explorers, adventurers, discovering unknown species of fish and fowl. On days that the rain came, we'd bail out of the boat and flip it over,

One summer we'd had a little inflatable boat just big enough for me and my friend from down the street to fit into. We'd paddle around in the shallow water, pretending to be explorers, adventurers, discovering unknown species of fish and fowl. On days that the rain came, we'd bail out of the boat and flip it over,

One summer we'd had a little inflatable boat just big enough for me and my friend from down the street to fit into. We'd paddle around in the shallow water, pretending to be explorers, adventurers, discovering unknown species of fish and fowl. On days that the rain came, we'd bail out of the boat and flip it over,

and swim under it, our heads poking up into the bubble of air trapped beneath the inverted seats. Our voices echoed funnily in the small space, and we'd been full of jokes that only made sense to us. The sound of rain on the keel made me feel cozy and safe, even while we stood chest deep in the water.

and swim under it, our heads poking up into the bubble of air trapped beneath the inverted seats. Our voices echoed funnily in the small space, and we'd been full of jokes that only made sense to us. The sound of rain on the keel made me feel cozy and safe, even while we stood chest deep in the water.

and swim under it, our heads poking up into the bubble of air trapped beneath the inverted seats. Our voices echoed funnily in the small space, and we'd been full of jokes that only made sense to us. The sound of rain on the keel made me feel cozy and safe, even while we stood chest deep in the water.

At some point a parent would begin beckoning us out of the lake, telling us to come wrap up in a towel wait for the rain to pass over. But by then, the water felt warmer than the air, and we'd stall and weasel a few more minutes into the deal. If the weather changed quickly, a rainbow might spread across the sky.

At some point a parent would begin beckoning us out of the lake, telling us to come wrap up in a towel wait for the rain to pass over. But by then, the water felt warmer than the air, and we'd stall and weasel a few more minutes into the deal. If the weather changed quickly, a rainbow might spread across the sky.

At some point a parent would begin beckoning us out of the lake, telling us to come wrap up in a towel wait for the rain to pass over. But by then, the water felt warmer than the air, and we'd stall and weasel a few more minutes into the deal. If the weather changed quickly, a rainbow might spread across the sky.

something that had seemed so much like magic.

something that had seemed so much like magic.

something that had seemed so much like magic.

I'd stare at it with a bit of skepticism, as if it were a joke that would be revealed as such at some point. All of these thoughts had passed through my head, In just a few seconds, as I watched the rain fall on the lake, I found I wanted to get closer, to feel the air, to smell the lake as the drops came down. And I stepped out onto the back porch in my slippers.

I'd stare at it with a bit of skepticism, as if it were a joke that would be revealed as such at some point. All of these thoughts had passed through my head, In just a few seconds, as I watched the rain fall on the lake, I found I wanted to get closer, to feel the air, to smell the lake as the drops came down. And I stepped out onto the back porch in my slippers.

I'd stare at it with a bit of skepticism, as if it were a joke that would be revealed as such at some point. All of these thoughts had passed through my head, In just a few seconds, as I watched the rain fall on the lake, I found I wanted to get closer, to feel the air, to smell the lake as the drops came down. And I stepped out onto the back porch in my slippers.

It was screened in and had just recently had its spring cleaning. The wicker chairs and tables were wiped down and the cushions laundered and plumped. I realized I still held the photo on cloth from my dusting.

It was screened in and had just recently had its spring cleaning. The wicker chairs and tables were wiped down and the cushions laundered and plumped. I realized I still held the photo on cloth from my dusting.