Maggie's Rain...A Short Story

 

 Weekly Writing Prompt

This morning I realized I missed last week's weekly writing prompt. It made me sad. I guess Christmas things caused me not to remember the prompt.

But today I noticed that another week will be added to the prompt (maybe other writers had Christmas things make them forget too...). That made me happy. So, here's this week's (and last week's...) entry.

If you're unfamiliar with the writing prompt, here's the rules: 

1) There will be one photo, and five words - both of those elements must be a feature in the brief story you create. 2) There is also a 500 word maximum. 3) You have until the next Wednesday to create your post. 4) When you have finished your post, link up at the following sites: Carrie's Site, Nicole's Site, or Tena's Site and post your story there. 5) We were going to tell you to not take this too seriously, but reconsidered it because we know full well that asking writers to write something means that they will take it seriously. So, take it seriously, but don't fret/panic/pass out/hyperventilate/lose sleep/run in fear over it.

 

This week's mandatory words:

 

lobster

remote control

luggage

ears

exam

 

Hope you like it!

 

Maggie's Rain

 

"Maggie always loved the rain," my daughter said as she watched the rain gently fall from the safety of our front room. I knew she was hurting, the rain being the latest reminder that her best friend, Maggie, a girl the same age as my daughter, moved from from the house next door two weeks earlier. 

"Yeah, she did," I said to her, trying as a father to offer comfort. She had been so sad for so long. Last week it was a dog wandering the area that reminded my daughter of her friend...today, it was the rain. "You know, Maggie only lives a couple hours away. I'll bet it's raining where she is."

My daughter looked up at me with sad eyes. "Daddy, I want to go outside. Can I go play in the rain?"

"Uh..."She saw the confusion on my face. "You want to play outside...like, jump around in the puddles?"

"No, just stand outside and watch the rain fall. That's all."

"Sure," I said. "But, you'll need an umbrella if you're going to go outside."

"Where's the yellow umbrella with red polka dots that Maggie gave me? I wanna use that."

"Gee, honey. I don't know," I answered honestly. I vaguely remember stowing it somewhere in the garage. "You go get on your red boots while I try to find the umbrella."

"You mean my lobster feet?" my daughter said using the term she made up for her favorite pair of shoes. "Yes, your lobster feet."

I entered the garage hoping my hunch was right. Let's see...where did I put that umbrella? I looked behind some garden tools, a set of luggage, my son's seldom-used skateboard, even a remote control we lost last year. Too bad I spent $20 on that universal remote to replace it.

"Daddy! I'm ready! Did you find Maggie's umbrella?" 

"Not yet," I said.

"Dad..." I looked at my precious daughter. She stood before me with her arms folded over her chest, staring at me as if I had failed some child exam she were giving. "Honey, I'm looking for it. I just can't remember where I put it. Do you think you could help me look?"

"There it is!" she yelled as she pointed to a corner of the garage where I was sure I had just checked. "You're right--it's right there." I walked to the corner, pushed past a rake and a shovel and brought out the yellow umbrella with the red polka dots.

"Here you go," I said as I handed the umbrella to my excited daughter who had to stop jumping up and down in order to it from my hands. 

 

"You ready?"

"Yes!" 

"Then go--have fun." My daughter ran outside and quickly opened up the treasured gift. Once outside, standing in the light rain, my daughter began laughing, laughing the way she did when she and Maggie played together. Her laughter was music to my ears.

Word Count: 490