Katherine Nicolai

and velvety green yards and bluebirds. But when I heard the rain falling on the roof this afternoon and felt the clouds closing in, I softened, relaxing in a way I hadn't lately. I'd been pottering around the house, following one small chore to another. A sweater laid over the back of a dining room chair led me up to the closet, where I'd started to sort through a jewelry box.

I'd found a broken brooch and a watch in need of a new battery. they'd led me back downstairs to stash them in my purse in the hopes I'd remember to take them to the repair shop on my next trip into town. In the kitchen, I tipped the dregs of the last pot of coffee down the drain and rinsed the carafe

I'd found a broken brooch and a watch in need of a new battery. they'd led me back downstairs to stash them in my purse in the hopes I'd remember to take them to the repair shop on my next trip into town. In the kitchen, I tipped the dregs of the last pot of coffee down the drain and rinsed the carafe

I'd found a broken brooch and a watch in need of a new battery. they'd led me back downstairs to stash them in my purse in the hopes I'd remember to take them to the repair shop on my next trip into town. In the kitchen, I tipped the dregs of the last pot of coffee down the drain and rinsed the carafe

then wandered into the living room with a dust cloth to wipe down the bookshelf and framed photos on the mantle. That's when the light began to change and the rain sounded on the roof. I walked over to the window with a frame and a cloth still in hand and looked down toward the lake.

then wandered into the living room with a dust cloth to wipe down the bookshelf and framed photos on the mantle. That's when the light began to change and the rain sounded on the roof. I walked over to the window with a frame and a cloth still in hand and looked down toward the lake.

then wandered into the living room with a dust cloth to wipe down the bookshelf and framed photos on the mantle. That's when the light began to change and the rain sounded on the roof. I walked over to the window with a frame and a cloth still in hand and looked down toward the lake.

The bright colors of spring were shaded over by thick clouds, but rather than dimming my mood, it felt like a relief, like a cool cloth over tired eyes. More than a sprinkle, not quite a storm. A solid shower was spreading over the lake, and I became mesmerized, watching the surface of the water ripple and shimmer as it came down.

The bright colors of spring were shaded over by thick clouds, but rather than dimming my mood, it felt like a relief, like a cool cloth over tired eyes. More than a sprinkle, not quite a storm. A solid shower was spreading over the lake, and I became mesmerized, watching the surface of the water ripple and shimmer as it came down.

The bright colors of spring were shaded over by thick clouds, but rather than dimming my mood, it felt like a relief, like a cool cloth over tired eyes. More than a sprinkle, not quite a storm. A solid shower was spreading over the lake, and I became mesmerized, 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 when 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.

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 when 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.

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 when 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.

We'd paddle around in the shallow water, pretending to be explorers, adventurers discovering unknown species of fish and fowl.

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.

On days that the rain came, we'd bail out of the boat and flip it over.

On days that the rain came, we'd bail out of the boat and flip it over.

We'd swim under it, our heads poking up into the bubble of air trapped beneath the inverted seats.