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Rain pattered on the sidewalk, the clouds above dreary and gray as raindrops fell to the Earth.
Claire giggled as the droplets splashed her nose and cheeks, enjoying the feel of the cool wetness on her face.
She'd always liked the rain. When it rained when they were home, Mommy would make hot chocolate and they'd curl up in her bed and watch a movie, just the two of them. She'd always snuggle up to Mommy and fall asleep before it was over, but that was her favorite part.
Today, though, they'd been at the park enjoying a picnic Mommy had packed when the sun suddenly went away and rain poured down as if someone had dumped a bucket of water over the Earth.
Mommy had said a bad word before quickly turning to Claire and telling her not to repeat it. They'd had to put their leftovers back in the basket and pick up their blanket before it got soaked.
The rain made Mommy upset, saying it had ruined their picnic. But Claire thought it made it even better.
Already puddles were forming on the sidewalk, their reflective surfaces rippling as raindrops fell into them. She could practically hear them calling her name, begging her to jump into them.
She tugged on Mommy's hand, pulling her closer to the little pools of water.
"Claire," Mommy said tiredly above her. "What are you doing? We need to go home before the storm gets too bad."
"But Mommy," Claire whined, "I want to jump in the puddles!"
"No, Claire. We need to get home. Besides, you'll get your new shoes dirty."
"Mommy, please."
"You'll catch a cold."
"I won't! I promise! Please!" She begged. She had to jump in those puddles. They were just right for splashing; large and deep. She wanted to feel chilly spray of water against her legs, feel the blessed sensation of rain splattering her like paint.
Annoyance began to creep onto Mommy's face, her grip on Claire's hand tightening.
Claire whimpered and tried to pull away, but Mommy wouldn't let go. "Come one sweetie. Maybe another day, but I don't want to be out here in the rain. We didn't even bring an umbrella."
"But I want to do it now!" Claire snapped. Why didn't Mommy understand?
"Do not take that tone with me Claire Elizabeth. We're going home. That's final."
Claire couldn't help it as tears welled in her eyes and her lips trembled. All she wanted was to jump in the puddles. Why wouldn't Mommy just let her do it?
Mommy sighed, "Honey, please don't--"
Claire started crying, pulling away from Mommy and leaning towards the puddles.
"I want to splash them!" she sobbed, slapping at Mommy's hand so she'd let go.
"Stop it," Mommy said. Claire cried harder.
Mommy sighed, stopping and turning to face Claire. She bit her lip, looking like she didn't like what she was about to say.
"Mommy, please," Claire whimpered.
"I heard a rumor, that you didn't want to jump in puddles and wanted go home."
Claire's eyes glazed over as the command took effect.
She stopped crying, no longer pulling away from Mommy or slapping at her arm.
"I want to go home," she whined, shivering as rain soaked her to the bone.
Mommy smiled, "I know sweetie. Let's go."
☔️☂️☔️☂️☔️☂️☔️☂️
A couple years later, rain splashes against the sidewalk, a steady beat against the windows of the little house.
Inside, Allison Chestnut is thinking about her daughter and her love of rain, how she'd always beg to go splash in the puddles. How Allison told her no, rumoring her to listen.
She'd give anything to splash in puddles with her now, anything for just one more moment with her precious daughter.
She wishes she could back (forwards?) in time and stop herself, tell her to stop worrying about the rain messing up her make-up and clothes and instead go splash around in the rain with her daughter. To enjoy every second of time they get to spend together, beside too soon that time will run out and she'll cry herself to sleep every night, wishing desperately to hold her daughter again, even if only for a second.
Ray looks over from where he's cooking dinner on the stove, seeing the saddened expression on his wife's face. "What's going on in that beautiful head of yours, baby?"
"I was just thinking," she said. "Do you want to go splash in the puddles?"
"What?" he asked, taken back.
"Do you want to go outside and jump in the puddles?" she asked again. "Didn't you do that when you were a kid?"
"Well, yes, but I was a kid."
"But why is it different now?"
"I guess I just haven't wanted to since then."
"I think I want to."
Ray glanced down at the pot of chili he was making on the stove. It was nearly done; it just needed to simmer for a few minutes. He supposed he could leave it here.
He glanced back at Allison, who was glancing at him nervously, waiting for his response. In truth, he found it a bit odd. But everything about his Allison was odd, in the best kind of way.
If she wanted to jump in puddles, then he'd gladly do so with her.
He smiled at her, wondering how he'd been lucky enough to meet someone as special as her. "I'll get the umbrella."
And so, the Chestnut's jumped in puddles on the sidewalk just outside their house, water splashing their legs as laughter filled their ears.
One did it to make the wife he loved happy.
The other did it in the memory of a little girl who loved the rain, but was no longer there to see it.