Thick.  Dark.  The clouds hung heavily over the dry field.  The parched grass crunched softly beneath her feet as she stood.  Waiting.  She could feel it coming, the soft breeze that twisted around her bare ankles, sliding gently up her legs, enticing, pulling. Stronger, stronger the rustling grass whispered, dancing with the sky, held captive by the earth.  She closed her eyes as it tugged at her hair, kissing her pale skin, creeping down her neck, sending shivers down her spine.  Beautiful. Lover.  Whispering of things to come. A smile stole across her lips.  With a mighty gust it came, surging across the field, bending the earth into submission as the orchestras of heaven fell from the sky.  Everything was pushed into motion, swaying as one beneath the darkness as her song drummed down onto the thirsty earth.  She opened her eyes and stared up into the sky, raising her hands into the rain.

And the thunder came. 

            “What in blue blazes happened to you?”  The first sound that met her ears as she shut the front door behind her.  Granddad was standing in the doorway, newspaper in hand, not looking as though he were in a very good mood.          

            “It...started raining,” she said, lamely.  He gestured with his pipe.

            “Yer drippin’ all over your grandmas rug,” he said ryley.  She looked down at the water pooling around her bare feet.  He followed her gaze.

            “Where’s your shoes?” She clutched the soggy pair of sneakers tightly to her chest.  He nodded gruffly. 

            “Go get dried off,” she dashed up the old stairs, “and then git back down here and clean up this mess.”  She swung the bedroom door shut, blocking out his voice.  Her shoes dropped to the floor as she opened the curtains on the window.  The world outside was misty and grey. 

            “Beautiful,”  she whispered.  Beautiful, beautiful...beautiful. She smiled to herself.  She picked up an old comb and ran it through her tangled red hair.