The rain continues to fall. I gaze out the window, in a silent wonder. I love watching it fall, listening to the beatless melody. The cloud is billowing over the hills, like a wispy grey monster with a thick, beating heart in the middle. I look down at my younger brother, Dove. He's silently sleeping on my lap, his blonde hair tickling against my leg. The living room is dark, the soft blankets resting motionless on the couch. The lights are off and the TV is asleep, and I can barely see the pages of my diary in the light of the window. It's alright though, I prefer the gloomy light. I get into a good position where I can see well enough, and connect the pencil to the paper,

October 17, 2027

Weather: Rain

Today was a good day. We all went to church this morning, and I made grilled cheese for lunch. Mom and Dad are both getting food, and Dove's sleeping on me as I write this.

The rain has been really strong today. I guess it was being saved up after that heat wave over September.

I can't wait for school tomorrow. I have an assignment coming up that I'm pretty confident on.

I want to write more, but at that moment, the lock clicks. I hear my dad whistle in exasperation, jolting Dove awake.

"It's raining cats and dogs out there, isn't it? Perfect weather for you, Mercy. Maybe not perfect weather for boating, like you wanted to." I see his smiling face coming up the stairs, holding a fast food bag, "Now, we can't eat like this every night, but Sundays are an exception." He places it on the large, chipped table.

I pick up Dove and set his weight on my hip, as he blinks sleepily and tries to process what's going on. My mom comes up as well, holding a bottle of Pepsi. 

"Hi, mom!" I smile at her as she places her load on the table. 

"Hello, Mercy. And hello to you too, Dove!" She laughs at his sleepy expression and takes him from my arms, "Did you guys have a nice time while we were out?"

I grin, "I just did some writing, the weather is perfect for that sort of thing" 

She nods in acknowledgement, and I'm called over to help my dad set the table. As we make idle conversation, the downpour gets slightly louder outside. It whispers against the window, vying for attention as we eat. I can't help but enjoy this feeling, the feeling of being inside as the rain cries into the night.

 * * *

We just had devotions, and I'm lying in bed. Dove is on top of the bunk bed, his breaths quick and comforting to help break the weight of the silence. The stuffed polar bear he sleeps with, Casper, falls from the edge of the bed. I pick it up and quietly place it back in his arms before he wakes up. I rub my head, and check the time. 11:54 pm. I sigh, knowing it's a school day tomorrow. I silently crawl back into bed, and fall asleep under the weight of tiredness.

 * * *

I hear my alarm go off. An energetic 6 year old who's excited to go to kindergarten is louder than the beeping of my clock, even when he isn't speaking. I blink my eyes open to see my brother excitedly shoving Casper into a bag.

"What's the occasion?" I inquire.

"We're doing a show and tell! I'm bringing Casper!" He continues to roughly try to shove it into his backpack. I get up and strategically insert the stuffed animal into the small bag, with room to spare. I routinely get him dressed and his teeth brushed, and let my mom pour his cereal while I wash my face and get clothes on. By the time I'm downstairs, mom is trying to clean his the milk off of his face and straighten his clothes. I make some toast, and Dove waits for me by the door. 

I get to the door, and put on my shoes. I swing my bag onto my back, and we head out the door. His elementary school isn't far from home, and I can take a bus to get to my school from there. We both bring umbrellas and wear gumboots, because it's rained all last night and then some. Huge puddles span across our driveway, and we pass the large cabin cruiser motorboat attached to the truck. Dad had been saving for it for years, and it was definitely worth it. There's a small cabin inside as well. Certainly needs some renovation, but it works if we put a blanket on the seats and make sure our clothes and shoes are dry and clean before going in. The cockpit is open roof, so it's perfect for a warm summer day. I smile warmly at it through the thick shower, until Dove tugs slightly on my hand and guides me away. 

 * * *

I finally get to school. Dove was right to be excited for kindergarten, because it only goes downhill from there. Especially in grade 10. I don't necessarily have a lot of friends, mostly because I generally just ignore everyone. I head up the stairs to get to my first class.

Despite my complaints, I've always been a good student. It's not like I dislike anyone at my school, either. But my ideal hobby for ten to nine in the morning has just never been to hike up 2 flights of stairs with a heavy bag on my back. I self-consciously try to conceal my heavy breaths, and sit at my desk.

 * * *

 When at long last, the final bell rings, its rained pretty high now. To my ankles in most puddles. It takes everything in me not to splash around like a 4 year old as I walk to my bus stop, and I hop onto the bus.

As I get to the elementary school, I see Dove waiting outside, careful to keep his backpack under his umbrella. I go up to him, and ruffle his light, fluffy hair, "Hi, Dove! How was school?" 

He grins at me, and holds my hand. "It was great! The teacher made Casper talk like a bear and everyone laughed!" He goes off on a little speech about his day, and I make sure to nod and gasp in awe appropriately. When we get home, it feels like the rain has gotten even heavier. We quickly get inside and shut the door behind us. I silently thank the Lord for our house, and go to shower.

 * * *

After I'm done with my shower, mom is already home. she quickly turns off the news, and comes to say hi. 

"Hello, dear! Dove just went upstairs to play. How was your day?" My mom comes over to give me a hug, despite my dripping hair. 

"It was good! How was work?" I hug her back.

"It was quite difficult today. It proves to be pretty hard to take any good photos in the pouring rain. I just stayed inside and took some more domestic photos. Would you like to see?" She pulls out her camera, and takes out the memory card, inserts it into the USB stick, and manages to project it onto the tv. We spend the rest of the night looking at her photos. My mom is a really good photographer. It can be hard to explain, but she just breathes so much life into them. The freckles of rain drops, autumn falling under a breaking streetlight. A great mountain range, like it should extend hidden limbs and lumber along the horizon. The sun drowning into the ocean. I could look at them forever.

It feels like I just sat down with my mother, but when I look up again, Dove has settled onto my arm and my dad's head is leaning on my mom's shoulder. 3 hours have passed, and I get up to make food. My parents help, and Dove stays happily resting on the couch. I pour the rice into the pot and my mom starts frying the chicken breast. My dad helps make the seasoning, consisting of butter, salt, brown sugar and garlic powder. 

We all sit down to dinner and pray. I take another glance out the window, even though I know it's still raining. If I went outside right now, it would go to the soles of my gumboots, and that's while I'm not in a puddle. It'll die down soon enough, I think to myself. This is the highest I've ever seen the rain get in my hometown. I yawn, and shrug. I wonder if it's going to get any higher?

 * * *

After I finally get Dove to sleep, I sit in my bed and open my diary.

October 18, 2027

Weather: Rain

I miss the weekend. The rain got even higher today, good thing dad put the tarp on the boat to make sure it doesn't get damaged! Mom took some great pictures today as well. She's so talented. Maybe one day she'll let me take a picture with her camera? 

Today, Dove was so cute. He brought Casper to his show and tell, and it looks like he has a good teacher for this year. 

I also made some rice today, and I think I have a good recipe for now.

It started flooding a little bit outside as well! I can't wait to see how much we get.

I put away my diary, and get into bed. The rain continues to fall.