The rain fell in torrents and the January wind took the liberty of blowing it directly into my face.
The sudden realization that I had no means of getting back into my house left me panicked as visions of plugged-in curling irons and running faucets filled my mind. And, in my rush out the door I had forgotten my much needed umbrella… again. I stared at it longingly though the frosted glass of the front door before finally venturing out of the sheltered safety of the front porch. The walk to the bus stop was interminable and treacherous. Cars whizzed past me, attempting to drench me with their laser-like streams of curbside water. I dodged puddles, fearful of the inevitable entrenchment that ensues upon contact with the gooey mud. I desperately tried to keep my eyes on the sidewalk, a task made quite difficult by the relentless rain. I finally scurried underneath the covered bus stop, joining others also seeking refuge from the unpleasant elements.
I loaded onto the bus, dashing inside it but not quite escaping a few rain drops, which made their way uncomfortably down my spine. The bus jerked forward and back, gaining great speed only to be immediately slowed down by the next drenched person eagerly awaiting its arrival. The air was filled with the aroma of morning rain and coffee, accompanied by countless tired eyes and stony faces. Silence was the overwhelming sound at the back of the bus, as the passengers stared out the windows from their throne-like positions. I let acoustic guitars flood my ears, closing my eyes in hopes of ending the awkward eye contact I had been previously making with the woman directly across from me. I narrowly signaled the stop button in time, as reality hit me and my eyes flew open. I prepared to step out of the steamy warmth and dry safety of the bus, wincing as it came to a screeching stop.
Yelling ‘thank you’ in as cheerful a voice as I could muster, I took the steep step off the bus, plunging into the freezing puddle below me. And then began my greatest challenge: making it mud-free across the slick, swampy field.