Short Story

DAYS OF RAIN

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶
© Ayr/Gray

The early morning air was thick with the smell of rain, the stillness almost suffocating. I was determined to finish my walk and get back home before the storm hit. Still on the historic Leatherstocking Trail which snakes its way through the woods near the old train station, I had about a mile to go.

There was an alien look about the sky, otherworldly and menacing. Tenebrous clouds, clumsy and swollen like an over-full bladder, partially obscured a series of long, jagged slashes of coppery-red. I was reminded of the familiar adage:

“Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.
Red sky at morning, sailor’s warning.”

Nothing about this day bode well.

I stopped to tie back my hair and pull the hood of my jacket over my head, securing it snugly with the drawstring. A few rumbles of thunder warned me not to dawdle; there would be no stopping this rain.

The threat of the approaching nor’easter brought with it the unwelcome promise of flooding – a frequent visitor in these low-lying areas of the Hudson Valley.

I quickened my pace, the only sound the muffled slap of my sneakers hitting the leaf-strewn path.

An impressive bolt of lightning split the sky, followed by a barrage of thunder. By now my indignant left knee was barking ferociously and I cursed for having walked so far.

My house finally came into view. The rain started as I climbed the steps to my front door; a forlorn train whistle howled in the distance.

NAR © 2023
250 words

NB – As I am writing this, New York, the place I call home, is in a State of Emergency due to unrelenting rainstorms and severe flooding. This rain is the worst we’ve had in years. Four continuous days of rain last week and now this. The saturated ground cannot hold any more water and it has nowhere to go but up. Exhausted from bailing out our basement, we finally gave up, defeated. No matter what we do, the water will always win.

The Unicorn Challenge-29/09/23

46 thoughts on “DAYS OF RAIN”

  2. This is wonderful. I just love ‘slice of life’ writing like this and you’ve recreated the atmosphere and your thoughts so well. I understand your comment about needing to get it down in writing straight away. All the sensory details took me right into the scene with you. How awful that you’ve had such terrible rain and flooding. I hope you’ll be ok.

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    1. Thank you so much, Margaret!
      This was a mini-trauma for us but once we resigned ourselves to the fact that we could not win, a calm settled over us.
      The waters receded and the damage is just stuff. We lost nothing irreplaceable.
      Now the clean up begins but at least the sun is shining on us.
      Thank you for your wonderful comments!

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  3. I liked the “alien look about the sky” description. It really gives a great image.

    The stuff they’re showing on the news about the flooding in NY has been horrible. (Worse even than the Yankees’ season!) Aside from your basement I hope you’re safe.

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    1. Thanks so much, Michael! And don’t get me started on those Damn Yankees!
      We are drying out nicely now, the sun is shining and it’s a warm, beautiful day. We still have lots of clean up to do but the basement really needed it. I look at this storm as a message from Mother Nature: “Get your house in order!”
      Thanks for your great comments and best wishes, Michael.

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  6. Pretty tactile imagery*

    Good story… unfortunately, while not subject to the volume of falling water, southern New England in general and Rhode Island in particular are considering a approach to tourism. Tentative motto: ‘Why go to Oregon or Washington? It never stops raining here, too!

    *To write to make the Reader smell and feel as well as see is one of my most persistent ambitions since stumbling into the strange world of the blogosphere

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  9. Sounds like you’re getting what VT got earlier this summer. Endless rain. The flooding devastated many homes and businesses, the cleanup and repairs are ongoing. It will never be the same.
    But look at the descriptions you write! Keep on keeping on.

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    1. Thanks, D. … not to be confused with my other friend from Vermont who goes by D. What are the odds?
      This is the first time since a nor’easter hit about 18 years ago that we experienced flooding and only the second time in the 38 years we’ve been living in this house. We will get over this which is more than I can say for a lot of other people.

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      1. Would that other friend be a peach?
        Yes, this summer’s flooding was compared to the biggest baddest of the past, Irene and the Flood of 1927. Remarkable for there being no deaths and for the quick and ongoing responses of people helping people.

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  10. Such rich descriptions, Nancy. I was squelching along beside you.
    And I marvel at the fact you found time to write a story – albeit such an appropriate one – with all the flooding you’re having to deal with. I hope your basement dries out soon. Yes, I too love your positive spin on the flooding. I wish you peace for the clearing up.

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    1. Thanks so much, Jenne.
      I needed to relax after doing battle with the elements and I wasn’t ready for sleep. I wanted to document the day in the best way I know how … through my storytelling.
      It is still raining but not heavily and is forecast to stop around 1pm. There’s no point going down to the basement now; nothing is going to change if we wait an hour or two. We’ll save what we can and toss the rest.
      When you think of all the other things that could have gone wrong in this type of situation, we got off easy. I bow before Mother Nature.
      Thank you for your kind wishes; they are deeply appreciated. ❤︎

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  12. Wow, Nancy! I love this unputdownable piece.
    Please may I beg, borrow, plagiarise, steal this line? It’s wonderful!
    “Tenebrous clouds, clumsy and swollen like an over-full bladder,”
    Please keep safe in your current extreme weather conditions. 💙
    (I’m kidding about stealing your words. As if!)

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  14. I hope things are starting to ease now, Nancy, and the water levels are subsiding.
    Being out in Nature, in the conditions you describe, can be quite exhilarating, but then, things can become more extreme. It’s always nice to get home on days like this.

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  19. Through the years we have lived in 3 different places where rains over 7″ (water already high) in one day has craeted unbelievable damage.
    One would think “it’s only 7 or 8” but oh my…small trickling brooks become raging rivers. Sorry about your basement. Our last 3 homes have been on high hills with no basement….been there.

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