You are on page 1of 6

November Rains

Rain started to hit the window forming little clear specks distorting the vision in the cool air. She liked how the beads always seemed to be clearer when the air outside was cool. She was still looking out it. She was standing about a foot from the glass with her arms folded across her chest. She was staring through the beads of water in total silence. She was standing, looking out the window in the dim light coming through the window. She had been staring for some time after getting home. She was upset with him and he knew it. I said that I was sorry, he offered breaking the silence. Bill had been sitting on the sofa watching her look out of the window. He looked at her standing in the light coming through the window. He sat in the darkness of the room thinking about what he had done; how he had turned her from being happy in the morning to this. Problem was he wasnt sure what this was. He just sat and looked at her standing by the window. He thought as he saw that his words had no effect on her. He wanted the silence to end. He wanted Sue to talk. Only then he would know what exactly was bothering her and only then would he know how to fix it or at least try. In her silence, she held all of the cards. This however, did not bother him the most. It was the idea that he had done something that had upset her. He wanted to fix it. He needed to fix it. He needed to get her to the state of happiness she was in when they left the apartment to go for a walk. I said that it was okay, she said just as he was about to repeat his apology. He heard her. Bill didnt believe a word of it. Her true sentiment was expressed clearly in her tone. As did Sues stance at the window which told him differently. Arms still crossed, eyes fixated on the world on the other side of the glass, hardly blinking, one leg straight supporting her light frame and the left leg moved forward as if she was about to take a step towards the window, she hadnt even turned to look at him when she replied. He had seen that she had closed her eyes when she had spoken. She just continued to stare out the window. I know that you may not understand, but I did what I thought was right, he said from the sofa with a strong desire to have not just said that. She shook her head slowly without taking her eyes off the wet world beyond the glass just as a sudden downpour splashed against the window. He could feel the tension in the room, her anger, her frustration. He could only know that he just threw gas on a smoldering ember. His mind raced for an extinguisher. It returned as quickly as it left with an empty, uncharged canister. His mind fluttered around in an urgent state in the pursuit of the answer that would

return them to the earlier time before their walk, before they ran into him, when they were wrapped in warm delightful feelings of being alive. His mind struggled to find the exact moment that those wonderful feelings took a nosedive. His thoughts struggled to gain altitude but stalled as he sought to reconstruct the morning events. It all pointed to the moment they met him, the old man on the street. Bill thought as he pictured the timeworn, dirty face peering at Bill through the dirty, greasy forest of white hair and beard. Memory of the intense odors of old dried sweat of a long hot summer that permeated his tattered clothing came back to Bill. Bill had never seen one in person, only on the television and movies. Sue had suggested the idea. November rains were on their way and the overcast morning warned that this could probably be their last chance to get in a good walk. It could be the last chance to feel the crisp autumn air and actually enjoy it before the days of endless drizzling, cold rain. Bill had wasted no time accepting the suggestion. They both loved long walks about their town. It was an old town with roads leading off in many directions. It was a town speckled with beautiful parks and tree lined avenues. They loved to head off into a different direction each time exploring what was to be found in the narrow colonial streets. They thought it grand to come upon a new store, restaurant, or club tucked away on a new path. Sometimes, depending on how they were feeling and the time, they would step inside to shop or dine. This was to be a day like all of the others. But somewhere Bill erred. Sues mood like the day turned sour. He had an idea that it was meeting the old man. He knew that it had to do with the meeting, but he thought that he had known this young woman very well and could not pinpoint the why. He just looked at her hoping to spy a clue. She just continued to stare at the wave of water battering the window. He wanted her mood to change. He needed her to talk. He needed to get to the bottom of the matter and decided to venture an attempt. I thought that it was the right thing to help him out? he asked in a timid whisper. Sue turned to look at him with death laser for eyes. He knew that he had hit pay dirt. He knew that he was on the right trail as he remembered how Sues whole personality changed after he assisted the man. There are organizations for that, said Sue just as a gust of wind rattled the window. They both looked back at the old window shake in its worn tracks. Bill had thought that the timing of the gust had created a major effect for the delivery of her words and he had had a look of surprise when she said them as the gust slammed into the pane. Sue decided that maybe it would be good to move away from the window just in case the window turned out to be older and weaker than what they both had thought.

Swirls and ripples in the glass which tended to distort the scenery outside as it passed through the crystal indicated that the pane was of an older variety that was handmade. It was a heavy pane. Its frame, with its chipped, cracked white paint which they liked for the rustic aesthetics, was heavy as well and had felt very sturdy. However, the way the wind had just rattled it had startled both of them. Sue chose the chair in the room furthest from the window. Looking back at the now silent window, Sue began to finish her thought in a kind tone, I just feel that when people help them on the street it encourages them to beg. The organizations are staffed with professionals who have been trained to take care of these people, to give them the guidance they need. You and I pay for it with our taxes. We both have done fund drives and given to charities. We take the tax credit for it every year. So, youre saying that we should just ignore them? asked Bill with a look of disbelief. No, Im saying that when you help them out like that, you are just encouraging them to beg. That is why it is better to let the professionals help them. They know what is best to turn them into productive citizens, finished Sue just as the window started up again. As quickly as it started to rattle, it came to a stop when Bill who had joined Sue in turning his attention towards the complaining glass, started to state his thoughts, Are you saying that they add nothing to society? Like a common parasite? Oh, comon, they are hoboes. All they do is create a nuisance on the street for hard working people like you and I. Both turned their attention to the rattling window as another gust laden with water splashed into it. When it stopped this time, they both continued to look at it. Quite a storm for this time of the year, said Bill still looking at the window. Yeah, answered Sue slowly turning her attention back to Bill. I just think that most charities are bullshit. I think that we give them our responsibility so we dont have to deal with it and they make millions. They are nonprofit organizations. Yeah, thats their legal definition, but for nonprofit organizations they make some huge salaries for the big wigs. Not so much for the people that actually make it all happen. They are mostly free labor. Hell, a friend of mine that spent a week at the Water Street Rescue Mission told me that if you work, they keep 75% of your income. If you dont work, they put you to work for long hours in their facility.

Well, yeah, that is to get these people back on their feet, said Sue, They are being trained that you dont get anything for free and preparing them for the work world, she finished as another strong gust hit the window. Thats just it. The 75% they keep. Its not saved. Its not given back to the people. And how is anyone going to be able to find a job if they are working sun up to sun down every day? How are they supposed to get on their feet if almost all of their money is taken? Well, I think that is still good. They are keeping them off of the street and out of our way, said Sue as another wave of rain crashed into the window distracting both of them. Is that it? Is that the whole purpose, to keep them out of sight and out of mind? asked Bill with some emotion in his voice as he looked back at her. What are you getting at? They are people who were born in a land of opportunity and blew it. Why should I be punished for it by having to endure them? Another blast of wind and rain slammed into the window shaking it with alarming violence. Both stood this time. Both were ready to move if it busted. It stopped. Bill looked over towards Sue who had a very terrified expression on her face. She turned to look at Bill and the expression melted away as they made eye contact. You know this economic system has many different pitfalls. Many people have a lot stacked against them from the minute they are conceived, said Bill very methodically as he took his seat again, I myself have tried many things. I have done my homework, did my planning down to the smallest detail, and had the ideas blew up in my face not because of me but because of things far beyond my control. Had it not been for the kindness of friends and family, I would be where that man is now. So what is wrong with you having an economic advantage which helped you to get back on your feet? asked Sue looking back at the now silent window. See, that sounds so much like Social Darwinism. Malthus and Social Darwinism are two of the greatest calamities to have ever been afflicted on modern society. All they are, are rationalizations to give rich people the excuses they need to keep their money and not share or help. I think that homeless people like that man do a great community service. They show us that things arent perfect and that we need to push the envelope. They are a reminder to society that we shouldnt feel complacent, that we need to continue to strive not just on perfecting the latest gadget to make life easier, but we as a race must struggle and strive to continue growing. I think a lot of times that we forget to continue evolving because we are comfortable with the latest comfy things of life or the mindless entertainment pumped into our lives through the television and the radio. I think that we ran into him to remind us that the struggle for what could be is still far from over.

Sue wasnt looking at him. She was listening very carefully, but her attention had been on the window which had not complained one second during his entire lecture. She looked at him now that he was silent. He just sat looking at the floor in front of him. Its funny, he started up again after several seconds of silence, Maybe the biggest reason I did it, I think, is because of a story my grandmother told me shortly before she passed away. She said that homeless people were actually angels sent down in disguise to test us. Test us in what way? asked Sue with a tone of wanting to hear more. Our compassion, our treatment of other people. It is easy to ignore, cover up, or hide such things. I think that it is a true beginning to face it, answered Bill somberly. That is sweet, but how is giving away a perfectly good sweater helping the situation? asked Sue with another complaint from the window. It doesnt. I think that more than anything, it helped me to feel good about myself, answered Bill as he looked over at the window that was silent now, Looking at the conditions, Im glad that I did and I wish that I could do so much more but at the moment I just feel so helpless. We talk about how great and efficient we are as a nation. I think that homeless, jails, and dumps are a good strong indication that we have a long way to develop before we can really make that claim ever. I see what you mean, said Sue looking over at the window, I guess you may be right and maybe I was too critical. I still believe that what you did may not be the answer. A slight tap came from the window as if it was warning that it was considering whether or not to rattle violently again. It didnt as Sue continued which gave her some relief. I can see why it is sweet that you did what you could with one person. I really wasnt upset with you helping another human. I guess that I was upset with the fact that you gave him the sweater that I knitted for you. I did, Im sorry, he said standing, I guess that I was too overcome with his condition and wasnt thinking. You could have come back here and got one that wasnt a special gift. Hell, you could have given him that cabana wear I wished that I have never seen. But you gave him my sweater. I know things dont mean that much to you and they dont to me, but that sweater was a part of me. Standing up and walking over to embrace her, Bill said, Oh, Im so sorry. I should have thought it out better. Yes, you should have.

They held each other for some time and well into the night. In the morning, the rain had ended and the sun shone brightly through the window. Sue suggested that they go for another walk. Bill agreed eagerly and met her at the door. It was a beautiful day, hardly any sign of the tempest that had crashed into the old window. As they walked they approached a park bench with something on it. That cant be, said Sue in a very quiet tone. A chill moved up and down both of their spines in unison. They just gawked at it. They looked at each other clearly able to read the large question on both of their faces. Bill moved closer to the object. In silence he touched it and then after a few wondering moments, picked it up and held it out by its shoulders. He looked at Sue with a look of happy amazement. I cant believe it, said Bill as he held up the sweater and walked towards Sue, It smells clean and fresh. Sue looked at the garment which appeared to be in perfect condition. It was a clean and dry sweater in Bills hand. It was her sweater in as good of a condition as the day she had finished knitting it, as the day she had first given it to Bill. She looked up with a confused smile. She looked around for any sign of the man. They were the only ones in the park. I dont understand, said Sue, Who would have put it here? We met that man on the other side of town. Bill looking up at the sky said, May be we shouldnt question this and just enjoy the rest of our walk and take this home. Sue smiled and said, No argument from me. I think that we are too far from home for me to say anything negative right now. Thinking of the window, Bill just laughed and took her hand as he led her down the parks path.

You might also like