fayres and farewells

sitting underneath the theatre building, it begins. we wait, watch water trickle down a muddy stream, part of a "protected ecosystem". the air is bright with our anticipation. smoke swirling upwards from our cigarettes- lingers in the foliage.
sweaty palms wiped on damp jeans.

without warning, the sky opens up its purple mouth. our timing is so perfect. good thing we didn't linger at that bug eating contest.

i stand, jostled in the damp hallways of a school that isn't mine, mind a million miles a minute. everywhere people- flood in around me. outside! we need to be outside. stumbling, pulled by tides, onto covered brick veranda. we watch in near silence at the ensuing madness. the wind bends trees in half. rain pelts sideways, threatens to invade our little haven. everywhere, people- moving: out of the rain, into the rain, through the mud... somewhere off to the left, the strained chords of electric guitar. a band starts to play.



the guitar player is rocking out. i like his red pants and the fact that i can see all but his head from where i stand. slowly the courtyard fills with water, beginning in the tiny crevices of the brick, until giant puddles of indeterminable depth have formed throughout. the hippie children splash, slide, dance in the rain. "come on..." i feel a girl whisper to her hesitant friend. she tugs her hand and edges closer to the heathen figures dancing, "we're already wet!"

then, sudden as it came, the storm is gone; forgotten. the air breathes wet but we don't care. the sun is shining! we stare in wonder, sole still figures in the chaos. and once again the people pour out of the school, always moving.