The Storm We heard it, a whisper of wind in the trees. Leslie and I looked up from our play in hopeful anticipation. The still, humid air wrapped a heavy cloak around us, but deep within, we could feel the magic of the wind. Wind that would tear the oppressive cloak from our bodies. With quick step we ran to the picnic table. From that higher position, legs apart, arms flung back, we waited to embrace the wind. And the wind came! Slowly at first, a soft presence fanning our faces, easing away the summer heat. Then stronger he came. We felt his laughter race along our bodies, rustle our thin cotton shirts and chase around our legs. In the distance, a long line of grey promised the rain to come, but we ignored it as with our eyes closed we gave our all to the wind. A wind that had now taken on an angrier note. He raged and bellowed around our outstretched limbs, threatening to blow us from our perch. We were sailors lost amid stormy seas. We felt the salt spray, heard in the crashing trees the crash of the waves pounding our helpless ship. To Neptune, we sent pleas for mercy, to still his raging winds. But Neptune's answer came laughing back in stronger, wilder gusts. Our ship was doomed, our tears blown back into our eyes. Our bodies would find a new home at the bottom of the sea. Our loved ones would stare out to the sea and wail in misery. Our . . . Then stillness. A total stillness more threatening than the previous fury. A stillness that brought us back to reality and sent us racing into the house to escape the coming rain. Once in the house, we pressed our faces to the windowpane and watched the stillness disrupted by long lines of heavy rain. In a flash of light, the whole area could be seen behind rain's silky curtain. Our cat came bounding to the window, meowing piteously. Soon his wet body was streaking under the bed, where he would remain until the onslaught was done. And still we watched the transformation of our world. The wind had picked up once more, attacking the trees and sending the rain in almost horizontal lines before it. The loud pounding of the rain fell into insignificance as a low rumble grew until mighty rolls of thunder shook the house. We longed to race amongst the trees and feel the rain pound against our skin but knew our mother would forbid it. We sent our imagination out instead. Soon heavy raindrops were beating patterns on our skin while the long branches reached out to catch us as we flew by. The thick storm clouds changed our familiar yard into a grey and magical garden. Trolls scowled from hedges, while out of the rose bush fairies peered anxiously at the storm. They all dived for cover, as the sky blazed white, to appear again when the darkness resumed. We danced on the drenched grass and called to the fairies to join in our fun. Laughing up into the darkness, we twirled and leaped and challenged the storm to do its worse. It raged at us and we danced on. Slowly, with a last threatening growl and flash of light, the storm retreated to new battlefields. The clouds with a resigned sigh separated slowly, to drifted away under the pressure of the victorious sun. The world was whole again. Birds gave a few cautious notes and then burst into song. Following our now courageous cat, we stepped out into a reborn earth Deeply we breathed in the fragrances of the fresh grass, leaves and flowers. The smell of rain lingered in the air. Raindrops lay captured on the grass blades, flower petals and leaves. Soon the day would turn hot again. The rain would dry on the branches and the now brightly shining sun would beat down, unbearably hot. But the storm would come again, bringing with it all the magic of its beginning, its fury and its end. Leslie and I would wait, our ears ever listening, for that whisper of wind in the trees.