RAIN
I hated rain.
For many reasons. For example, it was raining the day my parents disappeared. I remember walking into my kitchen with my report card proudly held in front of me (only a little disappointed with my Physical Education grade). Neither my mom or dad had been there waiting for me with open arms. That night it stormed.
It was raining now. Drizzling gently in a rhythmic, pitter-pattering beat. Each drop exploding like little bombs as they came into contact with the window. I was sitting in a chair filled with lumps and worn out to the point of no return. Only just barely could you see a faint lily design on the now-graying fabric. The chair faced the large window that overlooked the house's wraparound porch, the back to the rest of the room. In my lap was a thick book with thin leaf-like pages and neat, cramped writing. The spine read '101 Reasons Why Neverland Should Be Your Vacation Destiny'. I had been bored and decided a bit of light reading would do me some good (after all, I grew up with a dad who refused to read me bed-time stories, and, since I am a fairy tale detective, it's important to brush up on my fairy tale skills). Little did I know that Neverland, despite the colorful fairy tale, was one of the most drab places in the Universe.
I was now starting to slowly nod off. The dull words began to blend into one another. My head drooped and my shoulders sagged. My eyes closed and the grim world before me went black.
I was about half-asleep when I heard somebody pull a rickety chair to a spot next to mine. A few moments passed and I heard the person slide into the chair. At first I thought it had been Daphne and I smiled as she stroked my hair (brushing my hair always helped Daphne relax).
But it wasn't Daphne's bubbling speech that spoke eventually. Instead, it was a boy's voice, slightly impish and immature, and I was brought to the realization that it was Puck who was stroking my hair (I had to remember to shower, later)!
"You know, I hate rain." He started, "Always have. Ever since I was a little baby. But I've hated it especially since the day my father told me to marry that maniac, Moth. It was raining that day. I was banished before sun set." He paused, before continuing, "The only good thing about rain is the mud that it makes."
I smiled softly. Puck hated rain, just like me!
"But, you know what? I liked rain a little better the day that you came to Ferryport Landing. Do you remember it was raining that day?"
My heart melted and I repressed the urge to grin, instead biting my lip furiously.
Puck then got up and looked at me. He shrugged and walked away.
The minute I knew he was out of sight, I opened my eyes and mulled over what just happened. Did Puck really just say he liked the rain he had hated for centuries because of me? I asked myself. I ran my hands through my hair as I thought over what he had said, that is, until my fingers got stuck in a big sticky knot in my hair. I sniffed it (which, looking back, was probably not the best idea since Puck's hands had been touching my hair). It smelled like bubble gum. I grimaced; so that's why Puck was stroking my hair, he was pranking me! Of course, who in their right mind would imagine that Puck grew a brain and decided to be normal for once in his life and talk rather than prank. Why didn't I stop him from touching my hair? I cried to myself.
I jumped up from my seat, dropping the Neverland book in my rush to stand up, and went in search of the fairy.
"PUCK!" I shrieked.
Did I mention I absolutely, positively hated rain?
Well, now you know. . .
