Chasing Clouds

Percival was a respectable sort. He was not the sort to leave his doors unlocked. Not even on days like this- with gray skies full of clouds and cool breezes blowing the pattering rain every which-way. Yet, somehow, the door burst open without any warning, and with a sprinkling of the rain, in came Chen, uninvited, to Perry’s house. 

Before Perry had a chance to respond, Chen rushed over to him. She took his book and his cup of tea- sipping some of it herself- and set them aside. Then, she grabbed him by the hand and dragged him, protesting, out into the downpour. 

“No, no, no, no! Not without my raincoat!” Perry whimpered. Chen glanced back at him and grinned. Once they were outside, she pointed up to the sky. “Yes, I can clearly see that it is raining.” He pouted. 

“Look at the clouds!” Chen pleaded with sparkles in her eyes. Percival raised an eyebrow, but then squinted through the rain and looked up to see what Chen was so focused on. His heart sank. The clouds weren’t just hanging out like they usually do. They were swirling, and growing, ominously forming into something that could be much, much worse than simple rainclouds. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Chen asked.

“No!” He objects, “It is not beautiful. In fact, it is quite dangerous. Don’t you understand what’s happening?” 

“Of course, I know what’s happening!” She defends herself, “The clouds are having a party!”

“Not a party! A TORNADO! We have to chase away the clouds before they get any worse!”

“Aww, already?” Chen says with a frown.

“Yes! Already!” Perry insists.

“Okay…” She mumbles, “You start and I’ll join in.” 

Suddenly, Perry is a little boy again, standing in his mother’s garden, and looking up at her smiling face. 

“Here, I’ll show you, love.” He hears his mother say, as she gestures to the heavily overcast sky. She waves her hand in a graceful manner, and slowly the clouds dispel themselves. The sun breaks through, and shines down with warmth embracing young Percival. “I left a couple clouds for you dear, just wave your hand and tell them to leave.”

“Leave!” Perry demands of the clouds, but to his dismay, they simply stay.

“It’s alright, love,” She says, hugging him, “You will get it eventually.” 

“You ok?” Chen wonders aloud, waking him from his memory. 

“Ye- yes,” He responds, shaking his head to clear his mind.

“So…. you gonna chase the clouds?” She asks. 

“Um… I’ve never actually been able to do it..” He says, rubbing the back of his neck shyly. 

“Oh! Well why didn’t you say so!” She replied, “Here, I’ll show you!” She suddenly became aware that she had still been holding Perry’s hand the whole time they were standing in the rain, and she blushes a little. But now is not the time to let go, she simply slides her hand down to his wrist, and used her other hand to spread his fingers, then lifting his hand to the sky, she whispers in his ear, “Now just tell them to leave.”

“I- I can’t.” Perry says quietly. 

“I believe in you.” 

Perry closed his eyes, and felt the rain and wind on his face. Leave. Just leave. He commanded the clouds, but he could feel they still didn’t leave. If anything, the storm was getting worse. A few tears started to stream down his cheek, mixing with the rain. 

“You can do it. “ Chen encouraged him. He felt her hand on his wrist, still holding firm, but not hard. He could feel his heart beating. He could hear her breaths over the sounds of the storm, and for just a moment, he forgot about the clouds. He felt the warmth of Chen’s kindness. He felt her friendship warming him like a sunny day from the inside. His tears dried away and he took a deep breath.

“That’s the way,” Chen said. Then he noticed that the wind had quieted. “Just a little more,” She prodded. The rain slowed to a drizzle, then a sprinkle, and then stopped all together. Percival opened his eyes just in time to see the last cloud poof away, leaving nothing but the clear blue sky. 

“You did it!” Chen shouted, jumping up and down. She seems even more excited than she was when she thought the clouds were having a party. 

And that’s how Percival learned to chase the clouds.