reminiscing with raincatchers

The sky was a soft gray, pleasantly overcast. White light peeked through the clouds and drenched the town in a wonderful, glimmering rain shine. The gentle sound of rain thumping against Ravi’s roof and rain drops gliding down his windows were what finally reminded him that he needed to set out his raincatchers, even despite his mother reminding him that he needed to do so every time he visited her. Ravi was currently rummaging through one of his closets, piled high with crates and boxes filled with all kinds of assorted junk. Everything was tossed into boxes haphazardly, in complete disarray, and Ravi supposed it was because he could hardly stand to go through any of it without feeling downcast. 

While digging through a crate near the front of the closet he felt his hand brush against something covered in newspaper and he triumphantly yanked out whatever it was, pleased to see that it was labeled, blotchy black ink smeared across the uneven surface of the paper, ‘raincatcher’. He dove back inside to pull out another one, labeled similarly, but there didn’t seem to be any left. 

Ravi hadn’t set out his old raincatchers since he’d moved into his own place, nor had he made any new ones, so he had just been using whatever leftover glass jars he happened to have on hand for the past several years. Ravi couldn’t even remember which ones he had chosen to take with him when he’d moved out, so he figured opening them would be a surprise, likely an unpleasant one. Ravi went to his kitchen to set the newspaper bundles on the counter and grab some jars to set outside. He’d open them later. 

He rolled up his sleeves and began searching through his cabinets for some spare jars, which he carried outside, clinking together in his arms as hugged them against his chest. He awkwardly opened his front door and bumped it open with his hip, getting to his knees on his porch to set the glasses down with care near his front steps, attempting to place them neatly, managing to make them look halfway presentable. When he got to his feet again, he noticed a familiar face turning the corner and waving wildly at him. Ravi waved back. 

It was Mimi, with someone who he vaguely recognized, likely having seen her around town before. They approached Ravi’s house quickly, both holding small packages in their hands, and shielded by a shared bright yellow umbrella. “Hi, Ravi!” Mimi greeted with their characteristic excitement, “haven’t seen you lately. Has work been keeping you busy?” 

Ravi nodded, as that was indeed very true. He’d just gotten home the other day after back to back week long trips. “It has. But it’s good to see you,” he replied, glancing over to Mimi’s friend as they both made their way up the front steps. Based on how fashionable she was, and Mimi’s lovingly fanciful past descriptions of their girlfriend, Ravi easily pieced together who she was. “And, you must be Liviana…? It’s nice to meet you.” 

Liviana nodded, extending equally as warm greetings. “What brings the two of you here? Would you like to come in for some tea?” Ravi questioned, noting that they actually both seemed to be dressed rather nicely. 

“Sorry, but we’re actually going to go see a play! We just wanted to stop by and give you these raincatchers that we made for you, since your house happens to be on the way to the theatre,” Mimi explained, handing Ravi a raincatcher bundled in gift wrap, while Liviana handed him a raincatcher covered with a beautifully patterned cloth, wrapped in a pretty golden bow. It was so tastefully packaged that it reminded him of something his younger sister would be infatuated with. He figured if he saw Liviana again anytime soon, he would have to introduce them, if the two weren’t already acquainted. 

“Thank you both so much,” Ravi replied graciously, a small smile making its way onto his face. He was very thankful for the surprise gifts, especially since he had been desperately needing new, proper raincatchers. Ones without any memories attached. “I hope you enjoy the play, then, and we’ll have to meet sometime this week, because I brought back some things for you from my latest trips.” 

“Definitely! I’ll see you soon. Bye, Ravi!” Mimi and Liviana went on their way, Liviana also turning to wish him a good evening as the pair of them descended the stairs and continued down the street together, hand in hand. 

Ravi had to fight off a pang of melancholy, not because he envied their happiness, but because he missed also having that. He went inside to unwrap the gifted raincatchers in his kitchen. Mimi’s seemed to be the general shape of a train. Ravi was very impressed, even if it was crudely shaped without great detail, he knew it was already difficult enough to shape the glass into the traditional star. He was even more impressed when he untied Liviana’s to find a matching passenger car. Ravi couldn’t help but crack a smile, marveling at both of them, before immediately going back outside to set them together in one of his gardening beds, getting lightly rained on in the process. 

When he came back inside, he peered out his kitchen window to see them sitting there on display, collecting water just as they were designed to. It was quite thoughtful of the both of them. He made a mental note to ask Mimi what Liviana was interested in so he could pick something up for her next time he was stationed in another town. 

All that was left were the two newspaper wrapped raincatchers, sitting on the counter in the dim kitchen light. He opened the one that was more messily packaged, gently unwrapping the newspaper instead of tearing it. When he caught a glimpse of the green glass peeking out, Ravi felt his heart quicken. He slowly pulled out the unfortunate looking hunk of glass. Any person he could ask would say that it resembled nothing at all, only a strangely shaped blob, a failed attempt at making a star, but Ravi knew what it was. 

When he was a boy, he was attempting to teach his close friend how to make a raincatcher, and his friend had heartily declared that he was going to be making a daisy. Ravi had advised against it, at least for his first try, but he did it anyway. This misshapen mess of glass was the result. Ravi smiled at first, but it quickly faded away. He stood there for a moment, holding the daisy in his hands, before wrapping it back up in the newspaper and going back to the hallway closet to shove both bundles back into the box he had found them in. He gently closed the closet door. He didn’t want to remember that anymore.