Monday, March 1, 2021

#SOL21 | 01 | Of Chasing Sticks

My phone blew up with a series of messages: Tornado Watch, Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning.  I looked up from my spot on the couch to watch it all.

The rain came down, though not it sheets.  Despite the warning this was a more traditional rain, fat globules that splashed in the puddles turning to ponds outside my door.  I got up and paused at my glass sliding doors -- movement catching my eye in the creek that was already full with snow melt from just a week ago (was it only a week ago we were out for snow).  

In the flooding creek was a branch, bobbing up and down as it was pushed onwards by the current.  I watched it, because it reminded me of old cartoons where the protagonist would avoid being seen in the water by using hollowed reeds sticking above the surface.  I lost sight of it briefly and squinted out through the trees to catch a glimpse again.

I can't say for certain why I stopped to watch it or why it amused me.  There was some part of me -- ancient lizard-brain perhaps -- that wanted to go out into the storm and follow it down the creek.  I grinned as I caught sight of it between a gap in the trees.  There was the little branch: bob, bob, bobbing along before vanishing out of sight completely as it was swept off to parts unknown. 

It's departure marked the return of my more rational side.  There was no need to go chasing sticks down in the rain.  By this point the earth itself was half water -- squishy and squelchy underfoot.  I knew because I'd made several attempts to take my dog out to potty and had yet to get much result.  Even he didn't want to go out in this mess. 

I turned away from the window, content to listen to the rain instead.

This post is part of the 14th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge.  
#SOL21 and information around Slicing can be found on Two Writing Teachers.


11 comments:

  1. I re-read your first and last lines. See what you did there? Great opening and mood change. I love the small moment of following the stick with your eyes, and the associations you made. It reminded me of the children’s game Pooh sticks- do you know it? You drop sticks into the water from one side of the bridge and watch to see which stick comes out the other side first. Just part of our species’ fascination with moving water, I think!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't even notice that until you pointed it out! Thank you for sharing that insight. I have heard of that game, though never played it for real.

      Delete
  2. You must be a midwesterner. We know all about those mood changes of the weather. It amazing how fast we can go from winter snow to spring storm. Your writing invited me into your moment. I could see that stick bobbing down the creek.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Southerner, actually. But our weather has been so nutty as of late.

      Delete
  3. I loved getting your view on this rainy day. I LOVE rain- even here where rainy season is something unreal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't help but write about the weather as of late.

      Delete
  4. There certainly is something about rain and running water that is mesmerizing. I love some of your words choices here: ancient lizard brain, squishy and squelchy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find myself like that with most of the "classic" elements but water and fire especially.

      Delete
  5. I love cartoons, so your reference to the "cartoons where the protagonist would avoid being seen in the water by using hollowed reeds sticking above the surface.", that made me smile as I visualized it. I love the use of "bob, bob, bobbing"...another visual for me. Great Slice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wonder if we pictured the same cartoon too? I specifically thought of the Robin Hood animated movie from Disney. Thanks for the compliment!

      Delete
  6. One of my favorite things to do when I was a kid was throw a stick in the creek by my house and watch it float away for as long as I could. Thanks for reminding me of that memory with your SOL!

    ReplyDelete