PART FIFTEEN (15)

I DROVE BACK DOWN THE CREST HIGHWAY, FEELING A COMFORT THAT ONLY WIND THROUGH THE PINES CAN BRING.  THAT SOUND MUST HAVE BEEN DESIGNED BY GOD...SUCH A COMFORTING WHISPER THAT COMES AND GOES, LIKE MOODS.  I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK OF OTHER HUMANS ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE JUST LIKE ME.   THEY HAVE THEIR PINES, THEIR SCENTED FIRES, THEIR LONLIES, ..WE ARE ALL ALIKE IN MANY WAYS.  THE STORM WAS MOVING IN AND THE FIRST SPLATTER OF RAIN DROPS HITTING WINDSHIELD.  THEY WERE BIG DROPS, AND I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE A BIG STORM.  AS I DROVE DOWN TO THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAINS AND ENTERED THE FLAT CITY,  I COULD SEE THE MANY EVERGREENS BENDING OVER IN A STRONG SOUTH EAST WIND.  I PARKED THE HUDSON IN THE DRIVE AND ENTERED INTO HOUSE USING THE SHELTER OF FRONT PORCH.  I HAD NOT BEEN IN THE HOUSE TEN MINUTES, WHEN THERE WAS A KNOCK ON THE FRONT DOOR.  IT WAS BOBBY..DRIPPING WET.  HE WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE RAIN.  I INVITED HIM IN AND GOT A TOWELL AND DRIED HIM OFF THE BEST I COULD.  HE WANTED ME TO GO WITH HIM ONTO FRONT PORCH AND WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE RAIN, SO I DID.  HE SAID THAT HE LOVED THE RAIN BECAUSE HE SAW IT AS THE SKIES WERE EITHER SICK, ANGRY, OR SAD.  "I FEEL SO SECURE IN MY ROOM LOOKING OUT...I LOVE TO HEAR THE TAPPING OF THE WATER ON MY AWNINGS AND THE SOUND OF RAIN WATER HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THE DOWNSPOUT...I HOPE IT LIGHTNINGS TONIGHT...ONE TIME IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND THERE WASN LIGHTNING...I LOOKED OUT MY BACK WINDOW..WHEN ALL WERE ASLEEP. AND THE LIGHT FROM THE LIGHTNING LIT UP THE SILVER CLOTHES LINE POSTS..A SILVER TEE IN THE BACK YARD... THE WHITE PLASTER DUCKS LIT UP..EVERY THING LIT UP FOR JUST A SECOND"    WE TALKED FOR QUITE AWHILE, AND THE RAIN LET UP.  I SUGGESTED THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR HIM TO GO HOME.  HE AGREED AND I WATCHED HIM WALK HOME.  THE LOW CLOUDS OVER THE VERDUGO HILLS LIFTED FOR A MOMENT, AND I COULD SEE THE BLACK ETCHED OUTLINE OF THOSE HILLS...WHERE I SPENT ALLOT OF TIME AS A CHILD....(TO BE CONTINUED)