The rain was pouring down. like little drops of ice against my upturned face. Walking down the paved street, I wasn’t sure I liked the rain just yet. i opened my eyes, and stuck my tongue out, deciding that I liked the feel of the cold wet drops. waiting my turn to cross the street at the traffic light, someone emerged out of the darkness, and slowly made her way to where i was standing. the girl seemed to be around 14, and It was more than obvious that she was homeless. all that covered her thin ragged body was an oversize shirt, no doubt picked from some dumpster. She came closer, and her eyes shone bright. She seemed oblivious to the cold wind and the rain. Tiny diamond like sparkles of water glistened on her dark, tousled hair.
“You like the rain?” she enquired. It sounded more like a conclusion to an observation than a question.
“I do.”
“You don’t mind the cold?” I asked with a disapproving look at her thin, barely covered body.
“No more than the cold minds me, i suppose”, she replied.
“You live around here?” I enquired of her.
“I dont live anywhere.”
“Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes, home.”
“I though you didn’t live anywhere.” I asked with growing curiosity. There was something about her that drew me to her.
“Home is where I lay my head down. I have new homes each day. It is a sad thing, to have just one home.” She had a glimmer of challenge in her eyes.
“Contentment is something I do not wish to have, and it makes me happy.”
“You like the rain?” I questioned, puzzled by her answers.
“The rain likes me.”
The light changed, and I started to walk across, and she yelled out to me from the sidewalk - “You should go home too.”
I stopped. turned back at her - “I intend to. someday.”
I crossed the street.
And wondered which way was home.
