"Rain?"
"Rain."
"Really?"
"Look outside."
It was just turning dark. I switched on the outdoor lights. The deck was wet. The leaves of the oak trees shimmered in a new dampness.
"I'll be damned. Rain."
"Told you."
"It hasn't rained in L.A. since 1912."
"Or thereabouts."
"I want to see the rain."
Gracie is three and had been preparing a tea party for the three of us, grandma, grandpa (that's me) and her with a little green and red set she was given earlier that day. Mommy made the tea. It was mostly sweet water with a little coloring poured into three tiny cups.
"What makes rain, grandpa?"
"Blue fairies high in the sky with glowing magic wands."
Grandma sighed. "Oh, for God's sake. Grandpa was having fun, Gracie. I'll tell you later."
"It was blue fairies, Gracie. Really."
"I want to be in the rain."
She was bundled up and taken out, carrying a child-sized umbrella, which she quickly lowered. Small drops fell on her, drifting down in wide, sweeping arcs discernible in the outdoor lights. She squinted and held out the palm of her hand, catching the drops, then threw back her head and opened her mouth, tasting the distance.
"Rain," she said, coming back in.
"Wet, lovely rain," I said.
She poured the tea. Some went into the cups, some on to the table. She was distracted by the tapping now that she heard on the roof. Droplets covered the windows.
Rain.
"I like this kind of tea party best," grandma said, probably thinking about the political group of the same name that pours hatred and dissention into the cups of America.
"More tea?"
I was holding the cup's tiny handle. Gracie missed the cup completely and accidentally poured tea over my hand. She laughed at the great joke played on grandpa. Her laughter tinkled like wind chimes in a summer breeze.
Rain continued to fall long after everyone was in bed and the house was silent. I could hear its gentle sounds on the roof, like the soft tapping of a stranger at the door. I was glad for that. I was glad for Gracie. I was glad for the tea party.
I fell asleep dreaming about blue fairies with magic wands.
Rain.