The Mindless Escapade

The rain fell hard on this humdrum town, it was enough to drag anyone down. Even the seagulls, usually so resilient, usually so robust, were giving up their search for food and finding shelter from the persistent rain. Mitch bowed his head, he was walking in to the wind, in to the rain, it felt like he was walking in to oblivion. He was the only person brave enough to face the rain. The streets were deserted, there weren’t even any cars to splash passed him. It was a grey, cold, lonely day.

Mitch was putting all his effort in to each step, but it was a battle of wits, the wind pushing him backwards as quickly as he was moving forward.  Rain rolled down his forehead and dripped off his eyebrows. Puddles formed at his feet, his jeans stuck to his skin as resolutely as his hair stuck to his head. He clutched the package under his arm as he battled the elements wishing he’d never set out on this mindless escapade. He was only two minutes from home but that two minutes would be the longest, hardest two minutes of his life. He tried to imagine he was at the Arms Park wearing the red of Wales, the opponent not the wind but England, that the package was the rugby ball and his home the winning try line. But it was no use, he was too damned miserable for even his favourite fantasy to amuse him. A gust of wind clattered hail in to his face. He scrunched his eyes, and tried to convince himself that the water that leaked from them was only rainwater. He’d never known a storm as bad as this. He tried to pull himself together, it was only rain and ten more paces, just ten more paces and he’d be home.

Finally he turned the key in the lock and felt the warm dry air of his flat. He’d returned to the comfort he’d wondered if he’d ever see again. But he’d made it. He’d conquered the elements, touched down in the corner, won against all odds. The victory had come at a cost, the jeans would need a wash and he could probably do with a shower, but it was a price worth paying. He put the eggs down on the kitchen counter and slipped out of his wet clothes. What idiot decided to have egg and chips for tea and then forgets to buy the eggs? Oh well a little bit of rain never hurt anyone and now he could look forward to his favourite dinner.