The beginning of October showers stormed down in fat droplets upon the ground. The weather was so gloomy, even the jogger down the block, who always went for a daily run with her dog, had decided to stay inside for the day. Apart from the occasional car passing by, and the pattering of the rain against my windowpane, the only other sounds were the dripping noises from a bucket in the kitchen that was quickly filling up due to a leaky roof. I was curled up on the paisley-print sofa in my living room, waiting for Amy to pick me for Katie’s eighteenth birthday party and feeling lulled by the warmth of the roaring fire from the brick fireplace washing over my face. Watching the water droplets fusing together against the window, I finally heard a honk and a splash coming from her green Volkswagon Beetle pulling against the curb and quickly got up from my comfortable seat. Tugging on my hooded parka, I then grabbed my present for Katie, tucked it under my jacket so it wouldn’t get went, and headed out the door.
