“Raindrops”
Listen to this chapter, “November Rain”
It was Wednesday morning when Allen told Julie that his folks were going to La Paloma Saturday night. “Could you go?” he asked.
Julie wanted very much to say “yes,” but she quietly replied, “I don’t know for sure now. I’ll let you know Friday night, okay?”
Friday night came. As usual, Allen was the first to tell Julie he liked her organ playing. Then, “Tomorrow night?” he asked.
“We may go to visit my cousins,” she answered gingerly. “I’ll call you.”
So Allen waited. And waited until the next afternoon when he could wait no longer. He picked up the phone and dialed a number.
“Yes, Allen, I’ll go with you tonight,” was music to his ears.
“Fine, Julie!” Allen sighed inside. “I’ll see you about six, okay?”
But six o’clock came. And Allen, Peter, and Mrs. Macintosh were at Emorys’ house visiting. Allen looked at his watch nervously, although his mother knew what was going on in his mind. But Emorys weren’t people one could just leave.
“How would you like to go over to La Paloma with us to a concert tonight, Steve?” Mrs. Macintosh asked.
So when Allen finally knocked on the door of Julie’s house, where she had been ready for a half hour, they were on their way. Some “date,” Allen thought—escorted by Mother, with best friend and little brother along! But once Allen and Julie were together, it didn’t really seem to matter.
This was so new and exciting for Julie. And everything was happening so fast. Ever since grade school days and Riverdale and Eddy and graduation night, life had been uneventful. Now she wondered if she could be good enough company for Allen to want to go with again. And again.
But Allen never knew what Julie was thinking. The night was pleasant, the melodious strains of wonderful music floated lightly through the silent hall, and an attentive, prettily shy girl sat by his side. And he was enjoying it all.
Soon, too soon, the program was over. And Allen, Julie, Steve, Peter, and Mrs. Macintosh started toward the car. But the clear November skies had clouded over, a chilly breeze rustled, and they felt a light drizzle. November rain! The first rain of the season!
“Oh, my hair!” Julie exclaimed almost delightedly.
Spotting a newspaper under a tree, Mrs. Macintosh picked it up and divided it with Julie to hold over their heads. “Here, let me do that,” Allen offered, taking the paper. And together they walked out to the car.
A tired but happy couple was glad to see the lights of Riverdale. Mrs. Macintosh left Steve off at his ranch. Then there were three more miles to Julie’s house. Silently and quickly Julie felt a soft warm hand over hers. Her eyes met Allen’s, capturing the magic sparkle as if to echo the words of the popular song, “‘Somethin’ good’ll come from this’.”
It was still raining when the Simca stopped at Julie’s house. Allen was so sleepy—and quite embarrassed when his mom had to say, “Why, Allen, walk Julie to the door.” And it was all Julie could do to conceal a little giggle.
But once out of the reach of the car’s parking lights, Allen slipped his arm lightly around Julie’s waist.
“Thank you,” she said at the door. “Good night.”
But “good night” did not mean “goodbye.”
Early Sunday afternoon Julie’s phone was ringing, and Allen was on the line.
“I just wondered if you have any poems I might use in my scrapbook for my English project,” he said.
“Oh, yes. You asked me about that last Friday, didn’t you?” Julie recalled. “I think I said I’d try to bring some to you tomorrow, didn’t I?”
Perhaps Allen thought Julie had a poor memory. But he said, “Well, I had to have an excuse to phone you!”
To Julie, this was the first sign she might mean something special to Allen.
Monday came and was soon over. Nowhere but in Riverdale Valley were November evenings so beautiful. The long ride each day and the waiting after school grew monotonous. But to Allen and Julie, to travel those last few miles over the rolling hills planted in wheat and melons and watch the road like a long black ribbon stretching around the purple hills and past picturesque farms and cottages, then to glimpse the tall slender palm trees on the outskirts of Riverdale silhouetted against the inspiring November sunset—all this seemed to compensate for the long day. And, one by one, glittering stars appeared in the velvety sky. And a particular one in the southwestern sky seemed to glow brighter than any of the others.
“Venus!” Julie whispered delightedly.
“Starlight, star bright…” Allen replied with a tender smile. And once again, Julie felt a soft warm hand over her own.
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