Author’s note: Since this blog includes the theme of creativity, for this month’s writing I decided to share a short story I recently wrote.
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“Yes, Saturday at 5 PM, come over to the house. Sam, Theresa, and Jenny will also be coming over. I’ll be cooking up some delicious popcorn for us to watch The Rainstorm Show,” I said to Brandon.
“Alright!!!! This will be fun to try something new,” replied Brandon.
Two days later, it was Saturday at 4:30 PM. The meteorologists were spot on with the forecast. The rainstorm had already begun to develop. The dark, swirling clouds had come closer, and water was beginning to fall from the sky.
By about 5:20 PM, everyone was at my house. Brandon, Theresa, and I were intrigued by the idea of experiencing a rainstorm together. Meanwhile, Sam and Jenny thought the idea was kind of stupid, but decided it was better than staying home.
On the stovetop, we could hear the song of the popcorn kernels popping away. There were options to add some delicious butter, olive oil, and salt to the freshly cooked popcorn. The popcorn scent drifted throughout the house, with some of us already beginning to enjoy watching The Rainstorm Show. Four of us were sitting on couches, and Jenny preferred to sit on the floor, either cross-legged or with her knees pulled up to her chest with her feet flat on the floor. Everyone except Sam had some popcorn, which we crunched on as the show began.
Looking out the window facing the backyard, I noticed raindrops scattered across the glass. Most of them were still, while a few slid slowly toward the bottom. The mix of droplets—different sizes and shapes—looked like a piece of art. The way the outdoor light reflected off each drop added another layer of wonder to the scene.
As for other sights, the way different plants and trees responded to the wind was interesting. The evergreen tree’s branches fluttered around in the wind like it was dancing. Meanwhile, the oak tree’s thick trunk was fixed as some of the thinner branches swayed up and down. The rain seemed to fall so quickly as Brandon was trying to calculate how fast it was falling. “Judging by if it was a car driving, the rain is probably coming down about 40 miles per hour,” Brandon thoughtfully said.
The Rainstorm Show was a much more real experience than watching Netflix or Prime. We had a window cracked open in the house. I could feel the breeze touch my hands, arms, and face. The air had become thicker from the humidity seeping into the house. When the soft thunder roared, I could feel the vibration through my feet resting on the floor.
The sounds of the rain hitting the ground were like a continuation of the song the popcorn made on the stovetop. Like the sound of percussion, the show was simultaneously some kind of concert.
During The Rainstorm Show, there were periods of time when we were all quiet. In the quiet, I would take in all the sights, sounds, and feelings and become absorbed in the experience. At other points, we made comments about the rainstorm or anything else. Jenny shared an experience with us, “I remember going camping with my family when I was in middle school. One summer, we went camping over the weekend. On Friday, it rained all afternoon. I remember sitting in the tent with my family playing Uno, Dominion, and other board games as the rain came down. We had a flap on the tent that was a screen where you could still see outside. I remember the good, peaceful feeling I had playing games with my family while the rain came down.”
As I was listening to Jenny’s story, I looked back out the window at the rainstorm. I thought to myself, if a rainstorm can be this interesting, what else in life am I missing?
Author’s note: I’m interested to know how you like this short fiction story I wrote. This story explores themes including presence, friendship, and the quiet beauty of watching a rainstorm together. You can leave a comment here. Or, you can send me a message on social media to let me know any thoughts you have. -Nicholas
Janurary 28, 2026