Friend
1: (Answers phone) Hi, what’s up?
Friend
2: Hey, I’ve been looking at the weather for next week where we’ll be staying,
and it’s supposed to rain. A lot.
Friend
1: So? It’s a week away; it’ll change.
Friend
2: Actually, this’ll be from the storm that’s coming up the coast, so everybody’s
pretty certain it’s going to rain where and when they say it will.
Friend
1: So?
Friend
2: So… we’re going to a shore town…?
Friend
1: What’s your point?
Friend
2: If it’s raining the whole time we’re there, we’ll be washed out of everything!
Friend
1: It’s just rain; we won’t melt.
Besides, places like that always have rainy day stuff.
Friend
2: Rainy day, not rainy week!
I don’t know; I think we may need to cancel.
Friend
1: Listen: I have been looking forward to this trip for almost a year, work is
literally Hell right now, and I put off buying a new car even as mine is dying
a painful death to save up for this, so we are not cancelling.
Friend
2: Well, we got trip insurance in case something like this happened, and we can
always reschedule it –
Friend
1: WE ARE NOT CANCELLING.
THE NEXT WEEK
(On
arrival at the shore town)
Friend
2: So, the reports say this rain will continue non-stop all week. As in non-stop. All week.
Friend
1: (Tilts head up at the rainy sky) Ah, so refreshing after the 100° weather
this past month. I’m going to the beach.
(Sets
up umbrella, chair, and cooler on the lake-ridden sand, then heads out towards
the seven-foot-high waves)
Friend
2: (Wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, yells from the shore to be heard over the
wind) There’re no lifeguards here to save you!
And red flags are everywhere! At
least the ones that haven’t been ripped away by the gale-force winds!
Friend
1: (Runs over a red flag) I know what I’m getting myself into! (Dives into the waves, then turns around to
face Friend 2, struggling to stay above water) Whee! Nice and warm! (Is nearly slammed into the rocks by a rip
tide)
(At
a restaurant)
Server:
Hello! Table for two?
Friend
2: Please.
Friend
1: Yes, could we actually have one of those outdoor tables?
Server:
Oh, we didn’t open that area tonight, due to the weather.
Friend
1: That’s OK – we’ll be under the umbrella.
Friend
2: [Sighs]
(After
they are seated)
Friend
1: (Holds tightly onto the menu, as the restaurant’s deck is now a wind tunnel)
I always have to eat outside in the summer: that’s the whole point of eating
out in the summer, right?
Friend
2: (Hugging self against the chill) Mm-hm.
(To Server, who is wearing a rain poncho) Could I have a bourbon and a
hot toddy, please?
Friend
1: Ooh, and can I have the kiddie lemonade that comes with the souvenir cup?
Server:
Whatever you like. (Leaves to fill
orders)
Friend
1: (Grinning) I love novelty drinks, don’t you? (A sudden rush of water from
the umbrella splashes onto Friend 1’s head; the grin remains)
Friend
2: Mm-hm.
(At
Hole 15 on a miniature golf course)
Friend
2: (Holding an umbrella and shivering) You know, there are a bunch of indoor
courses on the boardwalk.
Friend
1: Where’s the fun in that? (Putts to
the hole; the ball floats in the water that has filled it) That still counts!
(At
a park)
Friend
1: (Splashes through puddles to bring over a tandem bicycle) Look what I
found! And it was super-cheap to rent:
the guy gave me a discount because I was his only customer!
Friend
2: Imagine that – listen, I’m going to the movie theater, and then I’m going to
get some pizza, and then I’m going to bed.
Friend
1: But you could do all that boring stuff at home! Here you can tandem bike! (Rings the bell)
Friend
2: Not in an unending shower, I won’t.
(Leaves)
Friend
1: You don’t know what you’re missing!
(Mounts the bike and slowly pedals, every so often splashed by the passing
cars on the street) Yessir, this is the life!
