by BobA. Troutt
*****
Giggle Book Three
Walking Between the Drops
It was a bright and beautiful day when the old Wiseman sat patiently on the banks of the pond fishing under a willow tree. He quietly sat as he held his fishing pole out over the water. The only sounds that could be heard were the faint sounds of the dragonflies dashing about the pond, buzzzzz, and the noise their tiny little feet made when they touched the tops of the cattails.
“Shhh,” hushed the Wiseman. “You’ll scare the fish,” he said as he winked his eye at them.
From time to time, he could hear the splashing sounds of fish playing in the water. Amazingly, the Wiseman caught fish coming and going by using his knowledge, wisdom and expertise. As quickly as he pulled them in, he would cast his line back out. He caught one fish, two, then three and four; as soon as the hook touched the top of the water, he would catch another—five, six, seven and more. The Wiseman smiled and giggled as he threw his line to the right and then to the left.
“This is a fine day to catch fish, I must say,” he giggled.
Straight out and high in the air he sent the baited hook. The line almost whistled as it cut through the air and sailed deep out into the pond, almost crossing over to the other side. A fine job, he bragged to himself. And what a fine catch of fish too.
Now, the Wiseman thought he had everything figured out.
He lay back against the willow and mumbled, “One fish, two fish, three.”
He smiled at his accomplishment and giggled. A job well done, he bragged again. Suddenly, he paused and looked around. Now, I’m bored, he softly whispered to himself. There must be something, he thought to himself, for me to do. He thought and thought of something he could do. Surely, there was something he could think of. But, what could it be?
“Is there anything that I have not done?” he asked as he sat under the willow and looked around. “Surely there is something here,” he said as he scratched his head and sighed. “How silly of me, there is something here for me but I can’t figure it out.”
Suddenly, it happened! A raindrop fell on top of his head. Quickly, he began to stir.
“Surely,” he said, “there is something for me to think about.”
As the Wiseman slowly looked around, his eyes searched across the pond. He noticed the raindrops falling upon the water. He watched as they randomly fell here and there.
“What have we here?” mumbled the Wiseman. “Why haven’t I noticed this before? This is it!” he yelled as he settled back down. “This is what I have been looking for,” he calmly whispered under his breath. “Oh, thank you, Lord. Thank you for this beautiful rain!” he shouted.
Suddenly, he paused and looked in amazement. He began to study the raindrops as they fell upon the water.
“That’s it! That’s it,” he chuckled. “This is better than catching fish,” he cried. “Lord,” spoke the Wiseman, I was wondering if someone can walk between the drops of rain and not get wet?”
He paused for a moment and waited for the Lord’s reply. He waited and waited, but there was no answer. Carefully, the Wiseman eased back under the willow and began to think.
“Maybe, Lord,” he said, “I need to give this a little more thought.”
As he studied the question at hand, he searched out all the possibilities. He calculated, in his head, the distance between the falling raindrops. He took into consideration the number of drops falling in a minute. He leaned forward from under the willow and scratched his head. He looked out across the pond and paused once again.
“Lord,” he asked, “can someone walk between the drops of rain and not get wet?”
As he waited for the Lord’s reply, he noticed that the rain was falling faster and faster. The drops were bigger and closer together. After a while, the Wiseman was soaked from the rain. He sat on the banks of the pond, under the willow and continued to wait for the Lord’s reply.
“Lord,” he said, “can someone walk between the drops of rain and not get wet?” the Wiseman asked the Lord once again.
The Lord spoke and the Wiseman listened and smiled.
“Ah-ha!” replied the Wiseman. “I see now. It’s not meant for us to know and understand it all. Yes, sir, you are the wisest of all.”
The Lord smiled and laughed and so did the Wiseman. The sky cleared and the sun shined. The time had come for him to gather his catch of fish and his pole; it was time for him to head home. The Wiseman was soaking wet from the rain but he didn’t care because he’d had fun with the Lord. He headed for home, laughing and shaking his head.
“Yep, Lord,” the Wiseman snickered and grinned. “You are far wiser than I or anyone else I know. But, Lord, you never did tell me if someone could walk between the drops of rain and not get wet.
He stopped and waited for the Lord’s reply.
“Oh well,” said the Wiseman, “I guess that’s a question only you, Lord, will know the answer to.”
The Lord sat back and smiled.
