A Rainy Night

 

        Leaving ahead of time from the party, I saw nothing, heard nothing and gained nothing, all I felt around me was darkness.
        It was still raining, with no moon, no star in the sky, and no people, no sound around the street, I felt awfully cold. I just kept running to the bus station, wondering if I was lucky enough to see a beautiful bus still waiting for me in the cold. I tried with my efforts, only to find a dull light struggling in the middle of the station. What a pity!
        Cold and quiet, it was still raining.
        “I don’t want to stay here any longer, I must go home”, I said to myself, as I headed for the phone booth under the light.
        I dialed the number and then heard the words almost ten miles away from here. It was Dad, waked up by my coldness. I couldn’t say anything because frankly speaking, parents and family members would always be the most important people to me throughout the life.
        Freezing and quiet, it went on raining.
        I sat down in the dull light, began to feel ashamed of myself and got to complain about the boring party and the tedious rain. What a day!
        So near so far, I heard his voice. I couldn’t help thinking of my father because there had been a time when I thought he didn’t know a thing about being a good father. He just got drunk every week and would always have words with mother, what’s worse, he shouted at us or beat us with anger. Well, I was still a child at that time, knowing nothing but running, jumping and crying. So It was not my fault, I just knew it clearly that he never said the words “I love you” to me, nor did it stop causing me into wondering whether I was his own son or not.
        But now, I was ashamed to know that he loved me more than anyone else in the world and I was sure that I was the one loving him the most.
        Almost two hours later, I came to myself, shocked to find that it was already 10:00 p.m. Definitely, it was awfully late. Without thinking any more, I struggled to my feet and ran straightly into the street, taking it completely for granted that he should have already been there now.
        “What’s wrong?” To the great shock of me, I couldn’t find my beloved father, “What happened?”
I kept seeking, with my faces frozen.
        Thanked god for not letting me down. A few minutes later, the familiar sound of the motorbike reminded me of one sentence I read in a short story, “No matter what happens, I will always be there for you.” And now, you did it, my great dad.
        Seeing the wet hair, the frozen hands, the warm smile and the spectacular lines on father’s great faces, I lowered my head and wondered if he sensed my shame. If he did, I was sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. How could I explain?
        Fortunately, drops of rain gradually disappeared, and now, the stars were shining, the air was warm.