Mist

Walking the dogs in the rain. They skid and scuffle their way along the foot path, urging the walker on, pulling at their leads as they playfully bound along, their coats slick with raindrops.

She allows herself a smile, a small, sad smile, rarely seen on her stormy face. Her sister, and teachers, her friends and parents are always nagging at her to smile more. But who are they to tell her what to do? There is no law against frowning, and if she gave in she'd be doing just what they wanted her to do. There is a snap, and her head jerks upwards, her daydream bubble gone. But the streets are deserted, as if the heavy torrents of rain have washed everyone away.

That would be nice, she thinks, if the rains actually did come and wash everyone away. No more shifty looks at you, for not complying with the unspoken dress code and no more queues to wait in. No age laws, no crowds.... and no school.

School, oh how she hates it. The bustling corridors, always filled with people, squished up against each other, no respect for personal space.  The tisking, tutting teachers, always expecting more and putting her on the spot. She could read whatever she wanted, without feeling embarrassed, and could paint the whole town red - literally. She hates the ties and the baggy jumpers, the bullies and the bitches; she sometimes wishes she could melt into the floor.

But the world is filled with people, and their rules and low standards, their ugly choices of buildings, furniture and clothes, and like it or not they would be there for as long as the earth remained.

The dogs give a yap, and her head jerks up, and look, there is someone else, someone who, like her, has braved the rain to make sure their dog gets enough exercise. "Hey," she thinks, "I know her". They have never talked but her face is definitely familiar. The other girl breezes past with her dog, not even turning her head. And all too soon she is gone, disappeared into the mist like some kind of phantom.

Slowly, the girl and her dogs start off again, until, they too, are swallowed up by the mist.