The rain was falling sideways.  The wind caused the palm trees to double over.  The city had purchased the trees hoping to attract vistors with a tropical aura.  They were strung out down Main St. carelessly placed in wrought iron planters.  The rain wasn't hard, but it came down with a force that drove the would-be tourists off of the sidewalks and under the nearest shelter.

     Elijah had always thought that the palm trees had an adverse effect on visitors, who would most likely view them as superficial and obviously out of their element.  His attention was currently drawn to a couple quickly stumbling down the slick side street toward a forest green 4-Runner parked along Phildelphia St.  The man was clearly setting the pace and moving ahead to get the doors unlocked.  The woman, who was trying desperately to match her partner's speed, was being further detered by her sandals.

     The rain wasn't a freak weather pattern.  No weather was freak in a town where it rained almost every afternoon despite even cloudless skies.  However, even Elijah had to admit he was suprised by it when he had just looked out the front window five minutes before and the street was dry.  The woman's sandals proved the day had started sunny and optimistic.

     The gutters along Philly St. were starting to fill, and as the woman lept off of the curb, she sank ankle deep into the collected rain water.  Once she reached the passenger door, she realized it was locked.  By the time the two were able to communicate this fact through the side window, her hair was molded to her head.

     Elijah thought that her hair looked prettier wet than it had moments earlier tied up in a ultra tight bun.  It gave her a less refined look.  A look that he had loved so much in Rebecca.  It was during a similar flash storm three years ago that she and Elijah had first kissed.  It wasn't romantic,  not like those overactors portrayed out in Hollywood.  He remembered how awkward the situation became and put it out of his mind.  As he turned away from the coffe shop window, he pulled the piece of paper from his jeans pocket and headed for the counter.