The Secret

    "It's going to rain. Better stay home."

    "But it's not raining yet."

    "But it will!"

    "How do you know?"

    "Well, just look at the sky. Clouds. Darkening clouds."

    "But they're moving, the clouds are moving, on their way to the Dakotas--or Iowa--moving somewhere. I think we should go."

    Long pause. "Well . .  . okay . . . but let's drive then."

    "Drive?! Drive a mile!"

    "Closer to two--one and a half for sure."

    "We have umbrellas."

    "What if there is wind?"

    "And raincoats with hoods."

    "A strong wind."

    "And we have a sense of adventure."

    "What?"

    "I said, 'we have a sense of adventure.' It is the first thing I noticed about you, liked about you."

    "What?"

    "Don't you remember? I was standing at the doorway of old Main Hall, wondering if it was going to rain, clutching my books like an oversized school girl and you said to me--a complete stranger, 'Come on. Let's go for it.'"

    "And I said, 'It's going to rain.'"

    " 'A free bath,' you said, and grabbed my books, grabbed my hand, and we ran for it."

    "So?"

    "So, let's get going!" She takes his hand and before he has time to think or resist, he is moving, running, kind of running, an old man stumbling after an old woman, both of them grinning as if they had just rediscovered the secret to the good life . . . which they had.