A Day for Smiling
2003-10-15 - 10:12 p.m.

Yesterday was a catastrophe. If he looks today like he has lost his best friend, there is a good reason. He thinks he may have.

He isn’t yet sure. Only time will really tell. All he knows for sure is that she was awfully angry when she left last night. She has been angry before, but never enough to merit using a superlative to describe her chagrin. He was fairly certain she’d get over it, but it was still up in the air.

Not only has he lost his best friend. He has lost his job as well. His company, according to his boss, was downsizing. No, it was nothing he’d done, and yes, he’d get the company’s highest recommendation if they were called for a reference. Sorry, that’s life, and he was all but pushed out the door. They said they’d mail the contents of his desk. He doubts they will.

He looks at the sky, and it looks angry, just like his friend. It looks like it doesn’t want him around, just like his job. It roars at him, just like… well, there is really nothing to compare that to. It roars at him anyway. Thunder isn’t concerned with simile.

He knows he has to find a job, but recession is in full swing. He’ll be lucky to find a work in fast food. He still remembers how to build a better Big Mac. McDonald’s is always hiring.

It sounds like the clouds are laughing at his thoughts. They have a low rumbling laugh. It would be grandfatherly and comforting if it weren’t so loud and scary. Thinking about things like that can drive a man crazy. He chooses not to think about it. He enjoys sanity too much.

Suddenly, the sky starts crying, its tears landing on him and being absorbed into his thin jacket. It isn’t really waterproof. It’s more of a windbreaker. The sky always cries after it laughs. It restores balance.

The sky’s laughter irritates him. He’ll show it who’s boss.

He smiles. The rain is washing away yesterday. The water is cleaning the mud off his glasses. The drops are speaking to him in blips and thwaps as they hit the sidewalk around him. Yesterday was a day for crying. Today is a day for smiling.

And so, he smiles.