Puddle Day

Totalie was walking down the street with his earbuds in. Sounds thumping into his ear canals causing his body to move with a little extra panache. His stride fell into rhythm with the music, left, right, left, right, a quick shuffle and another right. The sun was shining through the crisp winter day. It wasn’t too cold though, a nice 45 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a very mild winter indeed. He was out on his daily constitutional, his new years resolution to get a little more exercise in his days. He had started lighter the week before but was stepping up the distance today, and what a beautiful day indeed.

Suddenly, water splashed up onto his pants and a few droplets made it as high as is cheek. It was stunningly cold to the touch. He yanked his earbuds out with a single swipe to the thin wires leading from them down to his phone. There was a brief pop in his ears at the buds dislodged themselves and went flying around his body tracing the motion of his moving hand.

“What the what?” He exclaimed to no-one in general.

“Hi Totalie!” a memorable voice drifted into his now vacant ears.

His head swiveled with a snakelike determination and locked in on his target. Trulie was in full rain gear. A pair of black galoshes sporting rainbow hearts, they were starting to separate at the heels, so a helping of colorful duct tape was supporting keeping them in once piece. A 1920’s stylish bathing suit with white lining. This was covered by a cheap semi-transparent plastic poncho with black smiley faces etched into it by a precarious sharpie. Topping it off, a pink umbrella embellished with small white bows, each with a long skinny ribbons emanating from them. Decorative beaded butterflies adorning the ribbons.

Trulie had a giant grin across her face. She was genuinely happy today.

“Um… Trulie?” Totalie questioned, “What are you…” before he could finish Trulie interjected.

“Isn’t it lovely! Such a beautiful day. Puddles everywhere!” She was bouncing from foot to foot making little splashes in the puddle she had used in a massive leap earlier, now mostly on Totalie’s pants.

“Today is one of those special days, isn’t it?” Totalie feeling like his walk of solitude had been concluded for good today.

“Why yes it is! Today is…” Trulie started.

“Jump in a puddle and get me soaked day?” Totalie finished.

“National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day.” Trulie finished without listening to Totalie.

Totalie stared at her for a moment. Unwaveringly she continued to hop in the now reduced pond. He shrugged.

“You know what Trulie?”

“No, what?”

“It’s probably better to not fight it.” With that he jumped up in the air and splashed water back at Trulie. She laughed. “This is fun, let’s go find Jack and splash him!”

“Yas!” Trulie exclaimed as they skipped away in their new search.