Under The Purple Umbrella

 On one particularly wet autumn day, I skipped around the block to get on the 9 o'clock bus. Today I decided to take the longer path to get there. It's not as if I have school today or anything -it was a holiday, and I was just meeting my mother at a cafe. Unfortunately, my favorite purple umbrella snagged on a barren branch along the way and was torn in one section. 

 It isn't much use now is it? I thought, slightly scolding myself for being so careless, Mum will not be pleased. 

 Luckily, I spotted a dull coloured bus stop in the distance. I gratefully trotted up to it, disturbing a few puddles along the way. It wasn't my usual bus stop, but I glimpsed a schedule with the 9 o'clock bus on it. I moved to sit on the bench, but it was soaking wet already, so I looked up and noticed that there were a few holes in the once seamless glass roof. 

 Looking around for another place to sit, I spotted a young woman in a double-breasted trench coat. I couldn't see much of her face so I didn't know who she was, but I decided to strike up a conversation to pass the time. 

 "Is purple your favorite colour too?" I asked, addressing her umbrella that was my favorite shade of purple. 

 "Oh umm... yes it is." The woman replied, though she looked quite startled. 

 Perhaps she didn't see me I thought to myself. 

 "Your umbrella is broken," The woman continued, pointing to the gaping hole in my umbrella. She then pointed to her own umbrella and said "why don't we share this one?" 

 I nodded thankfully and sidled up to her. She smelled very nice - like mum's expensive perfume that she only wore on special occasions. Looking up at her, I noticed she was staring at me disbelievingly, as if I were a long extinct animal that suddenly turned up in her backyard. Just as I opened my mouth to ask her about it, my bus came. She walked me to the sliding door and waved me away, her eyes still regarding me suspiciously.

 About an hour later, I arrived at the cafe. I had to run out of the bus so as not to get too wet, and proceeded to stand under the thing above the entrance door, trying to shake off the excess water. 

 "Where have you been?" asked mum, suddenly materializing behind me,  "Oh! You tore the umbrella too! Here's a handkerchief, wipe your legs and step inside." 

 Immediately, a wall of sound and warmth slammed into my face. I stepped into the warmly lit restaurant, a vast contrast from the dreary downpour outside. People were chattering, cutlery was clanking, music was playing, and there was the usual hustle and bustle of waiters and chefs. Ah well.. at least the spaghetti was nice. 

 I was jolted back from my reverie by mum saying "We are fixing that umbrella as soon as we get home young lady." 

 I just nodded, still pondering about the nice lady I met at the bus stop. Mum kept her promise, as soon as we got home and changed out of our going-out clothes, she made me sit down and patch up the umbrella while telling her every single detail of how it got torn in the first place. I left out the lady I met at the bus stop, but I wasn't quite sure why. 

 I'm 23 now, and that purple umbrella is still in wonderful shape, though it is rather weatherworn after being used for 13 years straight. I brought it with me here - all the way in America where I'm studying on a scholarship. Though it is quite lovely here, I still miss my mum. Luckily, I'll be able to meet her soon, since dad is coming home from the military and I plan to go back and surprise them both. 

 Ah.... home sweet home. Everything had more or less stayed the same, except for a few furniture changes here and there. Of course I was greeted with a big hug from mum and dad, and I soon felt thoroughly at home again. It was the usual warm welcomes, chit-chats, and a big feast to induce everyone present into a food coma. 

 During such feast, I accidentally spilt a bit of tea on my blouse, and I excused myself to change into another one. Mum came in to check on me and remarked on "how much I've grown up", as she usually does. This time she offered to spray some of her favorite perfume to make sure I didn't smell like Twining's teabags. Soon after, I had to set out to the hotel I booked for the night, since I'd meet up with some old friends the next morning. 

 So, I waved goodbye to Mum and Dad, stretched out my loyal purple umbrella, and stepped out to the wet pavement covered in fallen leaves. It was nice to see so many lights stretching out from house windows, signs that no doubt there was a family celebrating a return from the military like my own. It was a bit of a nuisance though, when one of the tents being put up for the welcome-home party blocked the way to my usual bus stop. So I went the long way, tightening my scarf and pulling my coat tautly around my arms, listening to the sounds of the seemingly constant autumn rain. 

 "Ugh my wellingtons are wet. I just bought them too.." I muttered to myself, finally reaching the bus stop and making a small mental note to dry my boots near the hearth once I get to the motel. "Why must it always-" 

 "Is purple your favorite colour too?" Chirped a familiar sounding voice. 

 I turned around to see a young girl - no older than 10. 

 Oh dear... I didn't notice her walking up to me... I thought quickly. Do I know this girl? Hmm.... better answer. 

"Oh umm.... yes it is." I replied, somewhat robotically. 

The girl was still looking up at me expectantly, clutching a torn purple umbrella. I wondered where her parents were, the girl looked so lonely and- 

A purple umbrella.... 

A TORN purple umbrella..... 

On a wet autumn day..... 

"Your umbrella is broken." I blurted out. 

I still couldn't believe what I was seeing and I was partly horrified by it. 

Okay... stay calm... stay calm.

I pointed at my own umbrella - the patched up, worn down umbrella that I remember bringing all those years ago (or I guess... on this very day) and decided to say 

"Why don't we share this one."

Authors notes:

Hey guys, I know I haven't posted in a long while. This story is a small one fueled by late  night inspiration, but I hoped you enjoyed it. I tried writing in a different style, so lmk if it's good. I actually have several things in my drafts (including this one), that I plan to post soon. Which includes a series of poems about (I'm not telling you). So keep a look out for new stuff! 

PS: The art I used for the cover DOES NOT belong to me. I found it on Pinterest so credits to the artist.