Two raindrops were sitting on a cloud and one says to the other, ‘I’m scared of falling’.
The other raindrop, who was bigger and wiser, says,
‘Don’t be scared, it’s fun and you get to come back up and do it again. I’ve done it many times and it’s always great fun. ‘
‘But does it hurt?’
‘Oh, not at all’
‘Not even when you land?’
‘Landing it sometimes the best part, especially if you land on someone’s head, someone without an umbrella. ‘
‘Do you always land on someone’s head?’
‘Sadly no. You never know where you are going to land. Sometimes you land on soft grass, sometimes you land in a river or in the sea. Then again, sometimes you may land on a rock or a building or a pavement. Such hard places are not quite so nice. But, if youre lucky, you get to join a puddle with lots of other raindrops. I’ve made some great friends in puddles.’
At this point , you might expect the more experienced raindrop to offer to hold hands with the little raindrop, and then to jump together.
But he didnt.
After all, raindrops dont have hands.
The little raindrop was still afraid of falling. Everything the other raindrop had told him, had not reassured him.
So when it came time for all the raindrops to jump off the cloud, the little raindrop was still reluctant. He stood back while he watched the other raindrops leap off …
Wee,
Wee,
Wee, wee,
Wee
(Did i just say ‘wee, wee’? I can only assume it was pissing down)
When all the raindrops had jumped pff the cloud, the little raindrop found himself alone. He looked all around and then down, wondering if he should jump. But he was still too afraid, so much so that he started to cry.
(Believe you me, there is nothing more confusing than a raindrop shedding tears)
‘Don’t worry, little one.’ A voice said, ‘i’ll help you’.
The raindrop looked around. ‘Who said that? ‘
‘I did, the cloud.’ Said the cloud.
‘Don’t be silly. Clouds can’t talk.’
‘This one can.’ Said the cloud, ‘Do you want me to help you or not? ‘
‘Yes please. I’m afraid of falling.’
‘I know. ‘ said the cloud, ‘i overheard you talking. But i’ve got an idea that may help you.
You see those little hills over there?’
The little raindrop looked and, sure enough, he could see some gentle hills ahead.
‘I’ll float over to the topof those hills. Ì’ll stop for a while and you can step off. You are sure to land on nice soft grass.’
‘Thank you.’ Said the raindrop, though he was still a little unsure.
Slowly the cloud moved closer to the hills until, eventually, the cloud covered the top of the hill.
‘Now is your chance.’ Said the cloud. ‘You dont even need to jump, just step off onto the grass. Ive also created a mist so no other raindrop can see you or tease you.’
‘Are you sure’ said the raindrop, who was still a little nervous.
‘Oh yes,’ said the cloud, ‘now would be a good …’
The little raindrop had stepped off before the cloud could even finish talking. He had stepped off the cloud and onto a blade of soft grass.
The raindrop felt very pleased with himself. So he should for it was a big step for a nervous raindrop.
Barely had he stepped onto the blade of grass, though, when he felt himself sliding down.
He slid down the blade of grass and plopped into a cool stream.
The little raindrop flowed with the stream down the gentle hillside. As he did so, he looked up and watched trees and bushes and the sky, pass by. He started to enjoy himself and he relaxed while the stream flowed on.
The stream flowed on and on, slowly down the hillside. The little raindrop was lucky to avoid small rocks and the odd dizzying eddy. But then…
Can you guess?
The stream came to an edge and it flowed over the edge … a waterfall!
‘Wee … ‘ went the raindrop. He was really beginning to enjoy his journey.
By and by, the stream became bigger and wider. It turned into a river but it kept on flowing and taking the raindrop with it.
Then the river turned into the sea. Where the raindrop started sweating and turning salty.
If you think a raindrop crying is difficult to imagine, then youre going to struggle with the concept of one sweating.
And then… and then… then…
The raindrop evaporated up into the air and up onto another cloud.
Three or four times this happened. Each time the raindrop asked the cloud to take him to a higher hill.
Then, one time, the raindrop felt brave and daring (but in fact he hd just grown cocky). He asked the cloud to take him to the highest hill ever known.
And the cloud obliged. He took the raindrop to a mountain. The raindrop looked and exclaimed that the mountain was made of rock and not grass. The raindrop did not like hard rock.
The cloud told him not to worry, for the top of the mountain was covered in soft white snow. The raindrop could step off there and not hit the hard rock.
That is what the raindrop did. He stepped off the cloud and onto the cold soft snow.
And he froze.
He is still there this very day.
My Storytelling 