A Summer Storm

     Thursday night we had school all day and once that was done we had a field trip. Once it had ended and the Photo4 kids were good and tired, we knew we had to go out. Skip to Nate's front porch on a sticky, sweaty summer night. While everyone complained and drank cheap beer, a giant smile began to rise out of me. The situation, the weather, everything felt amazing. I was alive and were kids again. I began to see lightning in the sky, but not a chance of rain. It was Heat Lightning they explained. This seemed to be a debatable issue. Not everyone agreed that Heat Lightning actually existed. Some said it was just a made up name for regular lightning (see Gatoraide's Electrolites). I can tell you that was lightning in Rochester was nothing like we have in Los Angeles, the rare occasions we actually see it. LA's lightning is bright, strong and it cuts the world in half, connecting the clouds with the ground. This so called "Heat Lightning" just brewed in the sky, flashing angrily without being able to express it's full fury. There was no thunder. The storm again could not shout it's anger. I was stupefied by this show of emotion. It was both beautiful and chilling. Was night going to explode into white light at any point? Of course, I was the only one who was so intrigued by this. Everyone else did not seem to notice. While I stared into sky, a faint rumbling sounded in the distance. Was this thunder? No, it was not. The sound got louder and louder until it was upon us. Rain! Within one minute, buckets of rain dropped upon us. Without warning, we were drenched. It was fantastic. The damp heat was being drowned by a cool refreshing rain. Within fifteen minutes the rain left as quickly as it came, leaving us with our cool wet clothes and an unforgettable Rochester experience.