It's raining
Barbara woke to rain drumming on her rusty window. Cool droplets slid down the glass as thunder rumbled in the distance. She stretched, yanked off the rumpled blue sheet, and blinked into the grey morning.
She fumbled under the pillow until she found her glasses that were broken at the bridge and taped together. Sliding them on, she took in the mess: empty soda cans teetered on the nightstand, crumpled donut boxes littered the floor, and a mountain of clothes spilled off the chair. In the foggy mirror across the room, she saw streaks of mascara under tired eyes and greasy curls that begged for a brush.
Memories of last night flashed in her mind. “You’ve spent the whole week in bed,” her mother had scolded. “Fix those glasses and clean up this room.” Barbara sighed. School started next week, and she still hadn’t finished her summer assignments for Miss Lily.
She kicked off her socks and trudged to the bathroom. The cold water in the shower made her gasp, but she scrubbed away a week of sleepiness. Steam curled around her, and minty shampoo tickled her scalp until she felt almost awake.
Back in her bedroom, she tossed the wet towel onto the chair and opened her cupboard. She found a pink dress speckled with white flowers and slipped it on. Jazz crackled from the radio as she twirled and combed through her dark curls.
On the floor, she spotted her golden hoop earrings, the ones she’d thrown on the floor last night coming back from Jolie’s house. Jolie, her next-door friend, always reminded her to grow up and take responsibility. Barbara straightened the hoops in her ears, promising herself she’d try.
Downstairs, her mother placed mushroom steak on the table. The kitchen smelled of garlic and onions. Barbara sat and ate in silence, then said, “Thanks for lunch, Mom,” before slipping outside and leaving her plate behind for her mother to clean.
Rain soaked her pink dress as she ran down the street in her white sneakers. She hadn’t grabbed an umbrella because that would have been too sensible. Wind whipped at her hair, and water blurred her taped lenses. She was shivering with cold air and lamenting her decision to come out when she spotted a warm glow on her right: a little coffee shop. With a grin, Barbara sprinted through the door, shivering but ready for whatever came next.
The little coffee shop was a bright shelter in the storm. Outside, wind and rain knocked against the windows, but inside, blue and pink neon lights glowed on the walls. Bright printed tablecloths covered round tables, and the air smelled of freshly brewed coffee and warm cookies. A few people sat nearby, sipping coffee and reading quietly. At the front, a glass display showed donuts, sandwiches, and sweet pastries. Above it, a sign in bright blue letters read Coco and Milk.
To the left, a long wooden table sat under a glowing lamp. Newspapers, magazines, and a few old novels were spread across it. Seated there was a man in a crisp white suit and dark sunglasses. His beard was neatly trimmed, and his dark hair was slicked back. He looked up at Barbara as she shook off raindrops and stepped inside.
Barbara pushed up her taped glasses and hurried to the counter. She pressed a small bell, and a young barista appeared. Steam rose from the espresso machine. “Welcome!” the barista said with a warm smile. “What can I get you?” Barbara ordered a warm Spanish latte with a swirl of foam, paid, and carried her steaming cup over toward the man in white.
She shivered as she sat down. Without a word, the man offered her a tissue. Startled, Barbara took it and wiped water from her cheeks. Her eyes fell on a card lying next to him. It read: Mr. Zeus, the Fortune Teller.
Curiosity fluttered in her chest. She picked up the card and looked at him. “Are you really a fortune teller?” she asked. He nodded, his voice calm and gentle. “I am Mr. Zeus, and yes, I tell fortunes. I wear these glasses because I am blind.”
Barbara’s eyes went wide. “How did you know I was a girl?” she asked. He smiled again. “I heard you step in from the rain, the bell above the door, the warmth in your voice. You ordered coffee—only you sounded so young. That’s how I knew.”
Barbara’s heart raced. “Will you tell me my future?” she whispered. Mr. Zeus closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke:
“In the middle of the night, a curious girl will explore a hidden doorway. It will lead her into a magical world where she will learn bravery and kindness. She will return stronger and more responsible—so much so that even the Queen there will be astonished.”
Barbara laughed softly. Responsible? Her mom couldn’t even get her to pick up her socks. A magical world could never change her. She left her half-drunk latte on the table, nodded, and asked, “Isn’t Zeus the famous Greek god? You must have read mythology?” Smirking, she left the coffee shop. The storm had eased to a light drizzle. She ran home, arms wrapped around herself, eager to escape any more prophecies—at least for now.
Barbara’s mother had cleaned her room so thoroughly that when Barbara opened the door, it felt like stepping into someone else’s life. Pale pink curtains hung neatly on either side of the window, brushing the tops of the perfectly folded blankets. A single daisy in a glass jar caught the afternoon light on the desk, and the scent of fresh sheets drifted from the bed. Her clothes, once piled like fallen leaves, now sat folded in tidy stacks inside her cupboard. Not a single soda can or donut box remained to break the illusion of order.
Barbara’s heart gave a small leap of gratitude as she ran barefoot down the hall, her toes cool against the hardwood. In the kitchen, her mother stood at the stove, stirring a sauce whose garlic and rosemary aromas wrapped around the room like a hug. Barbara flung her arms around her, breathing in the sweet comfort of home. “Just be more responsible next time,” her mother murmured, tucking a loose curl behind Barbara’s ear.
By early evening, jazz music spun through the living room in lazy swirls of saxophone and soft trumpet. Barbara let the music wash over her, her dress flaring with each twirl as she danced barefoot across the rug. The notes felt warm on her skin, as if they carried sunshine from golden afternoons. Laughter bubbled up until her cheeks hurt, and when Jolie arrived, the joy doubled. Barbara animatedly told the funny story of Mr. Zeus. Jolie came bearing a cake topped with chocolate waves, the sweet taste making Barbara’s night even brighter.
After Jolie left, the clock hands slipped toward midnight. Barbara was already asleep when a soft clatter woke her. A curious hum pulled her from bed. She crept downstairs, the dark house sleeping around her, and slipped through the back door. Cool night air brushed her arms as moonlight carved silver paths on the grass. Somewhere nearby, a soft metallic tingle repeated its mysterious call.
Drawn forward, Barbara’s foot hit something buried under damp earth. She knelt and brushed away the soil to uncover a pair of velvet gloves, deep purple and flecked with tiny glints like stars. The moment she slid her hand inside, the world trembled. The sky above shifted to lavender and mauve, shrubs rippled in violet tones, and a dense, metallic mist crept across the yard.
From the swirling haze came distant cries: girls begging for help. Barbara’s pulse pounded, but the gloves pulsed too, as if alive. She rose and stepped toward the fence, where her street had vanished. In its place stood a gate of wrought-iron vines, each bar the color of purple twilight and studded with glowing gems. Pale violet light spilled through the bars in flickering patterns.
