The colors after the rain
Tesshadplannedapicnicforherstuffedrabbit.Thenrainbegantappingonthewindow.Shemadeanindoorpicnicinstead,withafoldedtowelforgrassandapaperplateforapond.Rabbitseemedpleased.Tessstillwishedforalittlesunshine.
Later,therainsoftenedandsunlightreachedthekitchenfloor.Mumcalledfromthedoorway.Acrosstheskywasarainbow.TessbroughtRabbitoutundertheporch.‘Whoputthecolorsupthere?’sheasked.‘Theywereinthesunlightalready,’Mumsaid.‘Thewaterdropshelpusseethemseparately.’
Tessimaginedeachdropasatinyvisitorcarryinglight.Mumexplainedthatlightbendsonitswayintoandoutofadrop,andsomebouncesinside.Differentcolorsbenddifferently.ThestoryinTess'sheadgrewintoaparadeofcolors,eachtakingaslightlydifferentturn.
‘CanweputitinRabbit'spicnicbasket?’Tessasked.Mumshookherhead.Arainbowwaslightreachingtheireyes,notaribbontheycouldfold.Tessconsideredthis.Somelovelythingswerefornoticing,notcollecting.
Whentherainbowfaded,theywentinside.Tessdrewoneoverthepaperpond.ShegaveRabbitapretendsandwichandtoldhimaboutthewaterdrops.Thepicnichadgainedastory,evenifithadn'tgainedarealrainbow.
Free to read and listen · AI narration · No account needed
Read the full story
Tess had planned a picnic for her stuffed rabbit. Then rain began tapping on the window. She made an indoor picnic instead, with a folded towel for grass and a paper plate for a pond. Rabbit seemed pleased. Tess still wished for a little sunshine.
Later, the rain softened and sunlight reached the kitchen floor. Mum called from the doorway. Across the sky was a rainbow. Tess brought Rabbit out under the porch. ‘Who put the colors up there?’ she asked. ‘They were in the sunlight already,’ Mum said. ‘The water drops help us see them separately.’
Tess imagined each drop as a tiny visitor carrying light. Mum explained that light bends on its way into and out of a drop, and some bounces inside. Different colors bend differently. The story in Tess's head grew into a parade of colors, each taking a slightly different turn.
‘Can we put it in Rabbit's picnic basket?’ Tess asked. Mum shook her head. A rainbow was light reaching their eyes, not a ribbon they could fold. Tess considered this. Some lovely things were for noticing, not collecting.
When the rainbow faded, they went inside. Tess drew one over the paper pond. She gave Rabbit a pretend sandwich and told him about the water drops. The picnic had gained a story, even if it hadn't gained a real rainbow.
What we learned
Water droplets separate sunlight into colors. A rainbow is a light effect, not a solid object.
