RAINY DAYS and Mondays

The last thing she wanted on this miserable day was to be waylaid by a stranger…

- Lydia Jones

By tonight?!’ I gasp to my boss.

‘Sorry, Emily. Management wants us all to attend this productivity course tomorrow. But they still want this first thing Wednesday.’

What a great Monday.

‘How can I do that when I’m losing a day on training?’

My colleague shrugs sympathetically at me.

‘I’m taking my lunch now,’ I say, slamming my laptop shut. ‘I need fresh air. I’m going out.’

He looks surprised. ‘You never take lunch normally. Besides, it’s raining.’

But I grab my coat and head across the road, into the park. Scowling, I stomp the wet pathways, my bad mood surrounding me like a cloud.

Of course, it’s when I’m in the centre of the park that rain hits monsoon levels. I dash for the Edwardian bandstand.

Rain drums on the roof. Above its rhythm, I become aware of footsteps running up behind me.

‘That was sudden, wasn’t it?’ A man, seemingly around my own age, joins me. I stare at rain-lashed, leafless trees.

‘I’m Luke,’ he says. ‘Hi.’ I don’t give my name.

There’s an awkward pause, while I wish he’d go away.

‘You know, in a way it’s beautiful,’ Luke says.

‘Yeah, right.’

‘Soothing – like a meditation background tape.’

Great. Of all people to be stuck with, it’s someone who’s enjoying Miserable Monday.

I move back. He must have noticed, because he steps away and gets out his phone.