the crying little cloud.

On my way to the coin laundrette, I met this little cloud. She was crying.

Boo hoo hoo, she said.

Shoosh, shoosh, I said to her. She kept crying, so I decided to bring her with me and talk with her while I was doing my laundry.

What is it, little cloud, why do you keep crying?

My life, she said, sobbing, is just pathetic.

Oh really? I said. I didn’t know her that well of course, I’ve just met her on my way to the coin laundrette. How pathetic?

As you see, I’m a little cloud. Even my crying doesn’t mean anything. No rain, see? No rain! Boo hoo hoo … sobbed she.

Oh now, now, shoosh, I said to her. But you’re a very cute little cloud, see?

By then her sobs escalated. I knew right away that I was not doing a good approach.

Okay – but you’re not just a very cute little cloud, you’re also … a … crying one?

Her sobs reached the extreme.

Okay okay – sorry! Nah. Okay I’ll keep my mouth shut. The thing here is really, I don’t know you, I don’t know why you’re crying. I’ve just met you out there, see? And I just want to make you feel better, you see, sweet little cloud? I said to her. Please, give me a chance?

My laundry was doing its maneuvers. Looked good and colorful.

She crossed her legs, still sobbing. That’s the problem, you know – I’m just a little meaningless cloud. When those Big Clouds cry they shower the whole Melbourne and people become happy. When I cry, someone would just try to calm me down. Like you!

Okay. Wrong approach, I admit it.

It’s just so pathetic. They think I’m a cute little cloud who should not cry because she’s a petite sweet little cloud. And that’s it! It took me a long way to become like this, you know?

Oh. I believe so, I said. Even though I didn’t really get what she was talking about.

You didn’t get what I meant, she said. (Oh no – she reads minds, I thought, and tried to shut my mind.) If I knew that I was just gonna be a little cloud like this, I would have just stayed with my first incarnation.

Incarnation?

Yea. Before this life I was a stream of water, praying to the sun to be evaporated and turned into a piece of cloud.

Wow. That’s … impressive. Which stream of water were you?

That’s not important anymore now, her sobs began to develop again.

Oh – sorry … okay but what’s important then? Asked I.

I was too greedy. I thought it was so boring being close to earth. I saw all those big clouds and I thought, oh, how wonderful it would be, they are the ones that really make impacts. And how boring it is to just stream around, stream around on the ground, being tied to wherever you are on the earth – and see all those big clouds, they fly around, they are free!

Um. Well but then you are free too now, said I as innocently as possible. But she let out a big cry.

Boo hoo hoo! You just don’t understand!

But I do want to understand … that’s why I’m asking you questions now. Said I.

She crossed her other legs. I hope you can understand that I do want to be meaningful as well, you know, as a little stream of water I couldn’t be that meaningful. The drought hit Melbourne and I was becoming even smaller. I prayed to the sun so that it will pick me up and turn me into one of those most awaited Big Grey Clouds, ready to emit waterrr, waterrr, waterrr with triple rolling r’s. Rrrain! Rrrain! That’s what I wanted to make!

One day the sun heard me, and he turned me into … this … looking at herself, she sobbed again … this stupid little piece of cloud! Screamed she.

Shoosh, I said. There are people in the neighborhood, you see … you might disturb them.

Oh yeah, she said. Sorry.

But let me get this right, I said … you want to be meaningful, but you think you’re not now?

Yeah! But even the Big Grey Clouds wouldn’t let me hang around with them! They blew me away, I’m just not one of their kind! Boo hoo hoo … if I knew that it was going to be like this I better stayed on earth and just try to survive with my stream. But nobody told me what was gonna happen … boo hoo hoo …

Well you have to be fair, nobody knew what was gonna happen, you see?

Yeah … boo hoo hoo …

Okay. Hm. But you see, little cloud, when I told you that you’re a very sweet cute little cloud, I was being very honest.

I know! She screamed, and sobbed. But what difference does it make, being sweet, petite, and cute, but cannot make rain? Boo hoo hoo …

Well, I said quickly, for one, I saw you and you’re all white and fluffy and you remind me of my most peaceful fetal memories, you see?

Oh. She sobbed softly. Really? I hope the memory was good.

Yeah, it was the most peaceful feeling I can remember.

Oh. She still sobbed a bit.

Yeah, but not just that. After this laundry, because these dryer there (I pointed at them) don’t really work well, I would really have to bring all my clothes back home and hang them on the clotheslines in my backyard, close to the lemon tree.

Uh huh … she said.

Yes! And, I would be very sad if the Big Grey Clouds would be there waiting to wet my laundry again. So if I would see you around, and if you would be smiling, instead of crying (and letting out even the smalles drizzle), I would be extremely happy!

A hint of smile came to her sweet fluffy face. Really? She asked.

Of course! I never lie. (Oops, at least now I’m not lying, and please sun oh please don’t let her read my mind.)

That’s very sweet of you, she started to sob again.

Oh, now, shoosh. Didn’t I just tell you a good thing about being sweet and fluffy and not crying?

Yea … but that’s so touching, she said. And hugged me. It was like being hugged by my fetal memories again – the most peaceful feeling on earth.

Okay now. My laundry is almost finished. Would you be able to go out there now, and be optimistic, and smile around and just be yourself?

Yes, said she.

Great. I feel better now.

I feel better too, much better. Thank you. She hugged me again. This time it felt like a toddler hugging me, so soft. Like a cotton candy.

Oh, no, thank you.

No, thank you.

No, thank you.

No, thank you.

Hahah. Okay, I’ll stop there.

Yes.

She walked out, not looking back, and flew to the sky.

I was happy again. The day was bright again. I thank myself for being myself.

When I hung my laundry close to the lemon tree, I saw her up there, smiling widely in the bright sky, hushing the Big Grey Clouds away from her now.

I wondered whether she would remember me.