Reflections on a Rubber Raincoat Walk (non- explicit)

[Midnight Walker]

Coming home late at night with the rain pelting the windshield of my car, the anticipation growing of the opportunity to take a walk in the lovely weather. Parking, then running upstairs to get dressed, pulling all sorts of rubber, plastic, and latex items off hangers and out of drawers. After dressing in record time, I headed downstairs. Turning on the porch light, I see hundreds of drops hitting the ground. I open the back door and step out.

The first sensation that gets my attention is the sound of the rain hitting my gear. I spin around on my heels to look at myself in the reflection of the sliding door. The bright light shines off the latex sou’wester on my head, the straps tied tightly under my chin and the rubber flaps caressing my ears. My SBR Weathervain trench coat has a quiet gleam to it as it slowly collects droplets. The rubber gloves on my hands run over the surface. The shafts of my Acquo boots disappear underneath the skirt of my coat. They press my plastic rain pants into my calves and thighs. Looking at all this gear, I can't help but smile. It’s been too long since I have gotten to take a stroll in the rain.

I turn and walk from the back of my house to the driveway. Its wet asphalt surface stretches before me. I start to quickly walk down it, then I force myself to slow down. It’s the middle of the night, I don’t have work tomorrow, and I’m dressed in rubber head to toe. Why rush a relaxing and stimulating walk?

Slowing my pace, I meander forward. Being so familiar with walking to get the mail the past couple years, I close my eyes while I walk. In a meditative way, it lets me take in my environment. I hear the clack of my boots on the ground, the way they hold on my leg yet tighten and loosen as I put one foot in front of the other. I feel how the front of the skirt on my coat slaps together as I walk. The loudest sound is my nylon-plastic rain pants swishing on each movement. I massage my fingers inside the gloves, each finger secured inside a black mini tunnel.

I turn off down the road. The materials of what I’m wearing cause my hands to migrate all over myself. The coat’s sides tickle my finger pads if I rest them against it. I transition both hands inside the deep front pockets. This causes the inside of my coat to rub against my crotch, which has a predictable effect. I smirk as I walk toward the corner.

All the lights on all the houses are out; in the rain I am isolated. I usually hate running into someone as I’m dressed, since I haven't yet mastered the ability of not caring what others think of my gear. But tonight I almost wanted to run into someone. A late-night dog walker, perhaps. Either a feeling of superiority in being completely protected, or maybe a look of acceptance — being practically dressed for the weather is a reasonable idea. My thoughts drifted to a car driving by; could the driver even see me at all, black with very few street lamps? I wished to be standing next to a major road with a large puddle on the side, watching as car after car splashed me, showering me in sheets of water. But this was all wishful thinking. Maybe a day when I'm braver will I attempt such a thing. I shifted my thoughts back to enjoying the present.

I cross the road to the next part of the neighborhood; the road has some shallow puddles on it. Once I cross, there is a part of the sidewalk that has deeper puddles when it rains. I walked up to it and it wasn’t as flooded as I liked but still decent. A definite highlight for me when walking in the rain is going through puddles. These ones were a little under ankle deep but still nice to look down and watch as the smooth black rubber split the surface, how the cold water harmlessly splashed the sides of my expensive boots. A multitude of leaves littered the surface of the puddles, some stuck to my boots or splashed away from them.

I walked up a hill, the rain decreasing to a pathetic sprinkle. I raised my arm and looked at the water that collected on the SBR surface — only a handful of dots remained. Walking under the trees that lined the road provided some refreshment from the water blowing off the leaves onto me. I'm a bit irked that the rain didn't last longer and wasn’t more intense, but I need to be thankful — getting a chance to finally enjoy some wet weather.

I get to the top of the hill, and here is where I finally figure I’d turn around. I needed sleep, and with the rain soon to be stopping, my desire to be out decreased. The sidewalk on the top of the hill had a section with a shallow puddle as well. This one was filled with mostly leaves that were compacted into a mushy mesh with the weather. I walked through it. I enjoyed the squishy sensation in the soles, how my feet were protected by a nice surface of beautiful rubber, how I could see traces of brown water creep on the sides of my soles.

I walked back down the hill towards home, promising myself to go on another walk and hoping for more rain soon before the snow set in. The light post behind me projected my shadow on the ground; I liked the look of the silhouette it made — the commanding, sharp look. This put a swagger in my step, the skirt of my coat licking the sides of my thighs. I should just dress up in a rubber trench coat and boots for a fall dry, muddy day; after all, without the sou’wester, it was a nice outfit for a walk on a forest trail, maybe just a little heavy-duty.

After twenty minutes I got home and walked up my driveway. There is a chair off to the side at the top, and I sit down. I'm a bit stuffy and hot from the heavy coat and my walk. I feel the slight breeze nuzzle at the collar of my coat and whisk the heat away. I stretch my legs out and watch the rubber of my boots lengthen and tighten. I cross one over my knee and lean back. Sitting there, I wish for a downpour just to coat me as I relax. But I settle for just resting my eyes and listening to the breeze. I run my hand on the surface of my coat and feel the smooth material. I'm happy I was able to get out tonight and experience my walk.

[yellowgirl]

love the story my wife and I also walk in the rain all
Dressed up to in gear,hope to read more of your adventures in rainwear

[Midnight Walker]

love the story my wife and I also walk in the rain all
Dressed up to in gear,hope to read more of your adventures in rainwear

Thank you, I'll write them as they come. Just something that was floating in my head as I walked. Do you read the story together or separate?

[yellowgirl]

we read it together then we got dressed in our gear and went for a walk downtown and it was raining out so we were all shiny from the rain