Rain through the memory domain

In the past few days, the sun has roasted the banana bushes, withered the eyes looking out at the dry fields. However, this afternoon, the dark clouds came crashing down from nowhere, closing the window like it was determined to chase the sun away. How many times have I caught the first rain of the season like that. And every time, the image of old memories in the countryside like a slow-motion movie returned to me with the afternoon rain.
The first rain of the season in my country always begins with an uproar. First, the thunder rumbled to startle the buffaloes and cows who were engrossed in grazing. They cocked their heads, cocked their ears, and looked around in bewilderment. Then, from afar, a dark cloud approached and dyed a corner of the horizon. The children hurriedly urged the buffalo and crawled back. In the fields, farmers also urged each other to clean up farm tools. The road from the field to the village suddenly became bustling, everyone was in a hurry, rushing to run away from the rain.

Just then, the sky was already dark. Cool wind blows. The rain has come. At first, it was just a couple of tiny seeds that fell and probed on the tile roof and brick yard. Then, as if excited to find a place to water and bathe, the rain began to fall stronger with full of joy and cheer. The rain fell heavily, as if standing at the foot of some large waterfall. But the water there kept flowing non-stop, bumping constantly against the rocks at the foot of the waterfall, creating continuous rumbling sounds. The whole family stood on the porch, mom looked around the yard to see if there was anything left. The tabby cat ran around fearfully, rubbing its back against the pillar, occasionally peering out into the rain. At this time, I understood my father’s actions when removing the rain gutter from the eaves to the tank. Pouring down the trough from the porch to the yard is a gray-brown turbid water that cannot be used for drinking water. That’s because the first rain of the season has pulled out all the dust that has been stuck on the roof for a long time and poured it down. But not only on the roof, outside, the rain also silently cleanses the fences, pomelo trees, jackfruit trees, longan trees… It cleans and coats everything with a new glaze, making everything bright. , green as if being revived with a new color. Along with the tumultuous sound was the smell of the earth. On summer days, the land is exposed to the sun. The squiggly cracks in the ground were getting wider and wider. The space was stuffy, pressing the ground with burning breaths. Suddenly, the rain fell, and the water flooded into the cracks that penetrated deep into the ground. And then the water pushed back from the underground to the strong smell, the throne filled the space. It is the rustic scent of the earth when receiving the first rain of the season. When it rained, my mother took advantage of the time to bring household items to clean. Lurking on the porch are pots of all sizes, copper trays, jars, jars… Catching rainwater flowing into the pan, mother used a handful of loofah to carefully scrub it. Wherever you hold a loofah in your mother’s hand, there will be a shiny saucepan. At the same time, my father was sitting at the table drinking water in the house. He returned the pipe tobacco and put it in the bowl. The firelight from the flickering firelight illuminated the austere face that had been tinged with time. In the thin smoke, Dad discussed with his mother that he would dig up the ground in the garden tomorrow. After the rain, the softer soil is also a good time to think about the cool green vegetable beds in the summer. Then the rain also began to ease on the porch, the sky was twilight and half-light. The yard of the house now only remains with clear puddles of water, reflecting shapes and plants. The first rain of the season passed, leaving clear colors, adding life to all things. Whose kitchen started to burn, the space returned to a peaceful look, but the fresh aftertaste of the first rain of the season was still intact in the simple folds.