Mira and the First Rain

by Devika Rao

The long summer heat held the little hill town close.

Grade 2: Transitional readers10 pages

In a dry hill town, Mira waits all summer for the monsoon and learns what the whole town does when it comes

Characters

Mira

Nani

Style

Indian Miniature

Story

Story Arc

The air hung heavy and still over the hill town. Dust coated the red earth and the leaves of the mango trees. Mira sat quietly beside Nani, watching a lone bird fly. Its wings beat slowly in the warm, quiet afternoon.

A small clay pot held the last of their precious water. Mira watched Nani carefully pour it into a tin cup. Nani’s movements were slow and careful. The sound of the water was barely a whisper.

Mira traced patterns in the dust with her bare toe. Each day felt hotter than the one before. She looked up at the vast blue sky. Not one cloud drifted slowly across the pale blue.

Nani put her hand gently on Mira’s shoulder. She did not speak many words. Instead, she hummed a soft, old tune. It was a melody like the slow river flow.

They waited by the open doorway. The heat shimmered on the path outside their home. Mira felt the warmth of Nani sitting close. Nani’s presence was a quiet comfort.

Days turned into more dry days. The ground felt hard under Mira’s feet. Nani kept their home tidy and quiet. Each evening they watched for any change.

One afternoon, a soft, cool breeze stirred. It carried the scent of wet earth, far away. Mira lifted her head. Nani looked at Mira, then at the sky.

A dark cloud appeared, growing bigger and darker. A rumble, soft at first, rolled through the air. Mira gasped a tiny breath. Nani smiled and squeezed Mira’s hand.

Then, a single drop of rain landed on Mira’s arm. Then another, and another. Soon, soft drumming sounds began on the roof. The air filled with a fresh, earthy smell.

Mira and Nani watched the rain together. It fell softly, washing the dust away. The well would fill again, slow and sure. Waiting felt easy when they were side by side.

The end

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Words to know

heavy: It means something feels like it weighs a lot, or the air feels thick and hard to move through.; The air hung heavy and still over the hill town.
coated: This means something is covered with a layer of something else, like dust.; Dust coated the red earth and the leaves of the mango trees.
precious: This means something is very special and important, so you have to be careful with it.; A small clay pot held the last of their precious water.
whisper: This is a very quiet sound, like when you talk with only your breath.; The sound of the water was barely a whisper.
traced: This means to draw a line or shape by following something, like drawing in the dust.; Mira traced patterns in the dust with her bare toe.
vast: It means something is very, very big, like the whole sky.; She looked up at the vast blue sky.
drifted: This means to float or move slowly and gently, like a cloud in the sky.; Not one cloud drifted slowly across the pale blue.
melody: This is a tune or a song that is nice to listen to.; It was a melody like the slow river flow.
shimmered: This means to shine with a soft, wavering light, like heat rising from the ground.; The heat shimmered on the path outside their home.
presence: This means being somewhere or being with someone.; Nani’s presence was a quiet comfort.
stirred: This means to move a little bit, like when a gentle breeze starts to blow.; One afternoon, a soft, cool breeze stirred.
scent: This is the smell of something.; It carried the scent of wet earth, far away.
rumble: This is a deep, shaking sound, like thunder far away.; A rumble, soft at first, rolled through the air.
drumming: This means to make a sound like a drum, like the rain hitting the roof.; Soon, soft drumming sounds began on the roof.
earthy: This means having a smell or taste like earth or soil.; The air filled with a fresh, earthy smell.