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Raymond (ages 2-6)

One evening in the middle of spring, white fluffy clouds filled the sky. As the evening wore on, those white fluffy clouds became dark heavy-looking clouds. If you listened very carefully, you could hear the raindrops in the clouds talking excitedly.
“Can I go now Momma?” asked a little raindrop.
“Not yet Raymond” answered his mother.
“But when Momma? When can I go?”
“Very soon. Very soon.”
Just then there was a bright flash of light and a very loud clap. The flash was so bright and the clap was so loud that little Raymond jumped! “What was that Momma?” he cried out.

Raymond’s mother answered, “The flash is called lightening and the loud clap is called thunder. The lightening is like a great big light bulb in the sky and thunder is the sound that the light bulb makes when it’s turned on. The lightening is hot just like a light bulb, and it heats up the air so fast that it makes noise. When you hear the thunder it means it almost time to go.”
“Really?” Raymond was excited. He’d been waiting for this all his life.
“Yes. Are you ready? I think it’s time.” Raymond’s mother said as she moved next to him.
His father, brothers, and sisters gathered around them. Everyone was excited. They shouted together, “One, two, three!” then they jumped and down to the earth they fell.
Raymond woke up the next morning with the sun shining brightly. It took him a moment to remember that he wasn’t in the sky any more. He was on the earth. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. He’d landed on a beautiful flower. Just then he heard the sound of a little girl’s voice cry out, “Look Mommy! The rain and the sun made the flowers open up!”
“You’re right Emma. Aren’t they lovely?” Emma’s mother said.
Raymond had to smile as he heard them talking. He knew that he and his family had done their job.

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