Kate wiped down the countertop for what felt like the hundredth time that day. It wasn’t like the small cafe was empty; quite the opposite in fact. On days like this, customers would come in, order maybe one thing, and then linger to do work on their laptops to the sound of gentle raindrops hitting the roof. The sound was quite nice, and Kate wished she could grab her laptop and finish her homework. Unfortunately, despite how few orders were coming in, her manager forbade using personal devices while there were customers in the building.

And so she waited, but it wasn’t all bad. Customers came and went; the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the space every time someone ordered; the taps of umbrellas against doorframe to dry them; the squeaks of the wet shoes of customers who neglected the door mat. Some of Kate’s friends from Uni came to say hi, and her girlfriend Jane came to visit and bring her some lunch. Kate and Jane sat quietly as they ate together, listening to the peaceful noises of the rain. Jane couldn’t stay forever, and she soon left with a kiss from Kate. With almost comedic timing, the rain picked up strength the moment Jane stepped outside. With a giggle, Kate returned to her station and wiped the counter down for the four-hundredth time.

Finally it was closing time. The last customer left with a smile and a wave, and Kate locked the door. The tables were cleaned and the chairs were placed on top of them. She took one last look at the cafe for the day and, for good measure, wiped the counter down for the six-hundredth time. The lights were turned off, the door alarm was armed, and she took off home. She practically skipped down the street, jumping in every puddle she saw with a big smile plastered to her face. It was a long and boring shift, and she was relieved it was over, but she was happy she got to enjoy a rainy day at the cafe.