The month of April ushers in what is known here as “the long
rains.”
We were here in November when
the short rains came but from what I understand, the long rains are to be
extended a few weeks longer than that which came towards the end of last
year.
I suppose by way of seasonal
equivalent, we here are moving quickly into Fall and then Winter amidst
July.
Regardless, the weather had
continued in its dry and hot pattern, causing me to wonder if we would even
have a rainy season.
Normally the rains
begin before now but for some reason it was delayed.
This perhaps is due to global warming, the
release of CFC’s into the ozone layer, deforestation in the Amazon, hidden
alien activity in the atmosphere or God’s wrath (everyone seemed to have their
own ideas).
My curiosity was quelled when the onset of the rains came
yesterday just before teaching at the
Bible
College.
I am excited to officially announce the
arrival of the long rains.
It must have
rained the entirety of last night as the environs appeared thoroughly saturated
upon the waking hours this morning.
The
rains did not come alone as they heralded the flight of the termite.
The falling precipitation called them out
from their lairs within the bowels of the earth and even as I write this their
numbers have clouded at the sky.
I would
like to write something like, “their vast hordes fly so thick that they blot
out the very sun that shines down upon us.”
However, we have no sun and their numbers are not yet that great.
The only real issue is that the termites’ flight is a short
one.
They take wing from their earthen
burrow, fly for a few moments and shortly lose their wings.
Unfortunately they have little control over
their direction and will fly into anything.
Walking among their flight patterns nearly assures that one will get
lodged in the collar of someone’s shirt and their flailing creates a rather
humorous image for those who fear the beating of their wings.
Nevertheless, their arrival is full fledged
and we will tolerate their numbers for a few days until they perish into
oblivion at the mercy of birds and lizards alike.
