Caught in the Rain

Dante pondered this existential challenge as he walked with Buddha Flower. How could nothing and something be the same thing? What did that mean in terms of how a person should behave? How could a whole religion be built around the idea that nothing is real?

As frequently happened in Taiwan in the summer, a thunder storm moved in suddenly and drenched Buddha Flower and Dante as they were walking back from the temple. They decided to lay down on the grass to dry off. Dante saw Buddha Flower’s slender torso and shallow-cupped bra through her wet cotton blouse which stuck to her, wet and transparent. The bra had flowers on it.

Suffering comes from desire. That was another Buddhist doctrine that Dante had learned. He couldn’t really refute that one. Dante wondered about Buddha Flower’s desires and if she had them like he did.

“I’m a mess,” she said.

“You look fine,” Dante replied. He thought about touching her skin . It looked cool and smooth with water beads sparkling as the sun beams broke through the clouds.

Jade was easier to touch than Buddha Flower