Rain Starts—Who Opens the Umbrella?

Pitter, patter, pitter, patter—the rain was here! Nuan was about to step through the doorway when Grandma Bua raised her palm. “Pause under the awning first.” Rain starts—who pauses first? “Nuan pauses first!”

Grandma pointed the umbrella away from Nuan and pushed it open with a fwump! Rain starts—who opens the umbrella? “Grandma opens it!” Nuan waited until it was fully open, then stepped beside Grandma.

Nuan held the fabric loop on Grandma’s bag. They tucked beneath one umbrella. Rain starts—who is under the umbrella? “Nuan and Grandma!” Close together, side by side—one umbrella, just their size.

The wet path gleamed. A puddle lay ahead. Nuan and Grandma did not run or jump. They stepped slowly around it. Rain starts—who walks slowly? “We both do!” Slow, slow, all the way to the little shelter.

Back home, Grandma stood beneath the awning, shook off the drops gently, and folded the umbrella with a fwump. Rain stops—who folds the umbrella? “Grandma folds it!” Nuan pointed to the umbrella stand. “Rest here. We can open you another day.”

When rain begins, young children can wait somewhere dry for a grown-up to open and close the umbrella, stay close, and walk slowly on wet paths.