Last Thursday after evening classes, the weather changed so dramatically that we were all caught off guard.

As we were exiting the classroom building, winds were rising. When we stepped into the square, we felt sparse raindrops splattering on our face. Once we were outside the school gate, the wind started to howl. It was so forceful that I thought my umbrella would be collapsing any time.

It was not long before it was raining cats and dogs. I felt lucky that I was with an umbrella. Even under the cover my clothes were wetted pretty soon by the slanting winds. A lot of schoolmates on the way looked like bedraggled rats.

All of a sudden, my classmate, Hua, joined me under my umbrella. We got very excited and yelled as we were racing along. I tilted my umbrella so that Hua was better sheltered against the downpour, but she gently pushed it back to my side.

When I spotted my father’s car parked at the kerb waiting for me, I bade Hua farewell. She rushed away with nothing over her head. My father, seeing that Hua was umbrellaless, asked me to go back and give mine to her. I did as told.

After I finally caught up with Hua, panting, and handed over my umbrella, there was a sparkle in her eyes.