The Black Umbrella

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What. . .what is going on? I looked at the chaos in front of me. Why are they. . .?This is just crazy!

I saw as all random people run around in the streets, blocking the path of the carriages. I wonder how is it that no one has been yet stomped on by some horse. Everyone was mumbling something as they went.

At that moment, a man, who was holding his suitcase with one hand while the other he kept his hat on his head, passed right in front of us mumbling something like 'she will kill me'. We watched as he ran off and disappeared in the crowd. I heard someone else yell. Then a fight broke out at the far end of the road. They sure are energetic.

"What is this?", I asked Mercury who was standing next to me, observing the situation.

He shrugged." I think most of them thought that it would be a good idea to go to work after the rain. Now all of them are late and in danger of losing their jobs. What idiots", But. . .didn't we do the same thing?

"But in England, it rains almost every day. Especially in London. How is it that the economy hasn't collapsed yet?", He thought about it.

"I don't know. We can ask Mr. Smith if there is something else going on", Just perfect. As if the day wasn't already weird enough.

"So how do we get on the other side?", I pointed at the small house across the street. We had to go thru all the ruckus and we could die in the process. Well, nothing new I guess.

" We push?", He didn't wait for an answer. He jumped in the crowd and started pushing everyone away from him. That's an option. But I would rather a different approach. I noticed that carriages had stopped everywhere along the street. The drivers had gotten off and were trying to calm the horses before they stomped anyone to death. If I did it in the right order, I would be able to use the roofs as a path of stepping stones. The difference: Instead of water, there was the hard ground to welcome me if I fall.

I climbed on the nearest carriage. There was one on my left but it was pretty far away. I took a deep breath and backed away to take more force. I run ahead on the small space and jumped off the edge. While in the air, I located my next target and once I landed, I immediately jumped on to the next one so I wouldn't lose any momentum. I continued jumping from one roof to another like that and laughed as I saw some people look at me terrified or when I heard people from inside the carriages scream. I felt the air go thru my hair and the cold wind against my skin as it tried to push me off.

I was almost on the other side, but then I saw the next roof being too far away and stopped abruptly on the edge. I lost my balance and nearly fell down but by moving my hands in circles, I was able to regain it. That was close. I sighed and tried to figure out what to do next. Just then the carriage under my feet started moving and I panicked. Without thinking much I made a jump for it.

I wouldn't make it. I tried to reach as far as I could just in case I would be able to catch the edge, but I just. . .couldn't. I closed my eyes, afraid of what was coming.

Then, right when I thought I would fall, I felt hands catching me. I was too afraid to open my eyes in case I had found a worst fate than death.

"Well, I certainly didn't expect that. Is this how you welcome your old friends, lad?", I knew that voice. Deep and gentle. There is no way. . .

I started opening my eyes hesitantly, but then my savior decided that it would be more comfortable if he carried me like a sack of potatoes. I could only see his back. He was wearing a plain brown suit and was holding a slightly larger than usual traveling case. Wait a minute. . . I recognized that butt! It's him for sure. I relaxed and let him carry me wherever he wanted.