The Uninvited Forecast

Dinner had been arranged with perfect care: polished glasses, candlelight, flowers at the center, and a table set for two high above the city. Then a small raincloud arrived without knocking.

It hovered precisely over the centerpiece, sending down a narrow shower that soaked the flowers and silenced the candles one by one. Beneath it all, a fawn French Bulldog sat perfectly dry on an ornate stool, dressed in a yellow raincoat and matching hat. It looked up at the cloud with mild curiosity, as though deciding whether this unusual guest needed a napkin—or an invitation to stay.