All Summer in a Day

All Summer in a Day is a 1954 science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury, one of the saddest stories ever told. You can read it online here. It begins,

"Ready ?"
"Ready."
"Now ?"
"Soon."
"Do the scientists really know? Will it happen today, will it ?"
"Look, look; see for yourself !"

The children pressed to each other like so many roses, so many weeds, intermixed, peering out for a look at the hidden sun.

It rained.

It had been raining for seven years; thousands upon thousands of days compounded and filled from one end to the other with rain, with the drum and gush of water, with the sweet crystal fall of showers and the concussion of storms so heavy they were tidal waves come over the islands. A thousand forests had been crushed under the rain and grown up a thousand times to be crushed again. And this was the way life was forever on the planet Venus, and this was the schoolroom of the children of the rocket men and women who had come to a raining world to set up civilization and live out their lives.

"It’s stopping, it’s stopping !"
"Yes, yes !"

Margot stood apart from them ...

*******

Here's a photo of a pretty little cup I broke years ago:

Sometimes I find it helpful to contemplate depressing situations that aren't political in nature.

Join me at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering? Some cheerful company after this Post of Sadness will be just the thing.