New York City, May 24, 2016

★★★ Layers of waterproofing—rain jackets, umbrellas, a stroller cover—crammed into the elevator. The earlier rain had nearly stopped but only patient reasoning, over a distance of blocks, could convince the four-year-old that it was better to walk quickly with the umbrella down than to walk slowly with it raised. A used diaper had broken open on the sidewalk, spilling its contents and absorbing ambient water till it had bloated into an ingot. At 18th Street, surprising sunlight was coming down the subway steps, accompanied, to compound the surprise, by rain. An hour and a half more and the rain had subtracted itself. A man strolled down Fifth Avenue in early afternoon sunshine, striking the pavement with a furled umbrella as he went. Lugging the rain jacket home promised to be demoralizing, but then the late afternoon got as dark as the early part had been bright. Under the clouds, from behind the apartments in the west, a wild shapeless glow spread. Once more, the sun was wringing the most out of its lingering descent. Sharp blazing contours formed out of the bright blur. Every few minutes there was something new to exclaim about.