Black Rain

It’s a quiet evening at the McMain home, as the family enjoys a traditional meal on this snowy, cold Friday evening. The chilly wind blows softly against the windowpanes throughout the house while icicles relax on the edge of the eaves troths, frozen over from the drop in temperature. It’s a negative two-degree evening, as others in the neighborhood are bundled in their warm homes enjoying what’s called Pure Michigan. The darkness will more than likely descend early, causing the small children who are playing outside to make tracks for the warmth of home. Businessmen and women are arriving home from work as well as retirees who decided to get out of the house to curve the cabin fever that accompanies winter. Winters in Michigan can be extreme, but at the same time, they possess a beauty that’s displayed throughout the various landscapes.

Every Friday, the family comes together to talk. It has become more of a responsibility for Olivia to see her parents rather than a willing retreat after a long week. She sits on the sturdy maple chair, listening to her mother talk about the state of the country. It’s sometimes hard to focus sitting within the dining room because it’s laced in the many dishes Mrs. McMain has collected over the years during her travels in and out of the country. The dining room is covered with relics and antiques ranging from Irish to African design. She enjoys showing them off through the huge picture window in front of the home. As onlookers drive down the quiet neighborhood street, it’s easy to catch a peak at her prized treasures as well as her family taking part in the custom they’ve created with one another for the past four years. The traditional maple dining room set pales in comparison to the many artifacts that surround this surprisingly cozy room.

The two-story 3,147 square feet home sits on five acres of land, and has been the McMain’s home for all their daughter’s life. It’s an affluent neighborhood, with its massive square footage homes, excellent school system and old money. Bloomfield Hills has been the most affluent city within the State of Michigan for quite some time and their home for over 27 years. Olivia, their daughter, has led a primarily privileged life. She has had the best education, and access to perks some teenager’s dream of daily. Being in the real world has taught her many things; especially about the glass wall her parents surrounded Olivia with throughout most of her life. In adulthood, Olivia is seeing things so much differently in her career as a corporate lawyer. Yet, because she has grown accustomed to the financial and emotional protection of her parents, Olivia tends to avoid rocking the boat. She has her whole career ahead of her, especially being a bright, intelligent, and beautiful young woman. She has the ability to go far.

Sitting there with her parents in her business heels, black skirt and white blouse, she listens attentively. Mr. McMain, who is a stern Republican with stern views on pro-life, the economy, education, and race, talks at her. Olivia can’t help but disagree because of her own experiences while in college as well as in the workforce. While he talks politics, she reflects on the lessons he has taught her over the years about people and how they should stay in their place. Leaving the home years ago, she thought anyone who wasn’t white and privileged was inferior. She doesn’t believe her father meant to make her that way, but working side by side with different people has shown her different, especially with her own struggles through law school and life. Heavily religious, her family makes it clear that the “right” choices must be made for this country or else the system will fail. The dinners consist of the same conversation and Olivia grows extremely tired of them. There’s no change, but on this night, Olivia finally changes the flow of the discussion that will awake conversation the dining room hasn’t seen in years.

Steam rises from the tea cup brim, caressing the tip of Olivia’s chin while her mom, Tina, watches her stare at her father. As Mike, Olivia’s dad, sips his coffee made with a smidgen of cream and sugar, he discusses the reasons why the city of Detroit has succumbed to its troubles.

“Detroit was once a fine city, but when you have uneducated people making decisions about politics, and basing a candidates qualifications on what color he or she is, then it’s a recipe for disaster,” he blatantly states. “Being in a political office means being responsible for people as a whole, not just for people who look like you.”

“But dad, haven’t people been doing that for years?” Olivia questions her father for the first time, which causes him to look at her with intrigue. “Politicians have always scratched one another’s backs. If we couldn’t do that, some lobbyists wouldn’t have jobs. Didn’t we see this in the Bush Administration? So that’s not really true. The difference is the skill of thievery.”

“The skill of thievery? Are you trying to say that politicians for years have stolen from this country?”

“Well…yes…it’s just like Monopoly. After spending and spending, the game will eventually stop. We saw it with Enron. These guys are more educated…more educated to steal and swindle money out of people. If it were about what’s right, then we wouldn’t have poor systems. The decline in industry has destroyed this state, and that wasn’t just the fault of uneducated people in Detroit. In part, the lack of education has bearing.”

“That’s awfully liberal of you sweetheart. You weave too many issues together.”

“No…I’m just telling the truth. I see both sides of the coin,” she defends.

“So you’re telling me that the decline of Detroit is not due to a lack of education, especially when crime has escalated in the city, and the drop out rate is through the roof. You have more of them wanting to play sports than be educated. Look at the welfare system. And this is not just a color, it’s the city both black and white figuratively speaking.”

“Really dad…who is this “them” you really refer? And what qualifies us to judge anyone if we don’t understand the life they’ve led. I’m not defending sports over education, but I am saying if there are no jobs, what’s left? People want the American Dream and will do what it takes to live it.”

“So it’s okay to steal from others and corrupt city government by hiring family members to run positions? I thought I raised you better than this Olivia,” he states.

“That’s not what I’m saying at all. You’re the one weaving. I’m just playing devil’s advocate. What applies to one group should apply to others and poverty is poverty. Being poor doesn’t have a color. You can tell me it’s about the whole city, but I don’t believe that. I’m still very conservative in my views; however, I also see other things. This doesn’t mean I’ll be running around in ghetto’s trying to help people.”

“You had me worried there for a minute,” he says with a sigh of relief.

“Worried about what?”

“You switching sides. I will admit…this was a good conversation. It was so good that I need a piece of coffee cake. Anyone up for some?”

Both women indicate no, prompting Mike to leave the table and walk to the kitchen for some cake. Tina takes a sip of her warm tea, wondering what’s on her daughter’s mind. She does seem a bit different, but Tina is too apprehensive to ask what’s bothering her. Turning her spoon within the hot beverage, Olivia vaguely hears her mother talking to her.

“I told my friend Sarah about the work you were doing and she was so excited. I said, she was so excited,” Tina repeats to get Olivia’s attention.

“I’m sorry,” realizing her mother was speaking to her “just a lot on my mind.”

“What’s wrong dear? You seem quite distant.”