Cloudy Night

Lonely red lights dot the observing field, telescopes stand unattended. Silent sentries gathering no starlight.

Disappointment growing, we sit telling tales of other nights, better, worse, different, same.

Still hoping.

Stars winking out of sucker holes. It's clearing! It's not. It is! It isn't.

We wait still hoping.

The group thins, chairs empty, hopes waning. Some of us wait, inertia now.

But still hoping.

One cloud lit up, curiously bright. Stationary. Flickering. Strange. What is that? Aurora? Aliens? Hand of god?

(which god?)

(which hand?)

Transfixed we watch. Patterns flickering. Intellectually challenged  We now welcome the clouds. Needing more data.

(we're a nerdy bunch)

We search for answers. A fishing boat, trawling offshore? Nope.

Customs searching for smugglers? Nope.

Cars on the bridge? Nope.

More folks gather. Transfixed. Brainstorming. Consensus emerges.

Prosaic, a spotlit flag. Over at the scout camp. Curiosity satiated we still watch. Still fascinated.

The rainbow explained is still beautiful.