I Can See Clearly Now

By MTopaz

Buck was smiling and he couldn’t seem to stop.  Chris had called him.  Over a year and out of the blue he called just like that.

That wasn’t the part that made Buck so happy.  No, Sir.  It was what he’d said that made all the difference.  Chris was doing

good now and he wanted to talk to Buck in person.  He wanted to apologize—if Buck was willing to listen after the way he’d

treated him.

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

Buck shook his head.  That’s all he ever needed to hear.  The actual apology didn’t mean anything.  What mattered to Buck

was just the fact that Chris had gotten himself to a place where he cared about things like that again.  He’d never been sorry

when he was drunk or in one of his black moods—which was all the time back then.

Buck grabbed his keys and headed for the truck.  Even though he hadn’t seen or spoken to Chris in over a year, he still only

lived less than an hour away.

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day.

Maybe, in the back of his mind, Buck had always hoped Chris would crawl out of that hole he’d buried himself in.  When he did,

Chris would need a friend.  Someone who understood.  Buck had kept himself nearby just in case.

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone

All of the bad feelings have disappeared

Buck wouldn’t think about all the nasty things Chris had said to him that day or any of the days before that.  He just wasn’t the

kind of guy to look back.  If Chris wanted a fresh start, Buck would give it to him—to both of them. 

Here is the rainbow I’ve been prayin’ for

It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day.

Chris even had a job again.  Law enforcement, of course.  Catching bad guys—that was what he was good at.  Last time Buck

had seen him, Chris was on suspension for drinking on the job.  It was good to know he hadn’t burnt all his bridges.  

Chris had also mentioned something about starting a team, but Buck wasn’t paying too much attention to that part.  He was too

busy thinking about how good his old friend sounded, how…stable.

Buck’s smiled cracked wide.  He just couldn’t help it.

Look all around, there’s nothin’ but blue skies

Look straight ahead, nothin’ but blue skies

Buck slowed his truck as he approached the long drive up to the ranchhouse.  He could’ve driven that stretch blindfolded the

times he’d been down it to see Chris, Sarah, and Adam.  It seemed like just yesterday.

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

The house came into view.  Buck felt a heavy brick of worry lift from his heart at the sight of Chris sitting on the porch.  He

swiped at his eyes.  Wouldn’t do at all for Chris to see him blubbering like a baby.

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day.

Buck shut the driver’s side door and walked up to the porch.  The butterflies were flying around in his stomach like they were

caught in a tornado.  What if..?  What if Chris hadn’t meant it?  What if he had second thoughts?  What if..?

Chris smiled at him as he stepped down off the porch to meet him.  It wasn’t the carefree smile he’d had when he was a family

man, but it was maybe a close, sadder cousin.

“It’s good to see you, Buck.”

It's gonna be a bright (bright) bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day 

 

The End

 

 

I Can See Clearly Now

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day.

It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day.

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone

All of the bad feelings have disappeared

Here is the rainbow I’ve been prayin’ for

It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day.

Look all around, there’s nothin’ but blue skies

Look straight ahead, nothin’ but blue skies

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day.

It's gonna be a bright (bright) bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day  

 

--Johnny Nash