I have been in the City several times but do not remember a significant stormy night until Sunday. The thunder clapped and clapped again. Lightning moved across the sky. Rain beat against the hotel window. I realized cities get storms too. Staying on the top floor, it was exciting.

‘Is it true that creatures are coming out of the storm drains?’ Chet asked. ‘The storm has flooded the sewers, and there is no place for them to go,’ Chet continued. ‘Some are near the Arch playing badminton,’ Chet winked. ‘Some creatures are playing chess in Forest Park,’ Chet continued. ‘Still others are waiting for the Art Museum to open, Chet informed with a little dance.

‘The City is suffering under the relentless rain,’ Jane said. ‘It has rained for a month more under the City. Dwellers are about town in the coffee shops, the Theatre, shopping for Christmas,’ Jane continued. ‘They are quiet, not speaking but watching the folks of the Topsoil,’ Jane laughed. ‘They seem wise as most introverts do,’ Jane mused.

‘The kids from below are everywhere the streets playing handball, sitting on the Brownstone stoops watching and waiting,’ Billy B offered. ‘They carry themselves with maturity beyond their years,’ Billy B noted. ‘Now and again they surround a person and stare,’ Billy B said.

‘Two worlds always two worlds,’ Neva J said with feeling. ‘Our Earth has two worlds, one hidden and one revealed,’ Neva J continued. ‘The world below our feet was always there, but we cared not to pry,’ Neva J observed. ‘Thus we know nothing of the inhabitants who are obviously cultured and quiet,’ Neva J said. ‘Shadow people watching us from afar now watch us up close, studying us, perhaps our doppelgangers,’ Neva J proffered. ‘We have been busy with our acquiring of riches, power, accoutrements of success; they have been waiting and watching,’ Neva J explained.