Saint Swithin McGuire was not a saint. He was an eight-year-old boy waiting patiently for his father.

"Are you enjoying your birthday son?"
Swithin shuttered, stunned by the sudden unexpected presence of his father's voice.
"Yeah..."
"Did your mother tell you why I wanted you to wait for me here on the porch?"
"No. She just said it had something to do with my name. Something you wanted to tell me."
Swithin's father sat down on the porch next to Swithin.
"She was right on both accounts. Do you know why your mother and I decided to name you Saint Swithin?"
"No."

Swithin's father took in a deep breath.

"Hundreds of years before you were born, there was another Saint Swithin. Except he was known as ‘the bishop of rain’."
Swithin smiled.
"…And there's an old English legend that says if it rains on Saint Swithin's day, it'll rain for the next 40 days."
"When’s Saint Swithin's day?" Swithin asked.
"July 15th."
"Today!"
"Yes," Swithin's father replied proudly. "Your birthday."
"So if it rains today,” Swithin asked enthusiastically, “it'll rain for the next forty days?"
"Not exactly. But, legend has it, back in the time of the original Saint Swithin it did."
"Why?"

"Back in 862, shortly before Swithin died, he asked his fellow monks to bury him 'where the sweet rain of heaven will fall upon his grave,' and they did. But after Swithin was sainted his body was moved into the cathedral, were no rain could fall. The move was made on July 15th, 971, and it rained for the next 40 days—Saint Swithin's protest for having been disturbed, so legend says."

"Wow, Dad! That’s a cool story."
"I'm glad you think so. But, just so you don't forget it, I'll leave Swithin's saint card on your bedroom dresser. On one side's a picture of him and on the other, the information I just gave you."
"Thanks again, Dad,” Swithin said as he wrapped his arms around his father’s waist and hugged him tight. “I like my name.”

"It's a big name," Swithin's father replied as he and Swithin rose to their feet. "Now get on back in the house and be with your friends. There's no sense in having a party if you're not going to attend it."

Chapter Two:The Willow Woods Resort and Spa >>