Rainbow Barrier

A story inspired by a picture which led to an illustration

"Look!" cried Harry from the back seat of the car. Jason turned ever so slightly to see why Harry was suddenly so excited after what seemed like hours of constant crying.
"Bow, bow!" Harry continued.
"Rainbow, yeah I see it." Jason replied.
"Isn't it beautiful Harry!" said their mother.
"Keep your eyes on the road please mum." Jason joked.
His mother lent over and slapped his thigh.
"Don't be so cheeky. Tell your brother about all the gold you can find at the end of a rainbow." she mocked.
"There is no gold." Jason stated bluntly. Harry was still consumed by the bright colours shining in through the rain droplets and onto his face. Both hands pressed against the window pane he was desperately trying to evade his seat belt.
"Calm down little man. You can't touch the rainbow."
"Why?" Harry shouted scrunching up his face. Jason caught his mum give him a look and instantly knew that he had opened a can of worms. Thinking fast he delved into the story of the rainbow barriers.

This is what Jason told Harry, a boy whose eyes were wide with wonder and ears open to every word.

When the world first began the elements were much more harsh to Earth than they are now. Winds uprooted trees daily, the sun baked the ground until it was cracked and shrivelled. Snow, frost and rain beat the earth, teasing it with moisture and thunder ruled the skies, striking down any trees missed by the winds with sharp electric lightning.
Seeing that the earth couldn't take much more of these abominable forces the Gods gathered to decide the fate of this one planet. Intellect ruled, the Gods were responsible for the elements and knew that they were each needed and could not be destroyed. The answer to their problems came from an unlikely source. Rain, as so named by the God of snow, frost and down pours, suggested the Gods make a number of barriers to prevent the severe weathering of Earth. Allowing the elements small passage to inject Earth with it's daily needs.
"This idea could work, you have inherited your father's intelligence!" Proclaimed the God of heat and sun.
And so, using a bow and arrow, Rain fired twists of beautiful colours into the sky all over Earth's surface.
"They shall remain hidden until Rain has visited and the God of sun illuminates their colours."
"And we shall call them Rain's bows, for he alone envisaged and created them."
From that day rainbows existed to hold back the sky and keep the elements from damaging the Earth. Sometimes, Rain is busy and the elements blow too strongly through the gaps, man has coped well with all that is thrown at them and the God's are proud of little Rain.
If you look closely enough, you can see a bit of the rainbows in every drop of Rain.

The illustration the story inspired:

Rainbow Barrier Copyright Lucy Marsh 29.01.13