Many Chinese save a big chunk of their incomes for a raining day.

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And that, if it was raining, or the wrong time of day, or if you were in the wrong neighborhood, you might just never get to eat?

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The volcano strikes an ominous presence on the horizon - one of countless sleeping giants in Iceland that might one day stir, sending torrents of fire, rock and ash raining down.

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Percy follows the children around all day, sits in the front porch when it's raining, hangs around the dinner ladies looking for snacks, and peers through the assembly windows to listen to the songs.

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It seems possible to me that some people decided on the day it was not worth showing up, especially if, as yesterday, it was raining.

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