What did the Rain say to the Sunshine?

The SUNSHINE had something slick to say,

you know, you really cause of a lot of trouble.” 

“What do you mean?” the Rain asked in bewilderment. 

“You cause accidents, ruin picnics, spoil trips to the beach…the list on. But look at those people down there basking in my splendor. You know, the world would be a much better place without you,” the SUNSHINE accused. 

“I seriously doubt that,” the Rain said in defense.

“Then give me one good reason why it wouldn’t,” the SUNSHINE challenged.

 “Well, for one, I take away the pollution of the air, filling it with moisture and freshness in which the world breathes.”

“Give me another one,” the SUNSHINE challenged again.

“Do you see those beautiful flowers over there?” the Rain asked.

“Yes,” the SUNSHINE huffed.

“Well, I water the soil in which they are planted. I nurture the beauty of the world that you admire.”

“Go on, go on,” the SUNSHINE urged.

“I replenish the rivers, the lakes, the oceans, and the seas so that the essential element of life may be bountiful and plenteous. I give life to the fish of the sea. Look at the various trees standing throughout the land. I protect them from being consumed by fire so they can fight diseases in the lower atmosphere. I nourish the soil in which they are planted, too. And in return, trees exhale pure oxygen into the air…the air in the sky in which so freely fly. Were it not for me, the fowl of the air would be extinct. And aren’t those shady green pastures just lovely? Well, I nurture the ground the ground in which they sit. So, were it not for me, those animals you see down there grazing in the meadows would surely cease to exist. And what about the crops of the field? Were it not for me, they would dry up and wither away and there would never be any harvest to reap, causing starvation to be prevalent in the land. You see, my friend, I ensure the existence of virtually all things. Were it not for me, there wouldn’t be air to breathe, food to eat, or water to drink. So while I may not be favored by the masses just because I cause temporary discomfort, I am quite essential to life. And you know what that means, don’t you?” the Rain asked.

“I’m afraid I don’t,” the SUNSHINE said with an attitude.

“It means that those people so-called basking in your splendor wouldn’t even appreciate you were it not for me.”

Exasperated and at a loss for words, the SUNSHINE sighed and replied, “Well, you don’t have to rub it in!”