Shorty

SHORTY

Once Winter ruled the Earth, covering her with deep, cold blankets of snow for many months of the year. Each month would pass without relief. He sent bitter winds to stir the snow and freeze all the trees and flowers and keep them hidden because he did not like color. Summer would fight with him to melt the white blankets and revive the frozen creatures and plants who were always fearful of the sudden return of Winter.

All the creatures of the earth complained to the sun, who often stayed away from the earth for long periods of time. They asked him if he could stop the tyranny and the suddenness of Winter. "After all, it is your light that helps Summer to defeat the cold. Please, help us by banishing Winter forever."

The sun considered their appeals. He did not like Winter very much anyway, but had divided the months evenly between the two seasons many years ago. The seasons were his children and he loved them both and was careful to be fair with them. But Winter had taken a greater share of the months and Summer struggled each year to take back those months, seeming to lose the fight more often. The sun had given Winter all the months of November through April while Summer received May through October.

However, Winter blanketed snow on the months of May and June and very often wrestled October and September from Summer.

The sun decided that his fighting children needed a little distance between them and so created Spring and Fall. This was satisfactory to the creatures and plants of the earth because it gave them time to prepare, in the Fall, for the cold of Winter. Likewise, Spring allowed time for the frozen creatures and plants of the earth to thaw gently and awaken completely before Summer shined her full heat on them The sun gave December, January, and February to Winter. Spring was awarded March, April and May with Summer shining in all her splendor in June, July and August. The sun forewarned Fall to be careful with November, since he expected Winter to try to steal that month. September and October were quite safe from the raging of Winter.

This worked very well for a long time until Winter became greedy and stole the months of March and April from Spring.

Although Winter attempted to disguise his thievery by covering the sky with deep clouds, the sun heard the cries of Spring and went to investigate. He burned with bright anger through Winter's clouds to see snow and cold everywhere over the earth in April.

With fury and hot anger, the sun called to Winter to present himself. Instantly, the clouds vanished and Winter presented himself and attempted to look sorry for the deed. The heat of the sun was very uncomfortable for Winter to endure.

"I will punish you for your crime!" Roared the sun coming closer to the earth.

Winter begged and pleaded for the sun to show mercy and was afraid that the heat would destroy him completely. Already he could feel a weakness beginning in him from the sun's blazing temperature and was afraid that the sun would banish him completely from the earth.

The sun was merciful but invented a punishment that Winter considered humiliating.

"I will take two of the days from February," said the sun, "and give one to Spring and one to Fall to remind you of your crime. This is the month when you are at your strongest, so I will shorten it for your punishment." The sun added, "And I will stand watch from now on to make sure that you live only in your assigned months."

Winter had no choice but to agree to the penalty.

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