The Seasonal Sisters

By Cathy Predmore

There are four special sisters who visit our world named Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. They are the natural daughters of Mother Earth and Father Time.  They live together in a cloud castle filled with tiny turquoise butterflies that sits high in the sky yet before the twinkling stars.

The sisters are all very different yet lovely in their own way.  The oldest sister is Winter. She is tall, slender, and delicate as an icicle. Winter has long, straight, white hair and eyes the dark blue color of frozen waters.  She has a cool disposition and enjoys quiet times indoors.

The middle sisters are Autumn and Spring.  Autumn has warm brown eyes and long red hair which swings behind her and smells of cinnamon. Scattered across her cheeks are freckles the color of a ripe pumpkin. Autumn is true artist who paints the leaves beautiful colors and makes them twirl in the wind.

Sister Spring has short, curly hair which is as rich and brown as newly turned soil. 

Her eyes are the sweet green of a young blade of grass.  Spring is a special friend to all the forest creatures who sing with joy when she arrives in their woodland homes. 

The youngest sister Summer is the warmest and sunniest of the girls, with rosy cheeks and an aura of happiness.  Her hair is the yellow of a marigold and her eyes the light blue of a truly perfect day.  Children especially love Summer and wait anxiously for her visit, knowing their days together will be long and happy. 

Once each year, Father Time tells one of the sisters to visit alone with Mother Earth while the others wait for her return in the cloud castle.  Winter visits first, then Spring, Summer, and finally Autumn has her time in the land.  The sisters meet each other briefly during their journeys. They embrace and swirl around in the sky in a beautiful dance of togetherness.

One particular day, Winter was with Mother Earth for an unusually long time. The day Father Time commonly called her home came and went and Spring was growing very restless.  

“When is it going to be my time?”  she asked of her sisters, “I’d like to visit Mother Earth and am getting tired of waiting. It feels like Winter’s been there forever.”

“Spring, you know it doesn’t work that way. Father and Mother always said that we have to wait for their call.” said Autumn.

“Well, I don’t want to wait anymore,” Spring said.  “I know the forest creatures miss me and I’m sure they’re getting cold and hungry with Winter still hanging around.” 

Summer thought about it.  “Well I would surely love to visit Mother Earth myself.  I can just imagine the children’s reaction if they see me now….especially if Winter’s still there!  Let’s go!”

“I really don’t think this is a very good idea,” said Autumn cautiously, “While I’d really love to paint the leaves, I think Father Time would be unhappy with us.” 

 “Well, time keeps passing by so perhaps he’ll be too busy to notice,” replied Spring, “Besides, what could happen?”  

“I still don’t think we should but…you’re not going without me!” said Autumn.

And off the sisters went.  They left their castle in the clouds and floated down, down, down, through the air until they touched the ground.

However once they got there, things didn’t go as the sisters had expected. While Mother Earth loved them all equally, she just couldn’t give each of them of the attention that they wanted.

The sisters became impatient and grew quarrelsome with each other, which brought chaos to the land.

Winter was angry because Summer kept melting her snowflakes and her frozen waters thawed and flooded the soil. Children slipped everywhere in the mud and mess!

Autumn was annoyed because she had to wait for Spring to make leaves on the trees before she could paint them.  However, just when Spring created new buds Winter would arrive and they’d wither in her cold air.  The trees looked lonely and remained bare of leaves far past the time when Winter would ordinarily have gone.

Spring tried to call the birds to her but before they could rejoice in her visit, they had to fly away south when feeling Autumn come close.  The birds circled in the sky, confused as to where to go and what to do. 

People saw the hot sun of Summer shinning and eagerly went outside.  However, then they felt Autumn’s cool breezes and saw Winter’s snowflakes.  Farmers’ crops died and the forest and fields became bare. Those on the land didn’t know what was happening and grew hungry, perplexed, and finally frightened.

The sisters saw everyone’s unhappiness and were sad themselves. 

Autumn said, “Sisters, I think we need to go home.  We came here because we missed Mother Earth and wanted to bring the happiness of our arrival and instead we upset everyone. We went against Father Time and it was a mistake.” 

Summer said, “We’ve also been fighting with each other, which makes me sad.  I’m really sorry Winter that I came and melted everything you made.” 

“I owe ALL of you an apology,” said Spring, “It was my idea for the rest of us to come here.  I really should have been more patient.” 

“It’s ok,” replied Winter, “I really do understand.  Some days I get restless myself waiting for Autumn to return.  As much as I enjoy seeing her pretty leaves and cooling breezes, I want to visit with my snow and welcome holidays to the land.” 

The sisters embraced each other and turned to Father Time for help. He determined that Summer should remain below while the other girls went back up to their home in the sky.

The sisters learned to be thankful for their own visits with Mother Earth and understood that they had to change with Father Time. For it is only when they call on the land alone that their special qualities can be seen and truly appreciated. Today Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn come and go, being true gifts to nature and taking their own moments to touch our world.