Storytelling: The Months that Went out to Lunch

The four seasons.

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One night, all the months went out to lunch. Their mother Earth waited at home for her children to return with food for her.

While March, April, May and September, October, and November were kind and generous, their siblings June, July, August, and December, January, and February were greedy and selfish. When the appetizer course came around, the generous months saved their mother portions of their plate, with cheese and meat and fruit and crackers, while the remaining months stuffed themselves full, and did not leave any left for their mother.

When the entree course came around, the kind months again saved the best pieces for their mother, with turkey and potatoes and vegetables and bread, while the remaining months cleaned their plates, and left nothing to be brought home to their mother.

Finally, when the dessert was served, the selfless months saved their mother cookies and pie and chocolate and ice cream, while the greedy months did not leave a crumb behind for their mother.

When the months returned home to their mother, she promptly requested her meal from her children.

June, July, and August lied to their mother, and told her that they lost it on the journey home.

December, January, and February lied to their mother as well, and told her that a thief stole it as they were leaving the restaurant.

March, April, May, and September, October, November gave over to their mother the food that they brought home for her: cheese, meat, fruit, crackers, turkey, potatoes, vegetables, bread, cookies, pie, chocolate, and ice cream. It was a feast.

Then, Mother Earth shifted on her axis.

She said to June, July, and August:

"You have lied and betrayed me, so you will be cursed to be scorching hot and miserable. People will not play outside and be happy during your time on Earth, but will rather hide and curse your name. They will be glad when you are gone".

And so, this is how summer was created.

She said to December, February, and January:

"You have lied and betrayed me, so you will be cursed to be freezing cold and miserable. People will not play outside and be happy during your time on Earth, but will rather hide and curse your name. They will be happy when you are gone".

And so, this is how winter was created.

To the rest of her children, March, April, May and September, October, and November, she said:

"You have made me very happy, my children. For this, you will be blessed. You will have cool weather and will bring prosperous crop yields to the people. People will play outside during your time on earth. You will be welcomed every year. People will be sad when you are gone."

And so, this is how spring and fall were created.

Author's Note:
Adapted from How Sun, Moon, and Wind Went Out To Dinner from "Indian Fairy Tales" by Joseph Jacobs. In this story, the mother 'star' cursed the Sun and the Wind to be miserable and hated because they were selfish, while she blessed the moon to be loved and welcomed.

Bibliography:
From "Indian Fairy Tales" by Joseph Jacobs. Source here.