Short Stories

The Sun, Moon, Star, and Ice

There was a legend years ago about how the sun and moon lived as one. They danced and sang for hours upon end and didn’t stop until their bodies gave out and their voices were raw. As the sun and moon played together, star got lonely and went to find a friend whom they might dance and sing with too. They raced through the sky looking for someone with whom they might play, and found someone on the ground, that was shining like the night sky. The stars called out to who ever was on the ground asking what their name was, and what they were about.
     The playmate on the ground responded, to the star's surprise and said, “Why my name is ice, but you can call me Crystal, but I do not understand your second question. Could you tell me what you mean?”
     The stars smiled with delight, knowing she might find a friend to night. “I do not know what I mean, my mouth speaks whatever it pleases; however, it is nice to meet you Crystal my name is Ray, I came looking for a friend in the night.”
     When Ray finished Crystal smiled and said, “Why maybe I can be your friend in the night, as I too am looking for a friend with whom I might have fun. Though I do have but one question, Ray, why do you look for a friend in the night? Are you not friends with the Sun and the Moon?”
     “I am friends with the Sun and Moon,” Ray explained to Crystal, “but they have a friendship together without me, you see. They dance and sing throughout the night as I sit lonely, not a friend in sight. I came looking for a friend in the night that might dance and sing with me, so that I am not lonely while I am awake and have something to look forward to when I sleep.”
     Crystal thought for a moment. She wanted to be Ray’s friend, so that she might have someone to dance and sing with in the night. It sounded like great fun to Crystal. Fun she hadn’t had in a long time. Not since last winter when her friend left and never came back. “I will be your friend in the night as long as you promise me something.”
     “And what would that be madam Crystal?”
     “I want you to promise never to leave and to be with me at night when you can, and tell me when you can’t. Will you promise me that Ray?”
     Ray thought for a moment that Crystal had been heartbroken, so she promised to never leave and to play when she could and warn Crystal when she couldn’t. After the promise was made, Ray came down and met Crystal, and they danced until their bodies gave out and their voices became horse. The two played every night and their friendship grew. One night Ray told Crystal she could not play. Crystal said ok and left Ray to do the work she had to do, but Ray didn’t have any work to do, she had a question. Ray’s question was one she had never thought herself asking, but she ran into a problem. Who would she ask? Ray thought to herself, “I’m not close enough to Night or Day. I never see Water or Fire. Air and Earth are busy. The sea and the sky are away. I will have to ask Sun and Moon then. I am close to them, I see them everyday, they are rarely ever busy, and they’re not away. Yeah, I'll ask Sun and Moon. All I have to do is find them.”