Optimistically Cynical: A Short Story Compilation- 1

THE NIGHT THAT QUARRELED WITH THE DAY

Once upon a time, when the land was still green and verdant, the night had a quarrel with the day.

"See here," it spoke. "I am just as important as you but I am by no means as popular. The land could not grow properly if you stared upon it all day. It would become scorched. But even so I am not only not popular, but even feared. People fear and detest me. Heaping upon me all manner of trouble that I do not merit."

"What would you have me do?" the day asked.

"I would have you speak to the people on my behalf," the night stated its case. "And let it be known to them through your own lips that I am just as important as you are."

"I will not," the day protested.

"Pray tell me why?" the night implored.

"Because we are not equals, you and I," the day rebutted. "I am your better and you should respect that."

"See here," the night spoke, becoming angry. "If you do not speak to them this very moment then I will destroy the land itself. It will be barren and even your shining will no longer be looked upon as pleasant but as menacing. Indeed the people will clamor for me and beg me to hold you away. All this I will do if you do not speak on my behalf."

But the day would not listen to reason. "I will not," it stated flatly.

The night became cross. "So be it," it spat. "I have given you fair chance and you have thrown it away. Well I tell you that come my watch I shall and will make good my threat."

The day laughed for it knew not the power the night possessed and so went on its merry way. And it was not long before it grew weary of its play and retreated giving the night it's chance.

But the night had not forgotten how it had been scoffed at by the day. So, using all the power at its disposal the night consumed the land and all the green things that inhabit it. It swept away the people and the animals. It brought low the hills and the mountains. It swallowed up the rivers and streams and any other body of water.

The solid ground it replaced with dust. And it did not stop until its threat had been carried out to the letter. So it remained in the sky and celebrated till at last it grew weary as well and departed.

Now was the day's turn. It was refreshed from its long sleep and eager to shine upon the world and watch it grow. But when it opened its eyes it saw nothing green.

There were no trees to grow tall. There were no animals to frolic about. There were no rivers to run wild. There was no grass to sway in the breeze. Indeed there was naught but dry parched sand which was a dull color.

The sand looked up to the day. "Go away," it said. "We are already parched and hot and need not your influence to make it worse. Go away and let the night be our friend."

The day was hurt who could have done this? Then it remembered what the night had said and ran quickly to rouse the night from its sleep.

The night was not happy to be awaken before it had fully rested, but upon seeing the day so unhappy it cheered up some.

"What have you done?!" the day demanded.

The night smiled. "Only what I said I would," it returned. "You laughed and scoffed at me. So I did what I promised. Now none will look to you anymore with cheer. They will all despise you and call to me. You are no longer the favored I am now."

"But could you," the day asked ready to weep. "Could you speak to the people and tell them that it is alright? Could you not say that we are friends and should be revered as equals?"

The night laughed. "I will do no such thing," it replied. "We are not equals, for I am superior to you and shall remain so for the rest of our days."

Then was the day sad and sulked as it walked away. The night had won its place and there was nothing for it to do. Still, it would not give in to the night but shined even brighter than before.

Then one day the night repented of it's evil. "Come my friend," it spoke to the day. "We shouldn't quarrel any longer. I shall let the land become green again, if you promise to keep a place for me at your side."

The day was overjoyed and readily granted the request and the two of them, both day and night, worked together and the land once again prospered. So it remains to this day that the land is green and beautiful just as it had been before.

But beware children. Beware the night, for it may once again turn upon us. Honor and revere it and it will leave us in peace. Do not forsake it for its prettier brother the day and surely we will all live in peace.