Changing Seasons

They only met once a year, during those few months where the world is in limbo between summer and fall. The two sisters, who hated and loved each other with all that they were, met in the woods at the center of Nature.

One dressed in greens and yellows, the other in reds and oranges. Autumn neared the place where summer sat on the living throne, built of the trees they ruled. Each held a wooden staff that nearly equaled their own height. Summer's was like a tree in July- full and green, lively- and autumn's bore coloring more reminiscent of October. It shed colored leaves as fall stepped forward. As the distance between the sisters closed, a wind danced around them, tossing their hair and making the forest whisper. The wind was at once warm and cold, as if it could not make up its mind.

The sisters were only a few feet apart now, and the resemblance between them was clear, like a mirror reflecting the seasons. Summer stood up from her position on the throne, and both bowed, deeply, formally, and then smiled and embraced.

"My dearest sister," they exclaimed in unison.

"Summer," Autumn intoned in a resonating alto voice. "I have come to claim the oaken throne."

"Take it, sister," Summer replied, "for it is yours, and my time has passed. I shall miss you while we are parted from one another."

They embraced again and then moved around each other. Summer vanished into the surrounding trees and autumn moving into the open clearing. As she took the throne, the wind whirled through again, this time with a chill. The leaves shifted as the wind touched them: yellow, brown, red, orange, and gold filled the branches. Autumn reigned once more.