by BobA. Troutt
*****
Leftover from the Holidays
The Winding Wind
February had finally arrived in the little community of Fern Valley. The children were all excited because the next day was Groundhog’s Day. They all hoped the groundhog wouldn’t see his shadow. At the nearby orphanage, just off Mudd Cat Road, the children were out on the playground. It just happened to be warmer that day than the days before. The sun shined brightly about them as they played. Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in and bounced about the playground, bit at the children’s noses and reddened their cheeks.
“It’s getting colder,” said one child.
“Come on, let’s slide,” yelled another.
The air was filled with laughter, giggles and joyful noises as the children played. They didn’t mind a little cold. Then there it went again; the winding wind shot across the swing set, over the slide and around the monkey bars.
“Oooooo,” cried the wind and then he giggled.
It was Gus, the winding wind, passing through. Oh boy, oh boys and girls. I love to watch the children play, he said to himself as he giggled and laughed at the children.
“Oh me, oh my, they are having so much fun,” he whispered out, creating a chilly breeze.
He whipped about here and there. He wound his way over there and back here. Yep, Guthrie, which was his real name, loved to play too.
“Oooooo,” cried Gus, the winding wind, as he danced about the playground.
“He shot up into the air, grabbed some warmth from the sun, shot back down and wrapped himself around the children.
“Hey,” said one little boy, “I believe it’s warming up.”
“Me, too,” cried a little girl.
Gus just smiled and giggled. Then, across the schoolyard, three little boys named Henry, James and Terry caught Gus’ eye. Everybody knew them as Hook, Aggie Foot and Ears. Slowly, he drifted over to them and listened to them talk.
“Hey, Hook,” said Aggie Foot, “do you think Hog will see his shadow tomorrow?”
“I don’t know,” replied Hook.
Hook and Ears both chimed in, “He might.”
“Oh, come on, man,” cried Aggie Foot. “I can’t stand six more weeks of bad weather. I need to get out for a change.”
“All the other children are saying he will,” said Hook. “But, I’m like Ears; I don’t want any more bad weather. You catch my drift.”
“I’m with you,” replied Aggie Foot.
Hog was the nickname of little Benjamin Slowpokes. His birthday was on February 2, which was also Groundhog’s Day. Every year, all his friends at school wondered if he would see his shadow. But of course, it was all in fun. It was just a traditional way for them to greet spring.
Gus listened for awhile as they discussed whether or not Hog would see his shadow. Then he decided to drift about the playground and catch up on the latest gossip. They all wanted to know if Hog would see his shadow or not. It was the biggest discussion in the schoolyard that day; Gus even wondered about it himself.
“Hey, Hog,” cried Hook. “What do you think is going to happen tomorrow?”
“I don’t know,” replied Hog.
“Well, I hope you don’t see your shadow,” said Ears.
“Me, too,” said Hook.
“Can’t you cut us a little slack?” asked Aggie Foot. “Why don’t you stay home and look the other way?”
“I would like to,” replied Hog, “but that really wouldn’t be fair would it?”
“Yeah, you’re right,” said Aggie Foot. “You need to do the right thing.”
Gus nodded his head in agreement. About that time, Gus sneezed.
“Hog spoke up, “There’s moisture in the air; it may rain. If it is raining or cloudy, I will not see my shadow.”
“Alright, my man, maybe it will rain!” exclaimed Hook. Give me five, Hog Doggie.”
Slap, went their hands as Gus blew about the leaves on the ground and stirred them up.
“It might rain. It might rain,” cried out Gus. “Hog won’t see his shadow,” he exclaimed as he drifted across the playground and back over to the boys. Gus whispered a breeze into Ears’ ears. It tickled his ears and sent a chill down his back.
“Ooh-wee,” shivered Ears. “But, what if it doesn’t rain?” he asked.
“Well, we’ll have to wait and see,” replied Hog.
Wow, said Gus to himself. Look at the set of ears on that boy and what a nose on Hook.
“What do ya’ll think?” asked Aggie Foot. “Will he or will he not see his shadow?”
“I don’t know,” said Hook. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
“That’s all that we can do,” said Ears. “Ooh-wee, it’s getting colder. I feel like someone is breathing down my neck.”
The children came over and gathered around Hog. They started cheering him on.
“Hog,” they all cried. “Can he do it? Yes, he can! Hooray for Hog!”
However, Gus wondered if Hog could pull it off and so did Aggie Foot, Hook and Ears. About that time, the teacher rang the bell for the children to come in. Everyone rushed in except Hog. He stayed on the playground and wondered if he would see his shadow or not. He didn’t want to let his friends down and he was sick of winter. He wanted to play ball. As he walked toward the school, Gus blew in right beside him and went to the door with him.
Hog looked up at the sky and whispered, “Lord, I wish it would rain. Please Lord, hear my prayer.”
As Hog disappeared into the schoolhouse, Gus floated about the empty playground. He could still hear the faint laughter of the children and, most of all, Hog’s prayer. Then, with a strong gust, stir and twist, Gus shot out of the schoolyard like a whirlwind and vanished into the sky above.
As the night slowly passed, Hog tossed, tumbled and moaned in his sleep. All the way down the hall of the orphanage, you could hear the restless children. They were worried if Hog would see his shadow or not? No one really knew. The answer awaited the rising of the sun.
“Hey, Hook,” whispered Ears. “What is it doing outside?”
Slowly, Hook eased over to the window and peeped out.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “It’s too dark. But, I don’t think it’s raining.”
Quietly, the threesome crawled out of bed, sat beside the window and waited for the sunrise. When dawn arrived, you could hear Hook, Aggie Foot and Ears snoring under the window. The piercing light of the sun beamed through the window; it shined right in Hook’s face and woke him up.
“Oh, man,” cried Hook as he shook the others.
“What is it!” yelled Ears.
“It’s the sun,” said Aggie Foot.
“The sun,” they screamed as they jumped up and ran down the hall to the downstairs.
“I told you so,” cried Ears. “I told you so.”
“Oh, shut up!” yelled Aggie Foot.
“Come on, man,” said Hook as they entered the front room. “Check this out!” exclaimed Hook.
“Shhh,” hushed Aggie Foot.
There in the center of the room, Hog stood still as the children tied a blindfold over his eyes.
Suddenly, one of the children, who was looking out the window, yelled, “Hurry up, the sun is going back in!”
They led Hog over to the front door and opened it for him. Silence fell across the room. The only thing you could hear was the thumping of the little children’s hearts and a swallow from time to time.
“What is it?” asked Ears.
“Shhh,” hushed Aggie Foot.
Hook just held his breath. Carefully, Hog stepped outside. One of the children held his hand and led him out to the playground. Everyone moved out to the playground and circled around him. There were fingers crossed, toes crossed, breaths held and teeth chattering.
“What do you think?” asked Hook.
“I don’t know,” whispered Aggie Foot. “I’m nervous.”
/> “Well, I know what’s about to happen,” said Ears. “He’s going to…”
About that time, Aggie Foot placed his hand over Ears’ mouth. Slowly, Hog reached up for the blindfold with his trembling hands. As soon as he did, the sun started coming out from behind the clouds.
“Oh, no,” cried the children as they dropped their heads.
“What is it?” asked Hog.
Thump, thump, thump raced Hog’s little heart. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a mighty gust of wind pushed the dark cloud back in front of the sun just as Hog took off the blindfold and looked down. He didn’t see his shadow.
Hog turned to the others and yelled, “No more bad weather!”
The children raised their heads and screamed, “Hog, Hog, Hog! Hog, you did it!”
As they gathered around him, he looked at them and said, “I believe it’s going to rain.”
“Oooooo,” went Gus as he whipped about the playground and listened once more to the children’s laughter. He swirled, twisted and rose up high above them into the sky. He winked his eye at the dark cloud and the sun that was behind it.
“Well done, Guthrie, well done,” whispered a still small voice.
