SUMMER WIND

It is early in the morning but already Bright Sun feels hot. I look up at the vast prairie sky.

“Thank You, Creator,” I say as Summer Wind blows cool, refreshing air on my neck. I help Mama water the thirsty vegetables in our garden. I wish I could see Summer Wind but it is invisible so I smile knowing it is there.

After my chores and breakfast, Mama packs me a lunch, and I ride my bike to my friend’s house. Everything is quiet along our country road. Summer Wind gives me a push as I climb the hill.

I see Mr. Stefan’s truck coming towards me. I wait at the side of the road. He slows down so there isn’t too much dust and waves to me as he passes.

“Goin’ to pick up the mail,” he tells me. His dog, Big Boots barks his: “Hello.” Big Boots loves riding in the back of Mr. Stefan’s truck and Summer Wind blows his fur in all directions. Little Dust Shadow follows them over the hill. I remember to look both ways before getting back on my bike. Mama says it’s a good habit, even on our hardly traveled road.

“Wow!” I holler when I look up at the sky. “Dark Cloud is quickly coming my way! It is going to drop Fresh Shower right over my head before I can get to my friend’s house!” Mama made me take along my jacket, ‘just in case’, she told me. How does she know these things?

“I wonder if Speeding Light and Loud Thunder will come next?” I peddle fast, using one hand to pull my jacket over my head, just as the drops start.

“Come on, Summer Wind, push me now!” I shout. Faster! Faster. I peddle, but I cannot peddle as fast as Fresh Shower is dropping rain drops.

Bright Sunlight has hidden behind Dark Cloud.

Creator heard Mama when she prayed for Fresh Shower to come and water everything today.

“Thank You, Creator, for helping Mama with her work,” I holler, blinking raindrops from my eyes. This time Creator did not send Loud Thunder along.

“Good!” I shout. That means Bright Sunlight will be back very soon. My friend and I will be happy about that. We have big plans.

Closer, closer, almost there. Shimmering puddles lay on the road. My tires make squishy sounds as I stop peddling and crunch up my legs while I drive through them. Fresh Shower is slowing down its drops.

Slower, slower, slower…

Plop! Plop, plop…

Plop…and…stop.

I can see my friend’s place, just before the next hill. Dark Cloud moves over from Bright Sunlight. Now the raindrops sparkle wherever they have landed. Spider Web’s Lace is spread out across Wild Flower’s petals. It makes me think of my kokum’s tablecloth. Summer Wind is blowing Fresh Shower’s perfume everywhere. It sure smells fine.

I lean my bike against the step railing. My friend has been waiting for me and is happy we didn’t have to change our plans. We always have a great time playing. Summer Wind is chasing us while we ride through the puddles. We are not peddling at all as we race each other down the hill. We are laughing, because as hard as we try to pass each other, Summer Wind keeps us even.

Out in the open field, we fly our kites. Summer Wind twirls and spins and pulls them higher and higher. So high that we wonder if they are going to reach the Creator. Then just as fast, mine drops to the ground. My friend’s kite gets tangled up in the tree line that divides our land.

“Hold my legs while I pull it down,” I holler.

Now it is time for us to hunt big game in the woods behind the old barn. We pretend that we are living in the old days. We have listened to our Elders traditional storytelling around the campfire late at night. Now we play at being grown up and wise enough to live and hunt on our own. Together we make camp beside our tree house. Then we gather rocks and use them to hold the pole with our banner. This is our place in the land. Summer Wind waves it for us. Next, we build an Inukshuk out of all the flat rocks we find. It is a messenger and friendship figure that welcomes visitors or hunters and guides them. Inside the barn we found a set of antlers. We put them on our Inukshuk to let anyone who passes by know there is good hunting in the area.

When Bright Sunlight shines over our heads, it is about noon. We share the lunch Mama packed and the jug of water, but to us it is the game we hunted. Then we rest in the grass and watch the clouds form into animal shapes.

We are best of friends. We talk about everything. Our favorite TV shows, our bikes, games and kids at school. Mostly, we share our family troubles when they happen. We even ask each other things about the Creator that we are too shy to ask anyone else about. We can talk to one another about things that scare us.

Once Bright Sunlight has moved to the other side of the sky, we both have to go home. We pack up, wave and ride in opposite directions.

That was fun!

Summer Wind helped me climb the hill and pushed me down the other side so fast, that I laughed out loud! I stretched out my legs and enjoyed the free ride!

The cows in Mr. Smith’s meadow looked all blurry black and white as I raced past. They watched me but kept munching grass and switching their tails at the same time.

Home at last.

“HURRAY!” I shout. “I know that car and truck. Mama never told me we were getting company!” I speed through the gate.

Both of my older sisters and their husbands are here from the city. They are on the porch waving at me. I smile but I need both hands to steer over our bumpy driveway. My dog, Old Shep, comes running to tell me the news. He barks and barks as he turns back to beat me to the house.

Tonight, we will have a family gathering. My Uncle John and Auntie Rosie will come over with my cousins. Auntie Rosie will bring her delicious homemade strawberry ice cream!

After our huge supper, and the chores are done for the night, Dad builds a crackling bonfire for us. We gather in a family circle around it and sing. Dad and Uncle John play their violins. Uncle Harry always gets into trouble with Mama for telling us jokes and scary stories. We just laugh because it happens all the time. Summer Wind is at the bonfire, cooling our faces whenever we get too close to the flames. We make an awful mess roasting gooey, sticky, drippy, ‘marshies’ with crackers and chocolate sauce.

Mama is great. She laughs and lets us do it but then she hollers: ”Don’t you dare go into the house like that!”

Now it is late. My cousins have gone home. Mama has hugged me after my prayers. I can’t stop yawning, but it was such a fun day, I don’t want it to end. My bed is so comfy. The grownups are still sitting out on the porch, talking and laughing. They will stay there for quite a while on a clear night like this. I like to fall asleep to the sounds of my family when they all get along. I know one day, I will have those sounds at my own place. Old Shep has snuck into my room and is asleep beside my bed. I patted him. Somehow he got marshmallow goo on his fur. Yuck. Old Shep likes company too. With everyone here, Mama won’t notice he’s up here ’til morning.

Summer Wind is at my window now. In case Fresh Shower comes back, it will blow my curtains around my head until I close the window. Summer Wind will make sure I hear Loud Thunder from far off before it gets above our house.

Sometimes, at night when I am alone upstairs, Loud Thunder is scary. I pray to Creator until I am not afraid anymore. Other times, I think Creator gives me ideas to take my mind off being afraid. I play a game about being an engineer. My bed is the train. Loud Thunder is a powerful engine. Summer Wind pushes up, up and over top of all the buildings in our town. Before I know it, the train is gone and I am in my room and in my bed. Summer Wind has pushed Loud Thunder to the next town.

I whisper: “Thank You, Creator.”

Tonight, as I am falling asleep, Moon and a zillion stars twinkle softly. I am planning the adventures my friend and I will have tomorrow. That will be after my family leaves for the city. First, we will have a delicious breakfast where everyone will be talking at once. Home cured bacon, eggs and fluffy flap jacks, fresh bannock with butter and jam. Once in a while, Mama even lets me have a cup of coffee with lots of milk and sugar in it. Maybe tomorrow.

Right now, Summer Wind hums a night song. Although invisible, I know it is there. I whisper: ”Thank You, Creator, for Summer Wind. Good night.”

Dedicated to my Mom and Dad. Like Summer Wind, gentle and always comforting. Although you are invisible, I know you are there.