Starting out with a bang

Rain beat the ground like a thousand little drums. Patches the spirit of autumn appeared coming out of a dark alley. Patches wore a long brim hat that covered his large pumpkin head. His eyes, mouth and nose glowed brightly from the flickering flame inside his head. The glowing eyes shone brightly in the dark and rain. A faint glow remained in the alleyway as Patches was leaving.

            The horrible reality of dark city was, that at any moment a murder could take place and that murder would never be solved, for as many criminals were put into prison, just as many escaped the long arm of the law.

            Patches was usually non violent but decided that it was time to settle a score. Glow in the dark alley was the beaten and bloodied remains of King Sun, the ruler of Summer and all that was warm. With summer in critical condition, the rulers of spring, fall and winter would get a longer season.

            King Sun had grown too powerful and covered much of the year in constant heat, and while everyone thought about doing something, it was Patches who finally did something about it.

            After the attack on the autumn forest by Ignitious and Glacious, Patches decided that a peaceful life in harmony together was not an option. The spirit of Autumn and Halloween now walked the line between defender and the aggressive monster that he fought.

Halloween and the Autumn season was both fleeting and special, so its protector needed new measures.

Summer Rain

Can you hear the rain? It pings off the tin roof and patters against the walls of the small bus shelter.

            The air was warm and slightly humid. Rain had just started to pour and the wind and water was a welcoming change from the summer heat. It was in a bus shelter that he stood, out in the middle of the lush green forest, waiting for a bus that only showed twice a day. The leaves rattled as they were tapped by the steady stream of rain drops.

            Soft music played from his headphones, each small tap of his foot caused a ripple on the slowly forming, shallow pool of water by his feet. As the tree branches swayed with the wind, He noticed a tree with a blooming pink flower. The colorful pink and green popped out from the background of hazy rain and mist.

            Though it was day the sun hid behind the clouds, some would call it a gloom but others, especially those in a certain bus stop, the day seemed quiet and relaxing.

            Headlights appeared in the distance and slowly bounced up and down as a bus drove up the dirt road. A large bus stopped in front of the shelter and the doors opened. The bus driver gave a smile, which was interpreted as welcoming. The bus driver actually was smiled due to the surprise that anyone was actually waiting at this stop in the rain.

            He climbed aboard the bus and walked towards the middle, then sat down at a window seat. The bus air felt damp but small bursts of cool air came in from little vents on the floor. He put is leg over the vent, which caused the cold air to shoot up his pant leg.

            The bus seats were clean, vinyl and old. The padding still offered support but was visible through the seams of the seat. The bus’ engine let out a groan as the vehicle moved forward. The soft rocking of the bus was comforting and the patter of rain was very relaxing. The world drifted away as the bus moved forward. All was quiet and before long He had drifted off to sleep.

Nature's change

Summer in the hills, green grass flowing as far as the eye could see. Sunlight shimmered off the water of Star Pond. The pond was large, located on the top of the tallest hill in the area and at night you could see the reflection of stars in the water.

Small cottages dotted the landscape, warm and cozy at night, a roaring hearth located in each little home, and cool and breezy during the day. The hill land ended abruptly at a valley where the mounds of earth of every size suddenly dropped off and made way for flat emerald green land. The tall grass of the valley swayed in the wind like waves in the ocean.

The warm days of summer and swimming in lakes gave way to the Fall season. The Fall colored the grass and trees with warm yellow, orange and red. The tall grass dried and looked like a golden wheat field. The best food of the year was harvested, stored and feasted on.

The valley had more cottages and houses clustered together. The terrain was forgiving and ripe for farming. At the edge of the valley was a great and mighty forest. Few forests in the world could be described as ‘mighty’, but the Ancient Wildwood not only covered a large section of land but the deeper into the forest the stronger the trees grew. The tall old trees were as big around as a cottage and the bark was as strong as iron. The people of the Valley would harvest the trees on the edge of the forest but no one ever successfully chopped down a tree in depths of the Ancient Wildwood.

The tall and ancient trees still bowed to nature like all trees do and their leaves we awash with bright orange and red. The Wildwood was so vibrant in the fall it could be seen for miles and looked as if it had caught fire.

The leaves of Autumn fell as the days grew cold. Late Autumn rain, cloudy skies and the bare branches of ancient trees made an eerie yet beautiful sight. A man carrying a lantern walked through the deep Wildwood, his small light bounced with each step. Through the forest and onto the edge of the land was a steep cliff side. The sheer cliff would have been impassible if not for a small winding trail that lead from the forest down to the sand beach below.

The path was steep and one false step could lead to a deadly fall to the shore below. Down the path and onto the windy beach, the rain from the season mixed with the cold of the ocean. Waves crashed against the sand, rain fell from the sky and wind blew in from the furthest reaches of the world.

Autumn drifted away like a falling leaf and winter blew. The rain was replaced with snow and the cold air mixed with the warm exhaling breath. Visible steam like breath puffed from the traveler’s nose and mouth as he stepped aboard a large ship. The ship was leaving this land and off to explore the unknown.

The chill brought in from the ocean heightened the cold of winter. Back in the forest the animals hid inside the great trees for shelter. The Ancient Wildwood might have lost its leaves but it would not bend to even the coldest winds of winter. The Wildwood lasted hundreds of years and stood against hundreds of winters. The people of the land did not worship the Ancient Wildwood but they did treat it with respect and hoped to also be as sturdy and enduring as the forest itself.

The snow had settled in the valley, the wind from the ocean was broken by the cliffside and tall standing forest. Trails of smoke lifted up from a dozen chimneys, the smoke curled and twisted on the breeze as it floated away.

From the Valley to the Hills, the snow had settled everywhere. The hills were so covered in snow that it was hard to tell where the snow stopped and the rock began. Star Pond had frozen over, the ice shimmered like glass and the pond took on an even more mystical aura as if it were a giant mirror hidden away in the hills.

Night in the hills was clear and every star was visible. The cold of winter sent chilling wind blowing over the glassy Star Pond. The people in the Valley often told stories of highest hill and Star Pond. They worried that on winter nights, when the air was cold and the sky appeared larger than normal, it would be possible to fall up into the blackness of space.

Just as night faded to day so did winter melt away. Spring crept in, slow and with caution. The snow turned to puddles, the Pond turned from icy glass back to water and the earth turned damp and muddy. The gray skies, rainy weather and muddy ground was far from the bright bloom of spring that most wished for but the damp weather meant water for plants and the plants did grow and eventually they bloomed. The bright blooming flowers and trees sprung up across the Hills and Valley. The Ancient Wildwood turned emerald green and the ocean by the shore calmed to a more reasonable pace.

            The people of the Hills and Valley were happy, they began their planting of crops, the children played in the muddy valley and swam in the cold water of Star Pond. The land and people grew another year older and observed another year of natures changing beauty.

Halloween Comes for Ignitous

In the spirit world there were four major lands, each based on a season experienced on earth. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall all had lands with their own climate, forests and other terrain. In the land of summer on the eastern edge of the searing desert was the summer forest. The summer forest was a brisk ninety to a hundred degrees, then going outward toward the desert the temperature went up until finally reaching the volcano lands, where the air was hot enough to burn human hair.

            The spirits and warm weather animals played and enjoyed their warm days while Autumn arrived for the people on Earth. The warm weather was slowly cooling in the summer forest, causing the inhabitants to panic. A dark shadow swooped over the land like a hawk looking for prey. These disturbances alerted the attention of July, the ruler of Summer land. She was a large woman who loved parties, attention and summer heat. She was popular among her own people but had a tendency for sticking around on earth longer than many humans would like. Her overstaying her welcome would cut into the Fall season. This year she behaved herself and was in the summer lands with her people.

            The large shadow was joined by smaller shadows and the cold air began to pour in from above. The sky darkened as glowing white ghosts and wisps descended into the forest. Maniacal laughter echoed through the trees and pumpkin headed plant creatures sprang up from the ground. Spirits of Halloween had arrived in the summer lands and were searching for someone. Floating Jack-o-lanterns with glowing eyes scanned through the now darkened forest as bats and hawks flew above the treetops. The summer forest was in a panic.

            The spirits of Autumn and Halloween had come for Ignitious the flame spirit, who, with his brother Glacious, attacked the Autumn Forest and severely injured the leader Patches. Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams chased to two brothers out of the Autumn forest but the spirits of Halloween wanted revenge on the brothers for their disrespect for the natural order of the seasons.

            Ignitious was mostly recovered from his injuries thanks to the heat of the Summer Lands. The Halloween spirits had already spotted before he figured out that he was the target of this attack. The bright flames that made up Ignitious’ body was easy to spot in the now darkened sky and before he could escape he was set upon by bats and pumpkin monsters. The flame spirit sent out a wave of flames, sweeping up the bats in the flames and making the monsters run for cover. The trees of the Summer Forest were heat and flame proof, so any fire that hit the green leafy trees quickly went out. Ignitious wasn’t a spirit of the summer lands and didn’t really care about the forest, so even if the trees weren’t fire proof he still would have used his fire powers without restraint.

            Ignitious took off flying like a fireball, he was headed for the volcano where his powers would be strongest. He shot through the forest with ease and entered the searing desert. The large shadow from the sky descended down and landed in front of Ignitious before the spirit could go any further. Ignitious collided with the shadow causing a fiery explosion. When the flames died down the shadow still stood. Bats fluttered away and shadow creatures melted off the figure and escaped into the ground, revealing Patches, the spirit of Autumn and the leader of the Autumn Lands. “Did you really think you could surprise attack me like a coward, attack my lands, claim my forest for yourself and I wouldn’t do anything about it? Just because Joseph and Jaye kicked you out of my forest doesn’t mean there wont be consequences!” Patches’ voice boomed as flames erupted out of his pumpkin head and dark magic jumped from his body like electrical sparks from a power line.

            “I beat you once before, do you really think you can take me this time?” Ignitious said with a fiery smile. “You had your brother to help you and you attacked me when my back was turned. In a fair fight you wouldn’t last a minute. I am the king of Autumn and Halloween, you are rogue elemental spirit” Patches shouted as he walked towards Ignitious. Patches was tall and thin with a body made of hay, roots and flames with a large pumpkin head on his shoulders and a carved face that moved like a human face. While the two spirits prepared to fight the invading spirits of Halloween and Autumn made a circle around the two, so that Ignitious couldn’t run away from this. Cold air blew through the desert as the night sky and full moon loomed over head for the first time ever in this land.

            Ignitious spun around bringing flames up from the ground and carrying them with him as he charged towards Patches. The King of Fall didn’t flinch at the flames and easily side stepped the attack. Patches was quicker than he looked and was determined to show this menace why he shouldn’t mess with the Autumn Lands. Patches melted into the ground like a shadow and shot forward with lighting speed, then before Ignitious could realize that Patches was gone, the shadow of Patches sprang up from the ground in the form of a giant shadowy wolf head with blazing red eyes. The shadow wolf head chomped down on Ignitious and shook the spirit like a dog shaking a piece of meat. Ignitious sent flame bursts out from his body in an attempt to break the shadow wolf’s grip but the flames had no effect. When Patches decided he was done he slammed Ignitious into the ground, then the shadow wolf head formed back into the pumpkin headed spirit.

            Ignitious charged condensed flames into his hand, making a fireball hotter and stronger than his normal steel melting flames. The flame spirit launched his powerful ball of flames. Patches, who didn’t have bones or a spine, bent himself in half to avoid the fireball. Flames shot across his back as he narrowly dodged the attack. While Patches was still bent in half he charged forward, his pumpkin head growing larger and his mouth growing wider the closer he got to Ignitious. Shadows rose up from the ground and whooshed forward like wind, wrapping around Ignitious. Patches came within inches of the flame spirit then contracted his pumpkin head and ‘breathed’ out dark magic flames from his mouth. Dark flames engulfed the flame spirit, damaging the fire elemental while remaining harmless to any of the Halloween spirits caught in the blast.

            Ignitious dropped to the ground as purple mist streamed from his head like steam. The group of Halloween spirits parted on two sides, on the right side a group of Autumn spirits dragged a large wooden crate into the fighting circle and on the left the ruler of the Summer Lands, July emerged onto the scene.

            “What is going on here?!” July shouted. “Ignitious and his brother attacked me, beat me almost to death and tried to claim my forest as their own. This is my payback” Patches explained. The Halloween spirits all called out and shouted in agreement. July stared at Patched with a furious look but switched her heated gaze down to Ignitious. “You said you needed to rest in my lands because you were injured from a fight, you never told me you tried to upset the balance of the seasons and attacked a king! What happens when you recover? Were you going to attack him again? What about attack me and claim my Summer Forest? Or were you going to go pick on the Spring bunny?” July shouted in outrage.

            “I’m not your subject you old crone! I don’t owe any of you anything! When I recover I am going to gather my gang of flame spirits, some dragons and anyone else who will follow me and make you all pay!” Ignitious spat. “OH no you wont!” July shouted grabbing Ignitious by the neck with a powerful grip and slamming him to the ground. She then threw all her weight down onto the flame elemental, sitting on him so he couldn’t escape. The Halloween spirits sniggered at the sight of the feared flame elemental being sat on by the mighty Summer Spirit.

            “I figured the brothers would try to attack again, so I made these crates to transport the two of them. I will keep them somewhere safe until they agree to not attack anyone. Ignitious will be riding in a crate made of summer wood and Glacious…” Patches trailed off as he gestured to a second box being dragged up. The second crate was made of a pale wood and was covered in frost. The autumn spirit dragging the crate opened it revealing Glacious trapped inside. “I found him in the Winter forest and figured the trees of Winter could hold him as well as anything” Patches added.

            July used her firm grip to pull Ignitious out from under her and threw him into the large box made of summer wood. “I am glad to see you taking care of things, but next time you should tell me ahead of time before you invade my forest” July said sternly.

            Patches apologized to July and explained that he didn’t know ahead of time if she was in on the attack or not. The two crates were then hauled off by Halloween creatures, Patches apologized again, bowed like a gentleman then opened a portal made of autumn leaves and swirling wind. The group of autumn spirits, Halloween spirits and Patches all left the Summer lands. Then the moment the portal closed the night sky turned to a bright summer day, the air warmed up and environment quickly returned to normal.

            Ignitious and Glacious learned a lesson that most spirits already knew, don’t disrupt the natural balance of weather and seasons and sure as hell don’t mess with the King of Halloween.

Joseph and Jaye save Autumn part 4 of 4

When Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams arrived to the source of the heat they found Ignitious laying on a beach chair and a giant fire ball, which he conjured, was floating in the sky above the trees acting like a second sun. “I was expecting a forest on fire, not a flame elemental enjoying an extended summer” Jaye joked. “Both are equally bad. This isn’t the summer land, this is the Autumn land” Joseph said with a low growl. “Ok big guy, lets ease off on the demon juice. We just gotta whack this guy a couple of times with the ol’claw hammer and we can go back to drinking coffee in the cold breeze like a couple of weirdos” Jaye said as he patted Josephs arm. Joseph turned to Jaye with a sad but sincere smile “Yeah, I am just getting a little worked up. It will be ok” Joseph said, nodding several times as if to try and convince himself.

            Ignitious spotted the two friends walking up. Jaye had his pumpkin sword drawn and Joseph had his magic staff ready. The humanoid fire spirit let out a quick laugh at the sight of the two. Tiny flames spit out from his mouth when he laughed. Ignitious’ laugh caused Joseph’s anger to burn hotter. “This isn’t a laughing matter. You are about to be destroyed. We spared your brother, you wont be spared, not after we saw what you two did to Patches” Joseph shouted with his teeth gritted. Before Ignitious could reply a ten foot tall whirlwind was launched from Joseph’s staff. The whirlwind tore a path through the ground and struck the flame elemental before he could get out of his beach chair.

            The whirlwind shook in the place where Ignitious previously sat. Flames erupted from the whirlwind in every direction until the whirlwind was dispelled, leaving a very angry flame spirit in its place. Ignitious had flames raging all over his body, with his core form made from a searing magma substance. “I was just going to make this into a second summer forest because I felt bad for old Patches but since you attacked me so rudely, I am going to burn this forest down to ASH!” Ignitious shouted then shot straight at Joseph with incredible speed and force. Jaye saw Ignitious lunge across the battlefield and barely had enough time to summon his golden leaf. The leaf created a wind barrier just a split second before the giant fireball that was Ignitious hit Joseph. The flame spirit was repelled by the windshield and sent backward but the force of his attack shut down the shield and made Jaye stumble backward slightly. All of the magical items they had, took their energy to use and Jaye was already feeling tired from repelling such a large attack.

            The two friends prepared to attack but Ignitious was relentless and went into another attack. Jaye spotted a large hollowed out log, it was large, sturdy and looked like it had been there for a hundred years. “Follow me!” Jaye shouted as he ran for cover. Joseph ran right behind Jaye. Ignitious was fast and was quickly gaining on the two. The flame spirit turned into a fireball and launched himself forward. The two friends jumped into the hollow log just in time. Ignitious sped by the log and hit a tree ten feet away. “Your luck will not last!” Shouted the angry spirit. “This log is pretty great! Maybe we could just camp here until Ignitious leaves” Jaye joked. Joseph half smiled.

            Ignitious was tired of his enemy surviving his attacks and decided to go all out. “You dared to bring out my wrath, now try and survive it” Ignitious shouted. He stretched his arms up into the air and summoned flames. Fire floated in the air above Ignitious, the collection of fire was bigger than Ignitious himself. “Your father was a matchstick!” Shouted Jaye, who was poking his head out of the log. “and your mother was an easy bake oven” Joseph shouted, still in the log.

            “Enough!” Ignitious shouted as he shot all of his summoned flames at the two. The intense fire it the ancient log, fire burst out in every direction upon contact with the log. The surrounding area was burned and turned to ash but somehow the log stood, old, stubborn and sturdy. “The log protected us!” Joseph said in amazement. “The log provides!” Jaye cheered. The giant log was blackened and smoking but it protected the friends.

            Ignitious was furious but couldn’t summon another attack right away without injuring himself. “Hey, he’s outta juice!” Jaye cheered. “Right! Then lets smoke this turkey!” Joseph said with a determined expression. Jaye pulled his claw hammer from his jacket, used his magic pumpkin to cover him in armor and then charged out from the safety of the log. Joseph took a swig from the warm liquid in the water flask, because it tasted good, then charged out holding his magic staff.

            Ignitious saw the two charging and tried to throw a few flame attacks. The half hearted attacks were easily dodged and the friends were left unhindered. “I’ve been waiting for this! Clawww Hammar!” Jaye brought his hammer down and struck the fire elemental in the chest, knocking him back. Joseph followed behind then summoned earth tremors and whirlwinds from his staff. Joseph’s anger still boiled inside of him and he was determined to bring down Ignitious down, even if it meant killing him.

            The ground shook around Ignitious, the whirlwind pulled loose rocks from the ground as it went and the multiple whirlwinds filled with rocks and stones hit Ignitious. Ignitious was wounded but still standing. He charged up a fireball and threw it at Joseph.

            Joseph hadn’t let up his attack at this point and continued to charge forward casting magic. Jaye jumped and knocked Joseph out of the way of the incoming fireball. “You aren’t suddenly fire proof are you?” Jaye asked with a smile “No” Joseph replied shortly then stood up and began charging his energy into his magic staff. Joseph was determined but also blinded by his singular goal to defeat Ignitious.

            Joseph’s anger had been building for a long time, every time July the fat spirit of summer, Old Man Winter or any other troublesome spirit tried to disrupt the Fall. Joseph didn’t try to invade summer land to make the season shorter, he didn’t go out of his way to fight Winter so Autumn lasted longer. Joseph was peaceful and waited all year for his favorite season and yet someone had to try and stop him from enjoying it. He suffered through summer, getting heat stroke, heat sickness, headaches, dizziness, sweating through his shirts, and yet he suffered through it without trying to conquer anything. Ignitious treated Patches worse than anyone yet and the attack from the Fire and Ice brothers was the final straw.

            Joseph had been charging magic into his staff then unleashed it on Ignitious. A giant wall of stone rose up from the ground then rushed forward like a tidal wave, whirlwinds flew at Ignitious, each whirlwind was bigger than usual and streaked with lighting. Electricity flashed and sparked through the air. The rock tidal wave, the electrical mega whirlwinds and just pure bolts of lighting blasted forward at super speeds. Ignitious was fast but he couldn’t manage to escape this onslaught in time. All of the magic attacks struck Ignitious. The flame elemental shook and convulsed in place, the flames that made up his outer body pulsed and flared out in every direction at random intervals. When the attacks died down Ignitious was left with only his core magma form and was more vulnerable now, like Glacious in his cracked solid ice form.

            Joseph had spent most of his energy with those attacks and now gasped to catch his breath. Ignitious was defeated and fell to his knees “Alright, I give up. I won’t bother Patches or his land again” Ignitious said, his voice was weak and hollow. “No forgiveness, he wont get mercy” Joseph said between breaths. Jaye winced “We’ll spare him like we spared Glacious. Let me handle this” Jaye said to a barely standing Joseph.

            “We spared your brother and we will spare you. Whatever grudge or debt you think you have between patches, is over. Enough fighting, try to do something useful for a change” Jaye told Ignitious then shook his claw hammer menacingly at the wounded flame spirit.

            Ignitious vanished in a ball of flame leaving a small scorch mark on the grass where he knelt. Jaye turned to Joseph “Glad that is settled. Now you need to relax with all of that ‘no mercy’ crap. Lets drink some tea or something and calm down. We should probably check on Patches as well” Jaye shrugged then walked over to collect his injured friend.

            The two friends saved Autumn land and thus had saved the season itself. When they reached Patches hut they found the Autumn spirit sleeping soundly with a small sprout budding from his torso. This sprout would grow into a new pumpkin head, returning Patches to his former glory. Joseph was starting to calm down now that autumn was saved. The friends didn’t get a reward for their help but they did get to keep their new weapons, at least until Patches remembered that they were missing.

            The real reward was a new autumn day on the horizon, the exciting frights of Halloween, the chilly Fall mornings, the harvest of food and the time to reflect.

            Joseph and Jaye never made it home though, before they could reach the portal to home, they were whisked away onto another adventure. But that is another story for another time.    

Autumn Train

It was the end of summer, the night brought a temporary break from the heat. The crickets chirped and the humidity of the day still lingered in the air. I always loved going for long walks around my old apartment building but in the summer, I delayed my walks till night.

 

            The city streets were empty in my part of the neighborhood. I lived in a historic district of the city, it was quiet, affordable and I was still close to the store if I needed anything. Behind my apartment were old train tracks and every night I would hear the train rush by and shook my apartment as it went. My apartment wouldn’t so much shake as gently rumble, it was more soothing than it sounds.

 

            I always loved trains and the sound of trains in the distance relaxed me, so on this particular night I left my usual walking route and headed for the train tracks. I wanted to see the train up close for some time and that night was a perfect night to finally see it in all of its fury and speed.

 

            I walked off the sidewalk and down a grassy hill, the warm summer air stuck to me like wet clothes. The closer I walked toward the train tracks the cooler the air became. Walking away from the concrete and tall buildings afforded me the chance to feel a cool breeze of a changing season. I knew I was silly to hope for Fall weather so soon, but that didn’t stop me from quietly wishing it to myself.

 

            I heard the train approaching in the distance but didn’t see it or the lights. I ran closer to the train tracks, running through wild grass that reached my shins, it was damp and scratchy. A chest high wooden fence stood between the tracks and me. Knowing I couldn’t go further without risking my life, I held onto the wooden fence posts and leaned my body forward in anticipation of seeing the train rush past me.

 

            I heard the sound of a trains horn and the sound of it barreling down the tracks but I couldn’t see anything. The sound grew closer and closer till finally it sounded like it was right in front of me. I saw a blinding light flash then an enormous train barreled passed me.  It was twice as big as any train I had ever seen, it barely fit on the tracks. It was made of black metal with orange stripes across the side, it had an old fashioned look to it, like it had been made a hundred years ago. There was one big light on the front and steam poured from the front of it. It dragged a long trail of cargo carts, all of them were wooden boxcars with green, orange or black paint and some weren’t pained at all.

 

            The rush of the train kicked up a cold breeze that blew through the field. The blast of cool air felt like a winter wind had blown through me. I shivered and stepped back. I convinced myself that the wind was from the train’s movement and the only reason it felt so cold was because I was used to the summer heat, but when I turned around I saw the grass around me was covered in frost.

 

            The frost quickly melted from the grass and as it did I turned back to the train just in time to see the last car and caboose fly by. Another winter wind was kicked up and blew through the field.

The train disappeared into the night and left no trace that it had ever been there. The only thing that remained was the cool air that pushed back the heat and the memories I would always have of the mysterious train from that night.

Autumn Daydream

Heat beats on my home from the outside as the whirr of my air conditioner could be heard in the background. Its around this time every year that I lose my strength to the heat. I shamble through the end of the summer feeling drained from the heat and sun. I miss the cool breeze of autumn and the bright sunny days that aren’t blisteringly hot.

 

I grow tired of summer and though I know that Fall is on its way, I have a difficult time picturing it. I know that every year the first few days of crisp autumn air will be met with excitement and confusion. It always seems almost too cold at first but it is still a welcome temperature. I gain a burst of energy and I feel elated when the first cool breeze of Autumn rolls in. I feel surprise and joy equal to the first time I ever felt wonder of a crisp Fall day.

 

I feel like I am running out of words to describe how I feel. I love the Fall as if it were a two month long holiday. Halloween and Thanksgiving contribute to the festive feelings of Fall but it also has its own energy and joy. People go apple picking, pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving, hay rides and corn stalk mazes, or maize mazes eheheheh. People DO things like the season is a holiday with its own traditions. Granted summer has the beach and generally spring is when people first start doing out door activities. I argue that spring and summer activities are based on the weather. Going to the beach, bike riding, running, flying a kite and going on picnics are things people already enjoy doing but just have to wait for the right weather and spring and summer weather is best for those activities. Autumn is more than good weather, it brings out a creative side in people. They decorate more, they do activities based around Autmn, not just Autumn weather. Some might enjoy outdoor activities in the spring but those same activities could be done in the Fall. In some places that have cherry blossoms or rare seasonal plants they might celebrate spring using those plants and that is what people do every year in Autumn.

 

I will admit I am in the Northeast side of North America, so these are traditions I see all around me and assume most people take part in. I don’t know what other parts of the country do or what other countries do. I don’t think I could every live in a country or a part of the United States that doesn’t have trees that change from green, yellow, orange and red. Every year the forested areas look like a beautiful painting, painted by the creator of the world.

 

Every year I feel this mix of tired sadness and hope for the Fall and every year I write about it in some way. I hope I always feel this way because Autumn is such a great time of the year that the day I stop being excited is the day I have died, either in my heart or in my head.

 

I sit here listening to soft music and the sound of my Air conditioner whirring softly in the background, only a little longer till the best time of the year. Happy Summer everyone and lets all have a good second half of the year.

Joseph Stephens and the Final Day part 1

            The day had approached, the day Joseph Stephens would finally be rid of all of his enemies all in one fell swoop. Joseph Stephens was a kind and gentle soul but for various reason he had gathered a few enemies. Though they were not constant threats, allowing them to live would risk potential danger in the future.

            Jaye Williams heard that all of Joseph’s foes would be gathering in the same city for one day only. The reason was a mystery, but the fact remained that they had all come out of hiding and now was the time for Joseph to strike.

            Joseph’s enemies included a sword wielding dog who lost his honor long ago in a game of chance, a rat woman that ate children and hid in train stations and last was the sun. Every summer the sun would let his awful daughter July roam the land and spread heat waves and awful direct sunlight onto the world. Kill the sun would show July to show some respect and it would mean Joseph could say goodbye to heatstroke, heat sickness, sunburn and the unpleasant feelings that heat brought.

            All of his enemies gathered in the city of Ales. Down town Ales was also known as Drunk town. Drunks would clutter the subways, trains and streets. Some would even have kids with them. A drunk pushing a stroller across the street was not uncommon in such a hive of unpleasantness.

            Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams hurtled down the highway on a makeshift motorcycle that Jaye Williams built in his garage. The vehicle was barely street legal and looked like a golem made of spare parts or some kind of awful junkyard dog robot. If the motorcycle could speak it would either be completely insane or cry out for death. It was Jaye’s finest creation and he loved it as much as a man could love a motorcycle/robot/golom/dog/junkpile/sin against nature.

            Jaye drove and Joseph rode on the back, feeling a little awkward sitting on the back of the motorcycle, clutching onto Jaye’s torso for deal life. Also he wondered if other cars thought they were dating, because in his mind, couples usually rode motorcycles in this manner. The drivers of the other cars didn’t have a chance to wonder if the motorgolom’s drivers were dating or if they were even human, because the motormonster drove so fast that it looked like god had hurled garbage down the highway. Truly it was a marvel to behold, or not behold, depending on where you were standing.

            The city was fast approaching and Joseph couldn’t wait to get the fighting started, these jerks had it coming and the two friends came prepared. The motorcycle had weapons strapped to every inch of it and Joseph had several weapons on his back and strapped to a belt on his waist. Joseph was coming to Ales city and he was bring hell with him.

            The illustrious city of Ales had a beautiful uptown district where all the rich snobs got blasted in the lap of luxury. The buildings were tall and impressive, the shops were stylish and the bars were numerous. Businessmen walked down the streets saying buzz words at each other and stroking their egos as they spoke.

            Jaye and Joseph wandered the streets with weapons strapped to their backs, no one questioned it or stopped them. One police officer finally did stop the duo and asked about the weapons. “We’re cosplayers” Replied Jaye. The police officer scoffed and then smiled and walked off.

            After walking the streets for several hours, Joseph finally spotted a lead. The Sun, or the spirit of the sun was outside of a coffee shop ordering a large coffee. The actual sun, earths sun still was in the sky warming the earth, but the entity known as “The sun” or “Solus” could travel between earth and earths sun. “Solus!” Joseph shouted and charged at the embodiment of heat. Solus glanced at Joseph with a bored look and sipped his coffee. “DO you remember me?!” Joseph shouted, loudly enough to make the coffee shop clerk back away slowly. “No. Should I know you?” Solus asked sounding somehow more uninterested by the second. “I fight with your daughter July every summer, I curse your name every time I get heat stroke” Joseph said in disbelief. “Well, a lot of people hate July and cursing my name doesn’t do anything but use up your own breath” Solus said, sounding so disinterested that he almost stopped talking mid sentence.

            Joseph was feeling discouraged. He wondered if all of his enemies were built up in his head, what if none of them even knew he existed and all of this vengeance was the act of a sad weirdo with too many weapons. Before Joseph had a chance to call off the vengeance mission Jaye Williams reached for a weapon on his back and shouted “CLAAAAWWW HAMMMMMAAAHH!!!” then hurled a claw hammer at Solus’ head. The hammer whirled through the air and struck Solus firmly in his fiery orb of a dome. This jolted the heat spirit and made him spill his coffee.

            Solus was instantly furious, flames erupted from the ground around him as he roared loudly into the air. “WHO did that?!” Solus shouted. Jaye was standing behind Joseph and was pointing wildly at Joseph. “You! Joseph! You will forever be my enemy and will curse the day you crossed me!” Solus shouted as his arm shout forward and his finger plucked out from his fist, forming a very menacing finger point in Joseph’s direction. “Yussss!!!” Joseph cheered. Finally the feelings were mutual and they could fight without Joseph feeling guilty. “Jaye, you are a true friend” Joseph said with a warm smile. Just then a fireball was hurled through the air and blasted Joseph backward into a building. “No problem buddy” Replied Jaye to his charred friend.

            Joseph smiled as he stood up. He reached into his bag of weapons and pulled out a giant sword. The sword was four feet long and had a lighting bolt engraved into the center of it. A purple gem rested in the red hilt and the gem also had a lighting bolt symbol. This was the sword of storms, an ancient weapon that could call forth storms, rain, thunder and lighting and be wielded as the swordsman saw fit. Joseph found it at a garage sale and bought it for twenty bucks. He haggled it down from thirty bucks to twenty and felt proud about it all day.

            Solus gathered his strength and formed a flaming sword in his hand. “I am the father of fire and heat. You have no hope to defeat me!” Solus exclaimed. Joseph raised his sword into the air and rain began to pour from the sky. Thunder boomed and lighting cracked against the sky. All of the drunks had to move indoors to drink also.

            Steam rose up from Solus as he was pelted by rain. “Nice trick, but I am not defeated from a bucket of water” He exclaimed, clearing enjoying his own voice. Then before Joseph could blink Solus had crossed the ten feet between them and was able to slash his flaming sword right through Joseph. Joseph’s eyes went wide, he stumbled and fell. His bag full of weapons clattered to the ground and his shoulder smashed against the pavement, landing on it with the full weight of his body. Inside the backpack a jar was smashed. A glowing purple fairy was freed from the jar and began to buzz around Joseph. The glowing sprite was swearing and cursing at Joseph in fairy language as it buzzed around. To a human it all seemed very magical. Joseph remembered the healing powers of fairies and quickly snatched it out of the air, popped it into his mouth and chewed it up.

            Joseph was filled with a renewed energy and purpose. His strength returned and his will to fight was bolstered. “Thank you delicious fairy. Thank you” Joseph muttered under his breath, then a single tear fell from his eye in her memory. Joseph looked up at Solus with rage in his eyes only to be greeted by the sight of Solus being pummeled by a claw hammer being wielded by Jaye Williams. He was laughing like an insane elf and whacking the sun spirit with all of his might. “Bap bap bap bap! Claw hammer! Did you forget who you were dealing with?” Jaye shouted. Jaye’s claw hammer also had a gem in it, the gem rested in the handle of the hammer, the gem was red and it had a symbol of a hand giving someone the middle finger. Scholars everywhere have yet to determine what kind of magic the red gem held, or if any at all.

            Solus laid on the side walk defeated, broken and rained on. “Now you go back to your sun and stop being such a jerk about the weather!” Joseph shouted. Solus slowly stood up and nodded meekly. “As you wish” he said then turned into a ball of fire and took off into the sky.

            Solus was defeated, but the Mouse lady and Dishonored dog still remain. Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams have a long journey ahead, full of violence, drunkness, dumb jokes and claw hammers.

Joseph Stephens and the Early Arrival

It was September and heat continued to oppress the city. Joseph Stephens was out for a stroll around town. The sun was setting and Joseph hoped that the night would bring a much needed break from the heat.

July the spirit of summer yawned as the lights grew dim. The night rolled on but she refused to go to bed. July wore out her welcome in many ways. She stayed up late some nights, keeping the heat going until the early hours of the next day and often would stick around well into September, leaving Patches the autumn spirit with a short season.

The sun finally set and Joseph looked up into the sky at the giant summer spirit. “Hey July, you going to bed?” Joseph called to her. “No, I think I will stay up! The night is still young and all of the people of the city want to enjoy the nice weather for a bit longer. Who am I to deprive them of my radiance?” July said to Joseph. Joseph sneered “yeah sure ‘nice’ weather” he muttered. While it was true many people in the city enjoyed warm weather and some even enjoyed the humid weather, it wasn’t true that the whole city enjoyed July. In face the city was pretty split up over all the seasons. Nice weather meant something completely different depending on who you asked. Joseph would suffer the summer and was rewarded with Fall and spring. Some people would wait all year for summer and hate when winter arrived. Joseph’s problem was when summer was supposed to start leaving and instead decided that everyone loved her so much that she should stay until winter arrived.

The street lights in the city turned on as the sun finally set. Building lights, street lights and car lights illuminated the city. Turning a city of concrete into something a little nicer, something a little more pleasant to look at. The air was slightly cooler without the sun hanging over the sky but until July went to bed the persistent heat would remain.

Music started to play, each note lingered in the air as it was played, like a slowly drifting leaf on the wind. The music was soft and slow but as it went on became more ominous. The slow melody was joined with quieter more rapid notes. Like someone striking the keys of a piano as someone on stage tried to play a relaxing melody on a violin. The sharp keys continued until it drowned out the soft melody all together. The street lights dimmed, the car lights went black and the city block lost power. Lights went out everywhere within that city block. A cold wind blew, it was freezing like the icy hand of death reaching out. It felt cold like the breath of old man winter. Joseph looked around in the dark. Joseph didn’t think Winter wouldn’t try to arrive this early, but he wasn’t sure.

“w-who is that?” July called out in fear. The music started to get louder and louder. A black cloaked figure soared through the air and with him he brought frigid cold air. “Halloween has come early to this town and Death has come early for YOU!” Said the cloaked figure. A skeletal hand reached out from the cloak and pointed at July. July quaked in fear “N-no! You can’t! My father is the sun! you can’t threaten me!!” July shouted back trying to calm her fear. “The sun cannot help you here. It is night and I bring the darkness on my heels” replied the cloaked figure. “You can’t! I am an immortal spirit” July protested. “Your soul will be especially delicious” Replied the figure. Red eyes glowed from under the hood as he looked up at July.

            “Why have you come? Why me? Why now?” July asked in a panic. “You have over stayed your welcome, you bully the seasons into ending early and starting late. You only obey those you fear and you only fear two things. Winter…”the cloaked figure said slowly then he pulled down his hood revealing a skeleton head with burning red eyes. “…And DEATH!”

July shrieked “No! I will leave, I will be good I swear!!!” July said and then jumped so hard that she soared straight into the air and didn’t come back down. Joseph watched Summer disappear into the sky as he smiled with a devilish grin. The cloaked figure loomed over the city, its red eyes burning so brightly it could be seen from the ground. “Happy Halloween everyone!!!!” Shouted the cloaked skeleton, then it began to cackle like a mad man. Trees twisted into black Halloween trees and Jack o lanterns sprouted from the ground, their faces already carved and their candles already lit.

Joseph began to laugh too. The madness was contagious and the heat of summer had been getting to him. The city block turned into a Halloween city, with spirits walking the streets and Jack-o-lanterns on every street corner. Thick tree roots grew over the street lamps and the light from the street lights emitted an eerie green glow. Car lights were now purple, like black light and all of the houses and buildings had a warm orange tint to their lights. Cold air rushed through the city but then calmed down. The air became breezy but not cold. It felt like late October on Halloween night.

The skeleton spotted Joseph Stephens and soared down to meet him. “You enjoyed my work mortal?” Asked the skeleton. “Haha, Yes I did sir. July had it coming and Halloween can’t come soon enough” Joseph replied. Realizing this was all harmless fun. People were scared but no one got hurt. The skeleton laughed, its laugh echoed through the air as if it had been carried on the wind. “We already have two Czars of Halloween mortal, if we didn’t I would offer you a title on the spot” Said the cloaked Skeleton. “So who are you anyway? At first I thought you were Patches in Disguise” Said Joseph. “I am a Grim Reaper, one of many, son of Death herself” The grim reaper said. “I am also friends of Pumpkin Patch, or Patches as you call him and a fan of Halloween” The Reaper added.

Joseph stood in amazement “Oh! So that wasn’t for show then? You were going to kill July? Also what about the city, will it stay like this?” Joseph asked. “No, I just wanted to scare her. Also don’t worry about the city, it will return to normal by the crack of dawn. The weather will be more of a pleasant early September as well. The heat should stay away as long as July doesn’t come back” The Grim reaper explained.

“well I have actual work to do, I can’t goof off too much, I am on the clock” The grim reaper said “Oh, do spirits have time and schedules like humans do?” asked Joseph. “No, don’t be a sucker. We live forever, why would we need time. Its just an expression that I say when I have to leave” The grim reaper laughed, then he vanished.

 Joseph felt weird about being mocked by the Grim Reaper. Maybe it was a honor? Joseph wondered if all the Grim Reapers were jerks who loved Halloween.

The night went on and Joseph Stephens stayed outside as long as he could. He went home to get a jacket, he bought a coffee from the local coffee house and strolled through the Halloween city block. He greeted the spirits, who were all very friendly, he marveled at the twisted trees and glowing Jack-o-lanterns and enjoyed the cool autumn breeze on his face. Anyone with a fireplace began to light fires and the smell of wood smoke drifted through the streets. Joseph had a feeling of bliss and wished every night could be this good.

Joseph Stephens enjoyed his autumn night and as he walked home he could faintly hear the sound of soft music playing.

Joseph Stephens and Springs farewell

            Joseph Stephens sneezed hard for the seven hundred and fiftieth time that day. Springtail the spring rabbit hopped up to Joseph’s front door and pattered his tiny paws on the door in attempt to knock. Joseph opened his door to go outside and noticed the small timid rabbit had been pawing at his door. “Oh Springtail, I’m sorry I didn’t hear you knock. Were you waiting long?” Asked Joseph as he crouched down to talk with the small bunny. “N-no, not long, maybe an hour at most. It’s fine though. I should have been louder. I just don’t really like loud noises” Said Springtail in a bashful voice. Just as Springtail finished speaking Joseph let out a loud sneeze combined with a cough. Springtail jumped in the air and then ran into Joseph’s house. “I’m sorry!” Joseph called after Springtail. Joseph went inside to find the bunny hiding under Joseph’s couch.

            “Its ok, I just have allergies” Joseph said. “oh…ok. I am sorry I didn’t know. I made all these flowers without even thinking about people with allergies. I j-just wanted people to be happy” Said the rabbit. “No, its fine” Joseph said as he tried to hold back another sneeze.

            A loud laughing interrupted Joseph and Springtail’s conversation. “Bohohohoh” Cackled the voice. Joseph looked outside and saw a large laughing balloon slowly descending. After a few moments of staring Joseph realized it was not a balloon but the daughter of the sun, July. July was a large twenty foot tall woman who could fly and brought summer wherever she went. “Happy summertime everyone!” She called out across the town. A heat wave instantly blew past Joseph’s house. As July floated by she saw storm clouds rolling in. “Shoo! Shoo! No more spring rain. It is summer fun time!” She said as she waved her arm through the air. The rain clouds dissipated and the sun shone brighter than ever. “Bahohoho” She bellowed as she slowly landed on the soft green grass that Springtail has grown.

            “Oh No! Its her!” Springtail said as loud as he could, which was still very quiet. Joseph turned “Ok, you should probably get out of here” Joseph told Springtail. “You are right Mr.Stephens. I should. I will tell the others and we will have to leave this land for now” Replied Springtail. “Others?” Asked Joseph. “oh yes, there are hundreds of Spring rabbits around. I couldn’t do all of the work myself. I am just a small rabbit. I will tell my sisters April and Bloom, my brothers Clover, Oak, Peanut and Jeff. Then they will tell other rabbits they know and by the end of the week we will be gone until next year” Explained Springtail.

            Joseph knew every season had a spirit who brought the season with them but he didn’t realize Spring came in on the backs of hundreds of tiny bunnies. This fact made him smile.  Joseph’s smile quickly faded as he realized Springtail had run off and July was now banging on his door. He already missed the quiet patter of Springtail’s fluffy paws. “Joseph dear! I am back! We can start the celebration honoring my return” July shouted into his house. Joseph answered the door. “Hello July” Joseph said trying to hide a sneer. Heat blew into Joseph’s house and wilted his houseplants.

            “Joseph you rascal I have been gone for a whole year and all you have to say to me is ‘hello’?” Asked July. “Yes” Joseph said then slammed the door in July’s face.

            Summer was here and spring was gone. Happy people flocked to the beaches and parks. They played in the sun. Kids rejoiced as they went on summer break and adults made plans for their vacations. Everyone saw Summer differently. The thing about the seasons is, they look different to different people. Joseph could recount the tales of his time with each season when they visited his house but someone else who experienced the same seasons might have a totally different kind of story to tell about them. Joseph didn’t know what July looked like to other people, he just knew that to him, summer was loud, obnoxious, chased away adorable rabbit friends and stayed around way too long.

            The heat of summer started to set in and while some might be soaking in the rays, Joseph was indoors reading and listening to the hum of his air conditioner.

Fall Pysche

The winter has affected my psyche. I sit in my chair with my back to the window, I know its cold and snowing outside but I refuse to acknowledge it. Like a severed head on your floor, you don’t want to look at it, but you know its there. No matter how much you lie to yourself you will still have a severed head on your floor.

            While many hope for the warm days of spring, I wish for the cool rainy days of spring. The cool crisp air that makes me feel alive. There are two seasons with such weather, early spring and the middle of autumn. Even though autumn is my favorite season I try not to think about it during the winter. In the months of January and February, Autumn is more finished than it is arriving. To think of autumn now would be wishing for a huge chunk of my life to be whisked away, simply to enjoy the shortest season of the year and then be forced to endure winter all over again.

            I know not to wish my life away, but occasionally I will hear a song or smell a fragrance that reminds me of autumn. Something deep in my subconscious will light up and I will be stunned by my memories of the season. I have heard that people always remember the best parts of their past and some things should be left in the past. Nothing can live up to your expectation of that one moment you had all those years ago. I would say this is true, I will keep my memories as they are, just memories. The Fall season is the exception. Every year it is just as wonderful as I remembered it. The feel of the air, the sights, the smells, it all takes me back to a simple time and life seems joyous. Never in my life would I even think to use a word such as joyous, except in the Fall.

             Autumn is almost magical, the trees seem to explode with color. Bright vibrant colors of red, orange and yellow. Autumn is like a bright burning flame or fireworks in the sky, quick, beautiful and memorable. The season that takes the lush green of the world and explodes with colors most places on earth don’t get to ever see. Then just like that, it is over. The cool crisp air is gone and replaced by a bitter wind. The world seems much darker and you just want the light back.

            So for the sake of my short human existence I force myself to see the light in each season. Spring is a solid companion, it never disappoints. It is friendly and inviting, and is a nice change of scenery after a long winter. Spring might give way to summer too easily, but spring is still a friend of mine. Summer and Winter are more like unwanted house guests, Strong and fat, they throw their weight around, bullying the transitional seasons. Despite their arrogance, I try to enjoy their company too.

            Here I sit, writing my stories and dreaming of autumn. I listen to music that reminds of the fall and try to ignore the bloody head of February weather.

Maybe if I try really hard I can convince myself it is a more pleasant season………………………..

Happy Halloween everyone!

Summer landscape

Everyone has their own favorite season, some show such delight in the summer months, I prefer the cool autumn days. Even though i dislike summer and dread every hot summer day, there is a small part of me that sees the appeal.

 I have lived a hundred different lives and in the deepest recesses of my memory I imagine a beautiful summer landscape. I sit outside in the sun and instead of shrinking away back into the shadows, I look up toward the sky and bask in the heavenly glow. There is a long endless bright green field, the grass blowing in the gentle wind and the sun shining brightly off the surface. the trees stand tall and soak up the energy provided by the sun and the bugs hum a playful tune as they fly from flower to flower. everything is green and lush, the plant life thrives and i am in the middle of it all, observing with a big smile across my face.

Beyond the fields of green and the tall trees is where the ocean meets the land forming a beach of bright gold, with speckled rocks and seashells dotting the land. the ocean waves rush up the hot sand and then retreat, making such a pleasant noise as they go. The sun shines down on the water and the ocean sparkles. The sparkles of sunlight mixed with the deep blue of the ocean is such a serene sight that anyone who sees it would be silenced by its beauty. I sit on the hot sand and a cool wind blows up from the waves. it keeps me cool and has such a relaxing fragrance. I stare out at the endless ocean, the water goes off into the distance as far as the eye can see. it looks like it goes on forever. not only does the ocean stretch outward, but then i think how deep it is too. From going outward into the distance and then going down deep to the darkest depths, my mind is boggled by the sheer mass of it all. People swim happily on the surface of the water but how many of them think about how much life is just under their feet, how many thousands of species live in the infinite depths of the ocean.

The ocean doesn't go away when summer is over, but it is the summer sun that draws us to the waves. It is in the summer the common man is truly able to appreciate its beauty. Just like the beach, the fields and trees do not go away. the seasons change and so does the colors of the grass and leaves, but the endless stretching fields do not disappear and the strong standing trees do not retreat into the ground.

Summer days have the sound of birds and cicadas, the nights have crickets, owls and frogs. Summer nights are special to many people as well. The hot air has relaxed to a warm breeze and fireflies can be seen everywhere. Little bugs that up close seem so ordinary, but to view them from a porch is truly magical, little lights that dance in the summer air. The glow such a mysterious green, even when you realize that they are just bugs the magic is still not lost.

There are so many reasons to love the summer, from flowers and trees to bugs and the ocean. I think back to these past lives, the days that i used to bask in the summer glow, Old memories of a different life. I appreciate being able to see why others enjoy summer so much, but there is a time for memories and a time to live in the present, and for now I still can't wait for the fall.