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.

Joseph Stephens and Winter's fury

            Joseph Stephens sat in his house shivering. It seemed like an eternity since his good friend Pumpkin Patches left and winter came along.

Old man winter was an unpredictable fellow, coming on strong and inviting himself in and lazily lingering into months that didn’t even belong to him. He was a jolly fellow in the holiday season but by January he was more like the drunk uncle that wont leave your house after a Christmas party. Joseph Stephens knew all too well, both the drunk uncle AND the persistence of Old man winter. “Isn’t it time for spring? It is march after all” Joseph said as he shivered. Winter was asleep in the rocking chair using his blue robe and slippers. His long white hair ran down to the floor and tangled into the rocker as it went back and forth. “Oh yes, I should be going. Just another five minutes” Said Old Winter.

            Outside of Joseph’s house was a timid little bunny. “E-excuse me. I think Easter is approaching and I-it should be nice and green for the spring.” Said the little furry brown bunny. Spring tail the rabbit was basically a talking rabbit that made flowers grow, but every time he tried to revive the flowers Old Man Winter’s cold air breath would make the flowers retreat back into the ground. As winter slept cold air would escape from his mouth as he exhaled. Spring would never arrive if the silly old king of winter stayed.

            “Ok, Winter wake up!” Joseph said jostling the old King of the snow and ice. “Who DARES?!” Shouted Old man winter. He stood up quickly and cold air blew in every direction. Cold air followed Old man Winter, when he slept it was chilly, when he was awake it snowed, when he was angry it made blizzards. Snow began falling inside and outside of Joseph’s already drafty home. “I will go where I please and when I please!” Said Winter as his voice became that of the howling wind. His appearance changed from that of a sleepy old man to an enraged Wizard who had power of the elements. Springtail the Bunny retreated into a hole under Joseph’s house. If Spring wasn’t going to stand up to winter, Joseph would have to. “That’s ENOUGH!” Joseph said and he pushed Winter with all of his might. Old man winter stumbled backward and hit his back against the wall. This jolt brought him back to his senses. “Oh…I am sorry Joey. I didn’t mean to lose my temper again. It is good of you to let me stay at your house. I-I should leave” Winter said sounding ashamed and a little dazed. “tell Spring I said goodbye and I’m sorry” Winter added as he collected his things and put on his fuzzy blue winter hat. A knitted hat that said “Winter #1” on it.

            “I will, goodbye and sorry for shoving you” Joseph said, though he wasn’t really sorry. It was just better to stay on friendly terms with the seasons because they come back every year.

            A rush of wind blew through the house and then went out the window, taking Old Man Winter and all of the snow with it. “You can come out now” Joseph said. Spring Bunny poked his head out cautiously. “R-really? Thank you Mr.Stephens” Said Springtail. “Don’t mention it. go do your thing and spread the Spring season. And maybe try to be a little braver around Winter” Joseph replied. Springtail nodded and smiled. Then hopped off. Green grass and flowers sprung up behind the magical little rabbit, then a warm breeze blew through the town. The smell of freshly grown flowers and rain floated through the air. Joseph smiled, took off his sweater and went inside. It was finally spring, he would enjoy the pleasant rain, the cool breeze and the sunshine while he waited for his chance to see Pumpkin Patch again in the Fall.