Here is the other...I've pasted it here becaue I needed to fix some html anyway:

WHITE BLANKET TIME

The grass and leaves crunched under the feet of the little children. Above them, the lodgepole pines and aspen whistled with the chill of the gathering evening's wind. "Whooo" said the wind. Off to their side, they could hear little creatures rustling among the bushes; scurrying to settle safely for the night.

The old woman gathered her shawl tighter round her shoulders. Her face was lines with years of living; her eyes rimed, yet somehow bright and with a depth of wisdom. She spoke to the children in a storng, yet soft voice. They stepped lightly in order to hear her better, not wanting to miss a word of the legend she told.

In the days of the Mother's Beginning, we peoples didn't know how to do anything for ourselves. The fox, the lion, the bear, the turlte, the otter, the whale, all these, she swept her arms wide to encompass the earth everywhere, all these brothers and sisters were smarter than us. They lived together and never were cross or mean. When they found the First People, they took them in as cubs and kits. They taught them their ways. This is what we know from our grandmothers and grandfathers. Because of them, our people know how to live and care for one another. She closed her eyes then, still walking. The children stared at her with wonder, stumbling from not watching where they walked.

Her story continued, This time of the Circle, when everything is getting ready to go to sleep, we people have to stay awake and survive. When we grew too big for the dens and parenting of the Wise Four-leggeds, Wingeds, and Water-Dwellers, they finally cast us out. We were arrogant, mocking them for their gentle ways and for resting when the earth had pulled up the white blanket of winter.

That first winter was hard. Many First People did not survive. When the flowers began to blossom, when the trees burst forth with leaves, the People were humbled and grateful for their survival. But, they were not allowed to ever forget their arrogance. That is why we walk among the wood, today, watching for signs of the creatures; as they gather the pinon nuts, as they fatten from eating berries and fish, as they scurry to line their nests and dens, so must we. So, watch little ones, tell me what you see. Are you ready for the white blanket time?

©1999 Kathleen LaFrance all rights reserved