It Could Just be the Wind

"It Could Just Be the Wind…"

by M.C. Madjoucoff

Sitting at a park bench on a sunny, Autumn day, a small breeze of cool air brushed Meyah's cheek and brought up happy times in her life.

Meyah could still visualize her childhood backyard. The details of the willow tree with its long and lanky limbs and twigs dancing when the wind blew. It was more than any child could ask for to grab a limb and bounce up and down as if it was a bungee cord. "Wee, wee, I could do this all day." She remembers.

There was a bench under the tree where she would lie there for hours looking up and daydreaming that she was in a fantasy world where the trees were the protectors of our world. They even had a fun side of playing peek-a-boo with the sun.

The willow was shade during the hot summer days and a natural amusement ride when the heat subsided.

She would ask her Momma, "what makes my willow tree sway sometimes? I don't see the person who's doing it."

"It’s the wind, darling girl!" Her Momma would say.

"Wind?, what's that?" Meyah would say.

"It’s magic Meyah, we don't question it. It can make a kite fly, a bird take flight, carry a leaf to a far away place, and even whisper something to you."

"Wow! Meyah would say. "Whisper what?, what does the wind say momma, does it speak to you? Her eyes all widened.

"Yes, yes it does Meyah. It speaks to me." mamma would reply.

"I want the wind to speak to me too! Meyah would say.

"Alright Meyah, it will if you are patient. You can't force the wind to speak, or even blow. It has a mind of its own. Just believe and it will happen." Momma told Meyah

There were many days and weeks during the summer the wind did not blow and the willow tree remained still. It was if the wind was being stubborn and refused to speak or play with Meyah.

Meyah would cry sometimes when she was under the tree and say aloud "wind? Can you hear me? It's me, Meyah. Wind? Don't you want to play?, or talk to me?

Time passed and all was silent. One day, in early Fall, without warning an enormous gust of wind swept through the tree and blew the willow tree limbs and twigs more violently than ever. The tree from afar resembled a large group of octopus tentacles grasping at its catch.

Meyah screamed with delight. "Wind! You heard me! You heard me! I love you wind! I love you!"

What could make a child happier than thinking he or she has control over such a powerful source or was it a spirit!?

Meyah went running in the house yelling "Mama, mama! Come see the wind! It heard me! It's blowing!"

Mama said "Meyah, stay inside please, it's too windy out there for you to play."

Meyah replied "but Mama, you said the wind was our friend."

"Yes Meyah, I did but today, the wind is too strong and can't be controlled."

Meyah didn't understand what Mama meant. She went to the living room and sat by the window where she could watch the willow tree from inside.

Mama went to the backyard close to the house to grab the sheets that were drying on the clothesline. I could see her struggling to hold onto the sheet because the wind kept trying to grab it from her hands.

Mama's dress and apron were being whipped back and forth by gusts of air.

At one point I screamed! "Leave my mama alone you naughty wind!", from the closed window.

A moment later, Mama was back in the house. I ran to the kitchen to see her, with her hair a mess.

"Meyah, do you see how strong the wind can be?" said Mama.

"Yes, I do now." Meyah replied.

A few minutes later, dark ominous clouds appeared, and Meyah ran back to the window which faced the tree. She looked out and started to cry.

The willow tree's twigs and limbs were swishing and swaying even harder now.

Mama came into the room and sat next to Meyah.

"Mama, will my Willow tree be safe out there?The wind is being so mean!" Meyah said

"Yes, Meyah, your tree will be fine. It knows just what to do when the wind blows this fearce." Mama said while putting her arm around Meyah.

A few moments later, the wind was howling and whistling. It sounded as if it was trying to say something.

Meyah looking turned and looked up at Mama and said:

"Did you hear that mama? I think the wind is saying something."

"Yes, sweetheart, I did.

What do you think it's saying?" Mama asked.

"I think it may be saying, don't be afraid of me, I just want to play." Said Meyah.

Mama put her hands around Meyah's face and kissed her forehead and said: 'I think so too."

The wind spoke to Meyah many more times in her life since that day. When a single leaf falls in front of her feet to let her know it is still with her, to watch sailboats catch the wind at the ocean, and the whistling and howling during the winter snow storms. The wind is always there to play and reassure her that whatever way the wind blows, the calm will soon follow.

Years have passed and Meyah grew to have her own family. She moved to a home of her own. There is no willow tree in the backyard. One day in the Fall, she and her husband were sitting on their couch sipping coffee while their young daughter Milicent was sitting by the window reading a book. The wind outside began to pick up and sounds of rustling, howling, and whistling could be heard by all.

Millicent looked over at my husband and I and said: "Did you hear that Mommy and Daddy?"

My husband replied saying: "It could just be the wind."

I looked at Millicent and smiled.

The End

Never lose your inner child, it keeps you grounded and always curious.