Terrible Times
Long ago, before the Great Fall Maven came to be, fall was a grave season, a desperate time of need and longing. Now, these were the times when the whole world revolved upon whether or not the crops grew well that year, when people jumped over raging pits of embers for mere entertainment (because what else were you supposed to do,) and when the "restroom" was a bucket you threw out the window onto the unknowing pedestrians on the street with a three second notice of "waters below!" (Hey, at least they were warned!)
Back in these days, everyone dreaded the coming of the fall season. This was when, through the picking of the crops, your fate would be decided for the rest of the year. And if your harvest didn't prove to be as successful as you had hoped? Too bad!
Growing up in these difficult times of famine and poverty was a small family of five. The family consisted of a mother, a father, an eleven-year old girl, and two twin five-year old boys. All through the year, the family worked tirelessly together on their garden, and only their garden.
The pages of the calendar seemed to be turning from one to another as quickly as the flapping of pigeon wings. And with each turn of the pages, each and every one of the family members felt a sort of black, slimy lump growing larger and larger in their throats, knowing that there was no way they would possibly be able to grow enough food to last the perilous winter season.
The Spirit Awakens
The dreadful moment was about to arrive. It was harvest day, when the crops from the year would be picked and it would be decided whether or not the family had grown enough to last them the long, cold winter. As the family knew, after this day, the crops could grow no longer, as the temperatures would drop so low that nothing tender and living could possibly survive.
The small family stood upon a dry and uneven ground, the chill of the air cutting straight through their skins into their bones. A flurry of wind rustled past them, bringing with it a scattering of blood red leaves.
The field was empty.
For months, the family had tried to prepare themselves for the sinking of their hearts as they gazed upon the barren field, knowing that they would starve and there was no more time to fix it before the freeze. However, according to legend, instead of sinking, each and every one of their hearts filled with a warm, sort of fizzy feeling, and a steady shimmering of chills ran down their arms. They gazed from one to the other in wonder, each one somehow sensing that this magnificent feeling they were experiencing was being shared by all. Somehow, their greatest fears had come to life, and they were happy about it.
And Thus the Fall Maven Spirit Came to Be
"You need not worry," said the smallest voice in the wind, "for the great fall spirit has been born, whom shall be known as Fall Maven from this day onward."
The father of the family cleared his throat. "Reveal yourself, oh great spirit of the harvest season," he said onto the empty field. And yet no spirit emerged from behind the stalks of corn.
The complex, flute-like melody of a meadow lark whistled through the swaying grass.
"Reveal yourself, spirit," said the father once again, in case he hadn't been heard.
"The spirit has already been revealed," said the wind, "for the Fall Maven has no tangible form. It simply comes from within your heart."
In each of the family members, the feeling persisted, as though they were being warmly embraced from within.
"But what are we to do? There is no way this food will last us the winter," said the eleven-year old girl.
"Look," said the wind.
In front of the family's very eyes, the field transformed from a barren wasteland into a flourishing field filled with the most successful harvest.
Pumpkins grew on the vine to unimaginable sizes, golden yellow corn peaked out from behind its' green wrapping, and tomatoes hung like bright red ornaments on their thin stalks.
The twin boys gasped in unison, reaching for the fruit.
"How...?" The mother gazed in wonder at the field, unable to wrap her mind around what had just occurred. "Great spirit, how could you do this for us?"
"Nothing has changed," said the voice in the wind.
"Your garden remains the same as it has always been. The only thing that has changed is your perspective. Your hard work payed off, and you had always had enough food to last the winter. You just didn't see it that way in the beginning."
The children laughed, running out into the field filled with goods. The parents stayed behind, watching and smiling. From that day on, fall ceased to be a terrible season that was dreaded, but rather became a time of which to look forward to, where magic seemed to fill the air.
To this day, the Fall Maven continues to fill the fall season with magic and wonder, making it a time of which we can all look forward to and enjoy.