Changing Seasons

"It makes no sense," Adam stated, staring at me hard.

I sighed, knowing that no matter what I came up with, this child of ten and as sharp as a tack wouldn't buy what I was selling.

I turned my back and busied myself making sandwiches for lunch. "What doesn't make sense?"

"This groundhog thing," Adam said.

I smiled, biting my bottom lip to suppress the laugh threatening to emerge. "How so?"

The kitchen was silent for a long minute. "Well, if Phil sees his shadow, it's six weeks more weeks of winter."

"Right."

"But if he doesn't, it's six weeks until Spring."

"That's the legend," I stated, bracing myself for what would come. I set the sandwiches on the two plates, turned, and carried them to the table, setting one before Adam.

"Gran?"

"Yes?"

Adam took a bite of his peanut butter and jelly, set the sandwich on the plate, and chewed before making eye contact. "You know that doesn't make any sense. That it means the same thing?"

"Technically, yes," I uttered. This was about to get interesting.

"Huh?"

"Well, if it's six more weeks of winter, then we're talking dipping temperature, brutal winds, and snowstorms."

Adam's brown eyes held mine, waiting, and I knew he would call me out the second the explanation left my mouth, just like it did so long ago for me and my mother having this same conversation.

"And if we're heading toward spring, that means warming temperatures and coming out of winter."

Adam sat back in his chair, crossed his arms, and stared at me, causing my heart to skip a beat.

"Gran, that's the same thing. It's called the changing of the seasons." He shook his head and snatched his sandwich.

I couldn't argue with that.


Word Count: 297
Words: groundhog, shadow, spring