"The Sun and Two Moons" by Toni J Kaukinen

The Sun And Two Moons

There is a sun. Yes, and she is a pretty sun, still burning bright and happy, doing a little stationary ballet of her own. And who can really blame her? Her life is a constant summer, internal and external and ever so long - if some what scorching, but that never bothered her. It is her summer, anyway.
        But what good are pleasures if they are not shared? Or rather, to put it this way, a shared pleasure is even more pleasurable.
        There are two moons, the other silver, the other golden - and they loved to frolic with the sun. But at some point, for whatever reason, these three beauties of the sky stopped playing regularly. In the ancient days they still every day played. Did they maybe grow too old?
        That's a long story. But maybe I can make it shorter. I have only this night, kids.
        I for one prefer the moons - just lookie! The silver one... and the golden one. Well, of course the words 'silver' and 'golden' don't really hold true - a pale gray and an almost chromatic, light yellowish-brown globe. Usually it's the silver one (so I'm a little poetic, forgive me!) running away from the golden one - consequently, the smaller of the two -, but tonight it would seem it's the other sister's turn to give chase.
        It sounds cute, doesn't it? Well - it is. It's just the most darnedest, cutest thing ever if you've seen it in person. Why would it look any different, why would it differ from the usual (other than the order being reverse)? Well, you silly people, it's that because on nights of two reverse full moons, things happen.
        Silly things. Very silly. Everybody knows that during a double-eclipse, a hero is born. The same is true for the reverse full moons, too, but that's not what this is about. That would make a terrific story indeed, but I'll let that sleeping dog lie.
        Silly things. Yes, I say 'silly' because tonight is the night moon-madness is at an all time high. You'd think it can't get any worse than it normally is on a night with two full moons, but on these nights it's just... silly. Things aren't they way they normally are, havoc spreads - why, the little people come in to play with your toys and drink all your milk; to play with your dog and to run away from your kitty.
        And as if that wasn't enough, good and evil change parts. Everyone does. Competing giant kings change castles for a night and then move back the following morning, waiting. The orderly folk party and the revelers clean up and wait for the next night to come. Heroes and villains exchange stories and merit their flaws at a high hall. You understand? A night fully dedicated to opposite behaviour. Jesting, laughing.
        Most people don't even know about it, oh heavens, no. The ones who do are powerful wizards... or storytellers. Not all of them know about the true nature of this little nightly prank of the sisters up there on the sky. But those who do are... tricksters. And tonight, I am a teacher using words - tomorrow night I shall be the fool who teaches people with his deeds, by reverse example.
        As for the wizards, they use this night to create items cursed and blessed depending on how you look at it. Many a crown has been re-forged and enchanted this night to reverse a ruler's nature. But of course, the positive things turn into negative things and the other way around. Some poor wizards have not realized this when they set out to do this, harvesting what they had sown with their ill judgment.
        This story is told every time this happens, and to children only. Why on earth? Because on this dirt we tread, the children and the madmen, the tricksters and the daredevils (and maybe the wizards) are the only ones who don't always live the life they have been given in a repetitive manner. A day of play - or mysteries or dangers when it comes to us adult-children - is never the same, and always fun or thrilling. An adult, oh, you know how they are. If you tell them a faerie just asked you for a biscuit and some milk, they'll launch into a rant about how there are no such things as faeries.
        Well, most of them. But you see, adults never know what happens - oh, you're right, I'm lying, the wizards, storytellers and motley mannequins do. But take my word for it, by tomorrow night the fun is over and the adults won't remember this happened. If you tell them, they won't believe you... necessarily. Their generation never saw the full moons play a trick on their parents or grandparents.
        Because, my dear children, that is what this is. Tomorrow, the sun will rise and chase the silver moon - when the silver moon has disappeared in the horizon, the golden moon will chase the sun. They still play.
        If you listen very carefully, you can hear them laughing. It's not the laughter of the little folk or the squeaking of mice, it's the laughter of the moons.
        The sun and the two moons are laughing at those they are playing tricks on for this night and the next daylight hours.
        It's all very silly.