Together, the Year Turns

The next morning, the garden rested in golden light. Blossom, sun, leaf and snowflake sat in their proper order around the hub of the season wheel. The little glass flower shimmered beneath them on its green ribbon.

Puschel checked every wooden tile once more. Flauschi placed both paws on the broad handle. Flauschi“Do you remember?” she asked. Flauschi“If either of us says stop, we both stop.” Puschel nodded and took his place beside her.

Together they counted, Flauschi“Spring, summer, autumn, winter.” Then they pushed the handle forward at exactly the same moment. The wheel creaked, paused and finally moved by a single notch.

A gentle ring of pink petals, golden light, orange-red leaves and icy-blue sparks travelled around them. Puschel was about to turn faster, but he felt Flauschi’s steady paw beside his and kept to her rhythm.

Notch by notch, the wheel awoke. When they looked at one another, they both had to smile. They had succeeded through a shared beginning, rather than through enormous strength. Then the handle gave one final tremble beneath their paws.