How Sun, Moon, and Wind Went out to Dinner

Once upon a time, three creatures named Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dinner with their Uncle Thunder and Aunt Lightning. The three creatures were very excited about spending the evening with their uncle and aunt and had been thinking about little else all day.

Sun and Wind spent the day arguing about who would have a better time at the dinner.

“Aunt and Uncle like me better than you, so I'll get to sit by them,” exclaimed Sun. “They love my bright rays.”

“That's not true,” countered Wind. “They like my breezy manner and will definitely want to be right next to me at the dinner table.”

Then, they bickered about who would have better food.

“Certainly, the best and tastiest delights will be given to me, the bright light of the sky,” said Sun.

“On, no! I'll be honored with the choicest items on the menu,” countered Wind once again.

And so it went on like this all day. Meanwhile, gentle Moon kept to herself, humming and looking forward to an evening with her beloved relatives. She also helped her mother around the house, doing errands and helping to clean and cook.

Finally, Thunder and Lightning came for Sun, Moon, and Wind. Their mother, who was a distant but bright star in the sky, was not going with them. Instead, she waited alone for Sun,Wind, and Moon's return. She looked forward to hearing about their adventures.

Thunder and Lightning took the children on their backs and traveled far to the North. When they arrived, Sun, Moon, and Wind were astonished to see a massive granite table set with the most amazing array of food they could imagine. The utensils were made of gold and encrusted with sparkling jewels. The goblets were of shimmering crystal. Their chairs were massive brass thrones with damask cushions.

As Sun and Wind hurried to take their places next to their aunt and uncle, Thunder said, “We would like the gentle Moon to sit between us, so she can cast her gentle beams of light on our feast while we enjoy it.”

Moon happily complied while her siblings grumpily seated themselves, one by Thunder and one by Lightning. Why, they wondered, had Moon been honored with the seat between their aunt and uncle?

After saying a few words of thanks for the feast, Aunt and Uncle invited Sun, Wind, and Moon to partake and enjoy the abundant offerings. Both Sun and Wind dug in greedily, hurrying to eat as much as possible and as quickly as possible. They were eating so quickly that they didn't even notice the magnificent flavor of the stardust bread or the unbelievable sweetness of the hummingbird nectar.

Moon, though, sat quietly and thoughtfully, enjoying the array and turning often to thank Thunder and Lightning for their kindness and generosity.

Eventually, Sun and Wind were stuffed and became impatient to return home.

“Let's go,” whined Sun. “I'm tired and want to settle into bed.”

“Me too,” groaned Wind, “and I think I have a bit of a stomachache!”

Aunt and Uncle implored them to be patient, so Moon could finish her meal. But Sun and Wind put up such a fuss that at last Thunder and Lightning agreed to take the three siblings back to their mother's home.

Sun and Wind clambered aboard without so much as a thank you to their kind hosts. Moon, though, took her time, wanting to look one more time at the magnificent table and to take a portion of every dish back home to her mother.

“Hurry, hurry,” said Sun.

And so, with a plate loaded with food in her delicate hand, Moon climbed onto Lightning and the five of them sped back to the mother's home.

When they got home, their mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, was very happy to see them, for she had missed her children.

“Did you enjoy yourself, dear children?” she asked.

“It was okay,” said Sun, ungraciously.

“Just okay?” said the mother.

“Yes, that's right,” said Sun.

“What about you, Wind? What did you think of the feast?” mother asked.

“It wasn't that exciting,” said Wind.

“And, what about you, Moon? How did you find the feast?” mother asked.

“It was incredible, Mother. I wish you could have been there,” and Moon went on to describe their dinner out to her mother. She finished by saying, “Since you couldn't be there, I brought back something for you.” And from behind her back, Moon brought forth the plate full of fanciful treats.

“Oh, that is so lovely, Moon,” the mother said. “What did you bring me, Sun?”

Then Sun, who was the oldest and should have been wiser for her years, said petulantly, “I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends and family. I didn't go to the feast to bring home dinner to you!”

“What did you bring me, Wind?” asked the mother.

Wind said, “I didn't bring anything home for you, Mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I only went out for my own fun. I just wanted to make sure that I had a good time!”

Sun and Wind's behavior upset their mother, Star, who had tried to teach them to be kind creatures. So, Star turned to Sun and said, “Because you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself without any thought of your mother at home, you shall be punished. From now on your rays will be hot and scorching, and they will burn all that they touch. And because of this, people will hate you, complain about your intense rays, and cover their heads when you appear.”

And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.

Then she turned to Wind and said, “You also forgot your mother in the middle of your selfish fun! This will be your punishment:You shall always blow in the hot, dry weather and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall avoid you from now on.”

And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is to this day so disagreeable.

But to the kind and gentle Moon, she said, “Daughter, because you remembered your mother and shared your abundance with her, from now on, you shall be cool and calm and bright. All people will admire your beauty and serenity.”

And that is why the Moon's light is so soft and cool and beautiful even to this day.