The Whispering Wind, a children's story

Marie was surprised to open her eyes to the bright sunlight streaming into her bedroom window. Today was the first day of summer vacation, and her Mother had let her sleep in. But it wasn't the sunlight that woke her. It was a tiny sound coming through the open window, the sound of the whispering wind. The wind sighed softly as it fluttered the calico curtains. Marie leapt out of bed and looked out the window.

She had not been looking forward to summer vacation, at all. Their new house out in the country was too far away from her friends in town. Her Mother was busy with the new baby and her father with his new business. Marie's baby brother was cute, and her Father's new real estate business was supposed to give him more time at his home office, but Marie could already see that neither one of her parents would be able to drop everything and run her into town everyday.

Marie sighed, just like the whispering wind, as she looked in her mirror over the dresser and started to brush her hair. The little wind blew playfully with her dark curls and made her laugh.

"At least I have you for a friend," she said out loud. "I think I'll call you Breezelle. What shall I wear today?"

A blue blouse was hanging on the doorknob to the closet. The whispering wind ruffled the sleeve.

"Oh, no," Marie protested. "Not a blouse. It's the first day of summer vacation. I was thinking more about a tank top. But, I think I will wear blue. It feels like a blue sort of day."

"Marie, are you up?" her mother said as she stuck her head into Marie's bedroom. "As soon as I get Tommy ready, we'll all go out and play."

"Sure, Mom, " Marie said without much hope. Tommy always seemed to need such a lot of getting ready for anything. Marie threw on a summer shorts set quickly; brushed her teeth then grabbed a breakfast bar, as she slid out the back door. She sat on the back porch steps and surveyed the big back yard.

In the very center the flag hung limp on the flagpole. The little whispering wind flew in and out of the folds.

"Oh say can you see!" Marie sang, and she could see the broad strips and bright stars when the whispering wind held them up in her hands.

Days went by and then weeks. Marie still had not been into town. There was a standing invitation for her friends to visit her, but with the library, the beach and shopping why should her friends want to spend a day out here?

"Tomorrow," I promise I'll take you into town her mother said. "I know you're lonely, honey."

"It's ok," Marie answered. "I have my friend, Breezelle."

Marie's mother gave her a funny look, but Tommy started to cry, and Mother had to hurry off. But later that evening, Marie overheard her mother and father talking.

"We really need to give Marie a treat. She's been so good about not getting into town. But I know she's lonely. She's started to make up a little imaginary friend."

"Lots of kids do," Marie's father had answered. "Look, I think I have that house across the road almost sold. When that deal goes through, I'll have more time and we'll all go into town and spend the day at the beach.

The thought of the beach should have made Marie jump for joy, but she stood stock still on the steps. Her parents thought she had made Breezelle up! Couldn't they see how Breezelle could make the flame on a candle leap or float a feather through the air? Marie started to wonder herself.

When the next day came, Mother did take Marie into town and she spent the day exploring the shops with her friends. Marie forgot all about Breezelle, with three weeks allowance to spend and three weeks of gossip to catch up on.

The following day was hot and dry. Marie went out to weed in the watermelon patch. Something seemed to be missing. Suddenly she knew what it was. Breezelle was gone! Marie knew now just how real her friend was, because she missed her as much as she missed her friends from town.

Marie went inside. The fan in the window was pretending to be the whispering wind, but the steady "whirr, whirr, whirr" was not Breezelle. The fan only blew the hot, still air around like a dragon's breath.

"Oh, Breezelle," Marie cried out quietly, "please come back."

But the whispering wind didn't come back, not that day or the next.

The baby fussed in the heat, and Marie's father was too busy to even make it back for dinner that night. Marie and her mother sat miserably over their cold dinner. Suddenly, Marie heard it: the sound of the whispering wind!

"She's back!" Marie said and leapt out of her seat and ran out the back door. The sky was starting to grow dark, even though it as long before sunset. Breezelle was back, and she had brought many of her brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles with her. The soft voice of the whispering wind turned into roar of sound. Just then, Marie's father's car turned into driveway, his windshield wipers flapping.

"Marie, get inside," he called, "a storm's coming." But Marie didn't go in, and neither did her father. They stood there as the rain started fall all around them, bringing a cool sweetness with them.

"What are you two doing out there?" mother called from the back door, baby Tommy in her arms.

"We're taking a shower," Father laughed. "Finally, an end to this drought! And I have more good news. I sold the house across the road. And they have a girl just about your age, Marie," he added as he stroked Marie's wet hair.