DARQ, enters the kitchen wearing the skirt she bought while in Mexico on her “Interview with Father Dragon” trip–and wearing her new purple shoes. Scooting into the kitchen’s booth seat opposite Catherine, Darq sets down her mug of tea and bagel, a d holds the sign she’s made to get Catherine’s attention, which is engrossed in reading her newspaper.
DARQ: Yoi, Catherine! It’s snowing big, fluffy flakes of snow. No sun. No shadows. And guess what?
(She waves the sign.)
CATHERINE eyes the sign: “NO SHADOW, Punxsutawney Phil predicts Early Spring.” She glances at the oven’s clock and says: Wishful thinking, Darq. Just because we have snow here is no reason Punxsutawney has snow. Or did you turn on the TV news?
DARQ grins: Internet.
CATHERINE: You were on the Internet?
DARQ: How else was I to find out about this Ground Hog’s day I’ve been hearing about?
CATHERINE: Turn on the TV.
DARQ: And flip through all the channels hoping to find one that was broadcasting the information? It’s just easier to go to Ask.com and get the answer.
CATHERINE: So you figured out what the day was all about?
DARQ: Sure did. Although today has no religious significance anymore–it originated with the Christian holiday of Candlemas, the blessing of candles, and people thinking that if the skies were clear on Candlemas that meant a longer winter–and they’d be burning lots more candles.Then those Roman legion on their conquest of Germany brought the tradition to them, but the Germans turned it into a hedgehog seeing his shadow. Not too sure about how that came about but, anyways– German immigrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania, and the rest is your American and Pennsylvania history.
CATHERINE chuckles: Did you also know that February second is the half-way point between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox, the start of spring?
DARQ: Really?
CATHERINE nods. And that’s likely the real reason for celebrating.
DARQ looks out the window: “It’s snowing. It’s winter-winter.”
CATHERINE: Nonsense. it’s clearly spring here, on our farm. The snowdrops are in bloom. (Catherine points to the two blossoms in the vase in front of Darq.)
DARQ: You plucked them out from under the snow. I saw you do it when you fed the birds this morning.
CATHERINE: They bloomed January 30, just before the snow began. I was too busy making purple footwear for an avatar-doll and forgot to bring in a few. Did you know snowdrops are the first flowers of spring? The very first. For me and my husband, they are our official indicators of spring. Now, your tea has likely gone cold, and I want to finish reading the paper–
DARQ: Not so fast. Do you believe Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction?
CATHERINE: When you were on the Internet, did you skip the part about Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions being decided by a committee–of human beings? It’s publicity, tourism, big business–not to mention being an excuse to get outdoors and party and have some fun.
DARQ: Well, people need an excuse every once in a while to party, especially in winter, but you and your husband don’t seem to be readying for any Ground Hog’s Day party.
CATHERINE: It’s just another day.
DARQ: Pessimist.
CATHERINE scowls: I’m a realist. And consider this: when the groundhog makes his prediction, the optimists who are tired of winter have something to look forward to–which is spring–and the pessimists can continue to complain about winter lingering on. Everyone is satisfied.
DARQ: Except you realists!
CATHERINE sets the little sign Darq made aside, flips her newspaper over to read a headline, and says: Your bagel is going stale.
DARQ, before she bites into her bagel: Pass me the comics.
CATHERINE complies but in her mind niggles the fact that she and Darq just had a conversation a day or so ago about Valentine’s day and the GBBC, the Great Backyard Bird Count. What will Darq think about tomorrow, Sunday, and the Super Bowl? What questions will she ask or erroneous conclusions will she make? With a sinking feeling, Catherine remembers next month’s St. Patrick’s day–and then Easter–and then . . . Oh, crud . . .
CHECK BACK AND FIND OUT–OR BETTER YET, FOLLOW THIS BLOG or join Twitter and keep abreast of Darq’s visit with Catherine on Earth.
Darq is the heroine of JEWELS OF THE SKY. (Buy the book or download the eBook at Amazon.com)
************ SPECIAL OFFER ***** TODAY, FEBRUARY 2, ONLY **************
DARQ: Catherine and I would like to get more reviews posted to Amazon.com and GoodReads, so for today only, here’s my offer: you can download one free copy of JEWELS OF THE SKY by clicking here. Although the book is also available as a paperback, that’s not on sale today.
***************************************************************************************************************************
DARQ: Birds are not critters. Okay, I’ll admit it was interesting meeting the grey squirrel, but ID’g the little birds you called vultures? Woman, according to Peterson’s Field Guide to Birds, there’s no such thing as a “little vulture.” You were talking about the Black Capped Chickadees!
JEWELS OF THE SKY 