Last of Winter

Johannesburg city skyline

The worst of Winter had past and Aloe was sitting outside in the early morning light, watching the world awake. It had been a long month and a half since they had decided to move underground to escape the cold, and in that time Aloe had longed to be outside; to play and fly with Vera and her other friends in the park. At last she could again! Hopping up, Aloe shook the cold out of her wings, fluttered them a bit to warm up, then took a running leap into the air and flew! Oh! It was wonderful to fly again! Her wing muscles felt stiff in the cold air, but soon they started to warm up. Up, up and up she winged until she was high enough to see the whole park.

She grass was sprinkled white with frost and the trees were only stick-like figures. Underneath the trees lay layers of yellow, brown, dark red and black decaying leaves of last Summer – the trees’ memories of the season that was. Straight ahead Aloe watched the park stretch on until it ended at the wooden fence. Beyond it a koppie rose above the park, with the sun. The koppie was lined and peaked with jagged rocks and big boulders that stood out amidst its yellow-grass covered sides. Oh, how Aloe wished she could fly over to that koppie and explore it! But, she knew her time to leave would come soon and until then she’d keep her excitement wrapped up like a present waiting to be opened.

Turning around once more she could now see the city skyline, and behind it the fiery, orange glow of the sun. Buildings punched out from the ground, standing boldly on the horizon. She stored the picture in her mind: another memory keep with her when she disappeared beneath the wintery ground again.