Traditions Forgotten

In the heart of the mountain sat a small town. The town had its ups and downs like any other town, but there was one thing different about this place. The town had no children, laughter, and games being played. There was no squeals of joy and adventures to be had. The town was dying.

No one knew why no children had been born in the last 25 years although many had theories why. "We are cursed" an elder may say. "No new blood" another may shout, but one person knew the reason. She was the oldest in the town. Her hair was white and her face was covered in wrinkles. She always looked like she had a permit frown. The town called her a witch, for she lived closest to the woods. No one remembered who she was. So her name was forgotten and she was stared at whenever she went to market.

That all changed when Sarah, the youngest woman in town saw her one sunny day. She watched how she hobbled down the trail, listening to her walking stick making a click, click, click sound. Taking a deep breath, looking to calm her nerves, she approached the old lady.

"What do you want child?" asked the elder. "Do you know why there are no children anymore?" shakingly asked Sarah. "Yes" was all she said as she hobbled away. Stunned, Sarah raced after her begging to know. The old woman looked at her before signing. "The traditions in this town have been forgotten and with that, the ancients have become angry and punished the town," she whispered.

"Traditions? What traditions?" gasped Sarah. The old woman turned and started to walk away. Sarah wanted to follow her but could tell she was done with this conversation. So Sarah turned and walked to the elders' house to talk with all of them. As it was, the elders were sitting around drinking lemonade while batting away flies.

John was the next oldest in town. He always would smile. When he was younger he was quite the imp always getting into trouble, while giggling and telling jokes. He saw Sarah first. "While now, this is a surprise," John said. "What can I do for you?" Sarah took a deep breath and explained everything to John. She hoped he could explain where the witch did not.

"I remember that summer," he said. "What do you mean?" exclaimed Sarah. "It was a hot summer that year. When the longest day came, a fight broke out. Some people thought the solstice ritual should be stopped. Others said it was our tradition and there could be consciences, but because of all the arguing the day passed and it was too late." John said sadly.

"At first the people that wanted to stop were smug. Thinking it proved that it was just a silly tradition, but then a couple of years went by and no babies were born." "Next they noticed the fields did not produce enough to feed the town, then the livestock also stopped having young." John signed. "Why didn't they start our traditions again?" Asked Sarah.

John looked at her and then said "Their pride would not let them. Now most people forget what we did for the Solstice ritual. Only a few of us remember, but oh what a festival, what a day of kites with tails in the color of a rainbow. The air smelled like pies, cakes, bread, meats, and many more. The whole town filled with laughter and singing, and when the sun was at its peak. We drank to a good year. Those were the days."

Sarah stayed the rest of the day talking with John about that day's importance. Sarah had a plan developing in her mind. The next day Sarah went out into the town. She talked to her friends, she talked to the baker, she even talked to the flowerest. For solstice was only a week away.

When the day came, music filled the air, pies were baked, kites were made, and people were amazed by what they saw. John started laughing and soon all the elders sat in the town square telling stories about their favorite solstice. At the sun's peak, all raised a cup and drank to a good year.

What no one noticed was the old witch stood in the shadows watching. Soon her hair turned black, her wrinkles smoothed out, her eyes cleared, and the frown she wore slowly lifted. After that day no one ever saw her again and nine months later a baby's cry could be heard.

For the curse had been broken.