The Happy Story

"Maaaa-om" The youthful voice broke Kaya's reverie as she stared out the window through the rising steam of her coffee. Outside, the world was a white haze - at least what little she could see of it through the ice-glazed panes.1

Glancing at the calendar, Kaya confirmed that it was the 19th of April. That's right, she thought, Easter was last week.2

Olivia entered the room with her hair still spiky from sleep, her pajamas stretched and baggy. "Good morning, little lady," she said. Olivia's face lit up in a welcoming smile.3

"I think we're going to have...," she stretched her sentence out, "a jammy day!" Kaya was rewarded with a big smile.4

"What would you like to do?" she queried. She watched as Olivia’s face scrunched up in concentration as she thought. Watching her serious expression, she smiled as she remembered – what had it been, two years ago? – when her face was covered with freckles. There was just the faintest trace, almost like dust, that remained of that time.5

As her face brightened again, signaling that she had reached a decision, Olivia said, "A story day! I'd like a story day, Momma."6

"Again?" Kaya asked in mock horror. 7

"Yes, Mom. You said I could choose."8

"Okay then, a story day it is! But, first, come over to the table. Your cereal is there and, as a special treat, a banana!" 9

"Really?" was her awed response. Even at 7, Olivia was aware that fruit of any type was seldom available. 10

It had been 3 years since the government scientists had come up with a plan to combat global warming. Kaya didn't know the details even though it had been on all the front pages. What she vaguely remembered was that it had something to do with collecting pollutants from the air and sending them into space. 11

The idea was to form a shield around the Earth that would reflect a little of the sunlight and would counteract the increasing temperatures from greenhouse gasses. 12

It was more successful than they ever imagined. The resultant cooling had marked the first year that it snowed until July and Spring never came.13

After breakfast, Kaya and Olivia curled up in the living room. Kaya took their favorite quilt off the back of the wingchair and soon they were snuggled down.14

"Well, what story would you like to hear?" she asked, a smile creasing the corners of her lips. She already knew the answer.15

"Mom," she said, "you know ... the happy story!"16

Kaya pulled her close, surrounding Olivia with her arms, and began. 17

"The sun was once much warmer and, at this time of the year, the snow would be gone. The trees would start to grow, their green leaves appearing overnight and magically transform the world into a beautiful green place. It would be sooo bright that the color would paint the air." She paused and asked, "Have you ever smelled the color green?"18

Olivia dutifully shook her head "No." Kaya playfully pinched her nose and continued. "Here and there, the bravest of the flowers would poke through the earth and wonderful colors would cover the ground. Bright yellow daffodils and cherry-red bleeding hearts ..." 19

Kaya's voice continued but Olivia was already drifting into the images she was conjuring in her mind with Kaya’s familiar words. She turned slightly, burrowing closer into the comfort of her mother's lap and felt the unremembered warmth of Spring.20