Written by Nicholas Jimenez
Illustrated by Sarah Cheng
“'Don’t you both feel it in your bones? The cold is coming. We should prepare food and shelter, lest we perish!' Beaver said, his paw outstretched towards the heavens, it was wet with mud."
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Beaver gathered tree branches as he knew a deep freeze was coming. He looked at the wide gray sky and saw the Grackle and his son, Grackle Jr., flying in the air cackling. Large gusts from the north let them both perform grandiose loops.
Frustrated, Beaver shook his head as he stood in the tepid brown soil below, his muscles aching from being up since sunrise gathering wood for his home. He had remembered last year’s weather when Beaver had made no preparations. His son and wife had gone out to search for food after they had been hungry for days. When his son and wife had returned, they both fell ill from hypothermia and died. Beaver had lived alone since then.
“Don’t you both feel it in your bones? The cold is coming. We should prepare food and shelter, lest we perish!” Beaver said, his paw outstretched towards the heavens, it was wet with mud.
“Hohoho, and miss out on this amazing wind? Come on Beaver, live a little!” Grackle said, his long black wings pushing him into the air.
“Yeah, live a little old man!” Grackle Jr. cackled.
“But I want to live a while! What if something happens to you or your son from the weather? You’ll regret your folly!”
“Spoken like a true worrywart! Live in the moment, Beaver,” Grackle said.
Beaver sighed and continued to store food and build extra layers to his shelter. As the evening progressed, more and more clouds blotted out the sky and the temperature dropped lower and lower. Log after log, Beaver moved, until he finally fell asleep inside his home.
Day passed and night followed. The next day both Grackles woke up, shivering cold.
“H-h-how could it have come so fast?” Grackle Jr. said, as he desperately tried to flap his wings for warmth.
“I don’t know, let’s visit Beaver!” Grackle said. They went to the Beaver’s house and pounded at his door.
“Let us in Beaver!” Grackle said, his beak chattering as he talked.
“Now don’t you both wish you had prepared for the winter?” Beaver said.
“We do! Can’t we stay at your place with you?” Grackle Jr. said.
“Well,” Beaver said, “it wouldn’t be fair if I just let you both profit off my hard work. Neither of you took any precautions yesterday.”
“We made a mistake; we’ll do anything to stay warm!” Grackle said.
“Sure, but on one condition,” Beaver said.
“Which is?” Grackle said, his head shaking in the wind.
“You both help me with my dam after the storm. Compensate my generosity. I’ll shelter you both through this storm and we can work together going forward.”
“Fine—we will work, just let us in already, will you?”
Beaver opened his door and let them both in.
The winter storm raged on as snow blanketed the outdoors in layering sheets. The three animals got along together quite well. There was ample fruit, a palatable rainbow buffet of apples, oranges, and lemons. They ate to their bellies content. Grackle and his son had so much fruit they were never without a full belly.
“Ah, it’s not so bad preparing early, huh?” Grackle Jr. said as he started to fall asleep.
“No, it’s not.” Beaver gave Grackle Jr. a blanket and let him fall asleep. Both Beaver and Grackle stayed awake trading stories about the year to come.
The next two days, the sun came back and melted the majority of the snow and ice, which allowed them all to comfortably return outside. Beaver beckoned Grackle and his son to come and witness the passing of the storm after the second day.
However, upon inspection outside, Beaver became quickly alarmed.
“My home, it’s been punctured from the ice. I need you both to help me gather sticks. This is how you can repay your debt!” Beaver said.
“Terribly sorry old bean, but we’ve suddenly got an urge to migrate. Hope you accept IOUs!” Grackle said as he grabbed Grackle Jr. to join him in flying off. As Beaver noticed what was happening, he grabbed Grackle Jr’s wing preventing him from joining. Both Beaver and Grackle tugged at the young bird until Grackle let go.
“On second thought, the boy will work off our debt. I’ll be back later for him!” Grackle cackled.
“Papa no!” Grackle Jr. said as he tugged relentlessly against Beaver to no avail. Grackle did not slow down, he only got further away until he disappeared into the horizon.
“Now you will pay for your father’s mistakes!” Beaver said. Grackle Jr. had a tear roll down his cheek.
“Come now, I will teach you the real meaning of work,” Beaver said, as he tied a weight to the bird’s leg.
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