Survival Under The Sun

Her son was running toward the river. She skipped behind him, singing.

Eyes sparkling, he turned to her at the river’s edge. Short toddler legs, squatting, his fingers trailed in the cool water.

“Mommy, what is zat?” pointing to bulging eyes in the water

Slapping the water, he said, “Mommy, it’s gone.”

“It’s a frog, silly.”

He turned and ran along the riverbank, her eyes glued to him, ready to leap into the river to rescue this adventurer and fast child. Moonlight glinted off the river, the full face of a smiling woman lighting her child’s path. They were both children of the night, listening to the quiet trills and croaks in the dark. She cherished these hours, the only time it was safe to be outside, when the world was cool at night and there was no threat from the harsh daytime glow. Brilliantly lit by the full moon, she had no trouble seeing the boy who had just turned four. The light wasn’t bright enough to make out the glints of gold and red in his hair or the gleam of his jade eyes, but his white tennis shoes spotlighted him for her.

Giggling, he scooted quickly back to his mother, jumping into her arms, and she twirled around until they both were breathless. His head snapped to the side as he heard crunching leaves and snapping twigs. “It’s a woods creature, sweetheart. Someone who wanders at night.” He smiled and kissed her nose, fingers holding her head by the ears. She walked silently with him in his arms and stopped in a clearing. “Look, the moon is gone now.”

“Why did it go away? Where did it go?” he asked, slurring the words in baby talk.

“The moon is going to bed now.”

“But we are not in bed. Why is it going to bed when we are here at the rivuh?” She smiled at his mispronounced word, marveling that he had remembered this.

“Everything has to sleep. Some animals sleep during the day. Some flowers do, too.”

“The moon has to go to bed and sleep?” She smiled at his huge eyes watching her face, as she nodded at him.

“Is the moon tired when it goes to bed?”

“No, honey, the moon doesn’t get tired or sleepy. She keeps moving across the sky and is now going to a different place to light up the night there.” He shrugged and took hold of her hand as they walked.

“Seems silly for the moon to keep moving. I want her to stay here.”

“Others want to see her also, sweetie. We have to share her. And, remember, she gets smaller and smaller each day until she has no light to give us.”

“Yeah, I ‘member. Then she keeps getting bigger and bigger each night,” Rory told his mother.

“Look, Mommy, it is getting light out again. The moon decided to come back!” He bounced up and down, tugging on her hand. Suddenly, he let go and pointed toward the valley where the river emptied.

She jerked her head up. “Come on, hurry.” Every instinct urged her on. She was almost dragging him. He lagged behind, so she lifted him into her arms and waded through now-wilting greenery. The river’s water receded from the banks as if a sponge were soaking it up. The cool night air was gone, replaced by suffocating heat, and it was not yet dawn. Damn, damn, how could I forget? Shit. She was running now, and they fell. Rory began crying, and she shushed him so she could think. Her knee was bleeding, as was the palm of her hand. She heard the loud buzzing coming and shoved his head into her stomach to protect him. The blood bees were on the hunt and smelled her injury; in seconds, they would be covering her. She couldn’t get her boy home to safety, away from the day’s scorch and the bees that were coming. For her.

“Rory, listen, honey. You have to get into the river.”

“Okay, Mommy, let’s go swimming.”

“No, you have to get in by yourself this time. Stay close to the edge, and duck under the water if bugs fly toward you, okay?” He was up for the adventure and skipped off. She held her breath, watching him, hoping he made it.

“That’s it, hurry. Stay close to the edge. Here comes the sun.” It was a curse; exactly what her mother used to say after the world changed, when the life-giving sun no longer gave life but took it. The words signaled survival.

Copyright © 4/30/2026 by Andrea O. Corwin Thanks for stopping by! 😃 If you like ♡ my scribbles, hit the subscribe button. Please consider leaving a comment. ✍️❤️

this is for L.C. Schäfer's Dollar Challenge below: