The Crocus by Marvin

I remember the story you told me about crocus. There was once an Indian boy ready to go through his ceremony of manhood in the early spring. After the traditional sweats of purification he was sent up into the hills with nothing but a buffalo robe, for three days of fasting and vision questing. The first night it became very cold, so he wrapped his robe tightly around himself and he heard a little voice say, “Thank you.” Surprised, looking around for the voice, he noticed a little white flower. It looked at him and said, “Don’t unwrap the robe it is cold out there.” The boy soon fell asleep, feeling just a little bit more secure, now that he wasn’t all alone. The next day he started talking to the flower and it kept him company as the long hours went by. The second night was just as cold and the flower was very grateful for the boy’s warm robe. On the third day, the boy was starting to get a bit concerned because he had not as yet had a vision. If he didn’t have a vision he would not become a man. The flower assured him that everything would be all right as they looked out together at the beautiful yellow sun, reflecting on top of the purple mountains. That night was the coldest of them all, they had to cuddle close in the robe to keep warm, but just before the dawn, a great vision came to the boy. He saw himself as a great medicine man, taking care of many tribes of people. In the morning he was so happy with his newfound power, feeling grateful for the friendship given to him by the flower, he told the flower it could have three wishes. The crocus said, “I would like to have the warmth and the beauty of the yellow sun at my heart, the grace of the purple mountains all around me and a heavy fur robe to keep me warm.” To this very day the children of this little crocus have been given all three to keep them warm and happy in the early spring.

Wild Rosehips and Coyote by Noah

I remember the story about Coyote that you told me. Once Coyote was walking around. Da de da de da… Then he heard a voice say, “Eat me. Eat me. Eat me.” Then Coyote said, “Where is that voice coming from? That little voice?” Then he looked all over and then he saw a flower. It said, “Eat me, eat me, eat me.” Then Coyote said, “I can’t eat a flower. I don’t eat those.” “Well, there is much, much here. There’s berries.” “Hmmm,” Coyote said. Coyote didn’t trust it. Then Coyote picked one. He was going to eat it. Then he ate it. “Mmmm there’s lots of seeds in here.” He liked it. Then he saw another berry. It said, “Eat me, eat me. But I gotta warn you. Only pick under 5, not lots.” Then Coyote said, “O.K.” Then Coyote stated to grab lots of berries helping himself. “Da de da de da de da…” He was eating them all until his belly was dragging all over the ground. Coyote said, “Ah, I don’t feel good.” Then his bottom started to itch, itchy. He started to have to go to the washroom. Back and forth, back and forth. He was itching and itching on his bottom. Then he had the diarrheas. So remember Coyote has to learn lessons. So always pick under 5. Don’t pick more than under 5.