A Conversation About the Moon

What’s that?

(looks up)

That’s the moon.

What’s it doing?

Um, well, I guess it’s hanging out in the sky, following the Earth around.

Why?

Why not?

But what keeps it up there? Does it float? Like a balloon?

I’m not sure, to be honest.

Does it have friends?

I don’t think so. I guess big rocks crash into it now and then.

That’s not friendly.

I guess not.

Does no one love it?

Oh, I think lots of people do. And animals. And the sea.

The sea? Like, the oceans?

Yes. They have a simpatico relationship.

What does simpatico mean?

I think it means they like each other.

But how? The moon is way up there, and the oceans are way down here.

The moon hugs the oceans with extraordinary power.

Is it consenual?

Do you mean “consensual”?

Yeah. It’s a new word I learned.

Well, I hope it is. It must be. The oceans don’t seem to mind; I don’t think.

Do the oceans hug the moon back?

Uh, I think so, in a way. I guess it’s more like a dance.

Really? The moon can dance?

It dances with the oceans.

Can you see it?

You can see the effect of the dance if you’re by the ocean. It’s called…the Tide Dance.

Can we do the Tide Dance, please?

Sure! Take my hands. I’ll step back, and pull you towards me, then you step back and pull me towards you!…That’s it! And then we hug!

I like the Tide Dance!

So do I! Wanna go inside and have some hot chocolate?

Will the moon miss us?

Nah, it’s busy dancing the oceans.

And hugging them!

Yes, and hugging them.

We don’t have a moon where I come from.

Really? Not even a little one?

Nope. I think maybe I’ll borrow this one. It can hug our oceans. It can dance with them and have more friends. We have lots of oceans.

Would you bring it back? We would miss it. I think it would miss us, too. It’s been up there for a long time.

Hmmm. Maybe I’ll make one just for us.

There ya go! Ready for some hot chocolate?

Yes, please! With tiny marshmallows?

Always!

The End

Note from the author. I did not know how this would turn out when I started. Took an interesting turn at the end. When I was painting, I liked doing work that would leave the meaning up to the viewer instead of doing representational work, which I suck at anyway.

Originally published on Medium.com