This isn’t really a prompt story. It’s something I wrote that goes with my book, Turtle Island. It’s one of the teaching tales of the Gopher Tribe. I cut it from the book but liked it enough to save it for some future use. I hope you enjoy it.
FIRST GOPHER AND THE THREE SISTERS
In the beginning, First Gopher and First Mate lived on a dark, dank world without any sun or warmth. All they had to eat were muddy roots and slimy fungus. Many enemies hunted them, so they lived in holes deep in the ground, never daring to venture outside.
One day, First Gopher was making her weary way through a seldom-used tunnel. Suddenly, she saw a flash of light above her. When she searched for the source of the light, she found it came from a small fissure in the ceiling. Putting put her eye to the hole, she saw a beautiful, world with a blue, blue sky and sunlight and growing things.
First Gopher hurried to find First Mate. He, too, was thrilled at the sight of the bright new world, but the opening in the ceiling was very small and the rock around it was very hard. Try as they might, they could not did their way out.
“What shall we do?” cried First Gopher. “If we cannot get to that marvelous place, I will die!”
“We will help you,” a soft voice called through the opening.
The Gophers looked through the crack and saw three lovely, green maidens smiling down at them.
“Who are you?” asked First Gopher.
“We are the Three Sisters,” one of the maiden’s replied. “If we help you get into our world, will you promise to help us, as well?”
“Gladly!” cried First Gopher and First Mate.
The Three Sisters formed a circle around the opening and dug their strong toes into the ground. Soon, the rock began to split and flake away until there was a hole big enough for First Gopher and First Mate to climb through.
When the Three Sisters withdrew their toes from the rock, it collapsed into the hole. No enemies would be able to follow First Gopher and First Mate from their old world into their new one.
“Thank you!” cried First Gopher and her Mate. “You have saved us! What can we do to repay you?”
“We cannot walk about as you do,” one of the Three Sisters said. “We are very hungry and thirsty but we cannot get to water or good soil, which is our food. Carry us to a place where there is rich earth. Water us and tend us well, and we will feed you.”
First Gopher and First Mate carried the Three Sisters to the top of a tall Mesa where the soil was thick and fertile. They dug irrigation ditches to bring sweet water to the Three Sisters. They watched over the Three Sisters’ field, pulling weeds and chasing away pests.
The Three Sisters happily dug their toes deep into the earth. At the end of their first growing cycle, they gave their fruits to the Gophers, and taught them how to cook and preserve them.
“We will sleep through the winter,” the Three Sisters explained. “But if you save some of our seeds and plant them in the spring, we will grow for you again.”
The Gophers did as they were told and prospered. The Gopher Tribe–for First Gopher and First Mate had many children who had many more children–built dwellings in the cliff faces of the Mesa.
From that day to this, when Gophers tend the fields, when they prepare a meal, when they look up and see the sun, they say a prayer of thanksgiving for the many gifts the Three Sisters–Sister Corn, Sister Bean and Sister Squash–give them and gave to their ancestors.
