A Moon's Turn

by Amy Flood

Sun shone especially brightly that morning.
"Show off." Mumbled Moon as he prepared to turn in.
"Just look at 'Mr.- I'm-so hot-you-can't-even-look-directly-at-me.'" Moon continued as gradually the sky paled and his own light diminished.
"It's so unfair! Everyone always praises him: 'Oh what a beautiful day!' 'Hello Mr. Sun!' He even has his own song! Who even saw him wear a hat anyway?!" Moon grumbled to himself.
Moon's day always began this way. His own beautiful glow eclipsed by the all-encompassing rays of Sun. All day he struggled to rest as the endless brightness engulfed him and kept him awake.
As sunset drew near he'd finally had enough. As he took his place in the sky, his mind whirred with ways to outshine Sun. He felt wretched and, to top it all off, he was having one of his inexplicable 'fat' days.
"Darn it. Well at least there's a better chance that people will look at me!" he tried to reassure himself.
As the tears began to well up again he heard the friendly voices that never failed to cheer him up, Twinkle Twinkle and Wish were awake. The two stars, at least, were always ready with gentle glowing praise to bolster his ego.
"Don't worry Moon, your light is far more romantic than His burning glare." Twinkle reminded him.
"And don't forget Owl and Pussycat, they'd never dance in daylight!" Continued Wish.
"Thanks guys," Moon chirped, "I feel much better now. Besides," he stated dramatically, "I have a plan!"
So that very morning as Sun rose up in the sky, Moon and the two stars didn't return to bed but hid, giggling behind a large mountain range.
Sun began his usual proud glow, reigning down over the world, warming all who met him, an arrogant smile spreading across his face, secure in his knowledge that nothing and no one could outshine him.
Moon summoned all his courage "I can't believe I'm doing this!" he whispered to the stars. "Go, go! It's your time to shine!" they replied.
Nervously, Moon began to rise to the suns level. Sun, basking in his own glow, felt the beginnings of a dark shadow creeping across his face. Thunderous with anger he burned,
"YOU! Get back to the shadows where you belong!"

"No, I think it's my time to shine!" Moon answered simply. And with that, Moon slowly moved across the face of the Sun in a glorious, spectacular solar eclipse.
All the faces on the land turned their eyes to the sky, cheering and clapping and finally noticing Moon. As he finally rolled aside to let the sunlight glow one more, Moon grinned as all the people turned their eyes away and, for once, moaned at Sun's return.
Moon slept well that day. A smile on his face as he day-dreamed. For once he had outshone the Sun.