Once upon a time a family of field mice lived at a crossroads. Their home was in a post that marked the intersection of the two roads, one going north and south, the other going east and west. A circle of stones had been placed around the area and someone had planted a beautiful garden within the circle.
All day long the mice watched as people walked and rode in one direction or another, usually in quite a hurry. Sometimes they would notice the same person going one direction in the morning, and then a few hours later, going back the way he had come.
The mice were very curious about where these people went, so they decided to follow them. One day they scampered along the North Road. When they got hungry, they stopped to eat the berries along the road, and they got used to going to that place when they wanted berries.
Another day the mice scurried along the South Road. When they got thirsty, they went to the stream that ran by the road and quenched their thirst. They became so used to drinking at that stream, that they always went there when they became thirsty.
Another day they hurried along the West Road to see what they could see. When they became tired and needed to rest, they found a cool, shady spot under a flowering plant to sleep. They got so used to sleeping in this wonderful place, that they always went there when they were tired.
On another day, the mice skipped down the East Road. They found another family of field mice living in the hollow of an old oak tree, and soon they were coming to play with these new friends often, especially when they were tired of each other and needed to be distracted.
As time went on, these field mice were spending very little time at their crossroads home. They were always running off in one direction or another for food, water, sleep or play.
One day, just as dawn was approaching, a strong wind blew across the land. It blew and blew and blew so hard that trees were uprooted and houses lost their roofs. Some houses that were not made well were completely blown to pieces, and everywhere in the land there was great destruction.
The field mice were awakened by the howling wind. When they felt their post shaking violently, they dug themselves down into the soft earth while the wind whirled above them. When things quieted down, they ventured out to survey the damage. Everywhere they saw the destruction caused by the fierce winds. The people were very sad because they had lost their homes.
As the mice scurried down each of the four roads, they saw that the great winds had cut a circular path through the villages around the crossroads. But, as if by magic, their own little garden circle at the crossroads was still there, the post standing straight and tall, pointing the four directions, and the garden offering peace and tranquility to all the homeless people. It was an extraordinary place to be!
The days following the great wind were filled with much activity as people set about to create order in their lives once again. The four roads became so crowded with people and wagons and horses that the field mice had to stay home. It was then that they started to explore the beautiful garden in which they lived. They discovered that the bushes were full of ripe berries and the flowers provided cool shade in the heat of the day. They even discovered a little pond filled with water that bubbled right up out of the ground. But the best thing they discovered was another family of field mice who had come to find a new home when their old one had been destroyed. They all became good friends and invited others who needed homes to join them. Together they became one big happy family of field mice! All they needed was right there in the stone circle at the crossroads.
As time went by and the land recovered and the people healed from the terrible windstorm, a kind man from the town to the south came and watered the plants so they would grow. Every now and then a woman from the town to the west would come and weed the garden at the crossroads. Once a year, in the spring, someone from the town to the east came and planted new flowers. Often, an old woman from the town to the north came and picked some of the flowers to take to people who were ill. The garden that withstood the windstorm became a symbol of nature’s endurance, and people from all over the country came to be nurtured by the amazing garden. The field mice were very happy that their home was such a popular place and they had everything they needed right there. They felt lucky that their home brought so much joy to everyone who saw it. It truly was an extraordinary crossroads!
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