Once upon a time, the four seasons gathered in a clearing in an old forest on some unknown planet: Winter in her white regal robes, Spring in her green dress, Summer dressed in flowers, and Autumn in her golden garments.
And they began to argue about who was the most important and necessary. Each one tried to prove their significance. But they couldn't reach any sensible agreement. They decided to travel across the Earth and ask people which season was the most essential.
They wandered the world for a long time, but they never heard a definitive answer. It turned out that some people loved autumn, others loved winter, and still others loved summer and spring.
And everyone insisted that their favourite season was the most important and necessary. Only two teenage boys, two friends named Greg and Sergei, declared in unison that all the seasons were important and necessary—each in their own time.
But the seasons didn't listen to the boys. They returned to their clearing and sat down again at the "negotiating table" by the eternal fire. And they argued even more fiercely than before.
Suddenly the sky darkened, thunder rumbled, and lightning struck the trees in the forest and in the centre of the clearing. In the place where the fire had been burning, a distant cousin of the great arguers appeared—Timelessness.
And he offered them his help: "While you sit here arguing and deciding, I'll take your place on Earth." The seasons agreed and sent their distant cousin to the people in their stead.
Many years passed, and they continued to argue and argue. Meanwhile, the power-hungry Timelessness imposed his own order on Earth. He changed everything and everyone: the animals and the plants. He decided to transform the Earth, and to start with, he wrapped it in a thick fog.
The sun's rays couldn't penetrate the dense veil, and gradually life on the planet began to fade: trees, flowers and grasses stopped growing, birds stopped singing, and bees could no longer collect pollen for honey. And people began to hear worse and almost stopped seeing. Chaos reigned on Earth.
People became frightened and went to live underground. But two brave friends, Sergei and Greg, stayed on the surface and decided to set out in search of the seasons. But where should they look? Which way should they go? All around was fog and dampness.
But this didn't stop the boys. Taking a large stick and a long rope with them, they set off.
They walked practically by touch: stumbling over stones and snags, sinking into swamps. It was terrifying to walk because they couldn't hear the rustle of leaves or the chirping of birds.
And then a new obstacle appeared—a sheer cliff. The boys began to climb it. They climbed for a day, then a second day was coming to an end, and there was no end in sight. And suddenly the boys found themselves in a cave.
Where had it come from at such a height? It was a mystery. But the boys were incredibly happy because they were very tired and needed rest.
They slept for three days like warriors. They might have slept longer, but they heard the song of a bird. As if on command, the boys jumped to their feet and began to look around. No one was there. Where was this wonderful singing coming from?
Suddenly they saw a little bird, as if calling them somewhere. The boys obediently followed it. The little songbird led them to a winding staircase, which the brave rescuers began to climb without hesitation.
They climbed and climbed. It seemed as though the steps would never end. And just when everyone was out of strength, the boys found themselves in a clearing in some old forest.
They had never seen such plants before. Each tree, each bush, and even each flower consisted of four parts: one with buds and shoots, the second flowering and fragrant, the third side consisted of yellow, red or withered leaves, and the fourth was covered with snow.
While Sergei and Greg were examining the plants, the seasons appeared in the clearing. The boys weren't frightened by their stern appearance and told them what disaster had brought them here.
They explained that the seasons couldn't quarrel and argue with each other, because each period was important in its own time, and each was important in its own way.
The seasons understood what they had done. They returned to Earth and got down to their work—each in their own turn. They wanted to drive away Timelessness, but changed their minds and made him put everything right.
Soon people left their shelters, and life on Earth became better than ever before, because everyone began to appreciate what they had.
