Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: END (06/09/22)
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TITLE: The Tree Fire | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
06/12/22 -
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Dave did not disappoint this particular morning.
Because the boys lived a mile from School, they would walk together each morning. Back in 1950 they attended a one-room-schoolhouse. As these two ten-year-olds walked together Dave announced to Paul, “Look what I found.” He held up a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes.
“Where did you get those?” Asked Paul, eyes wide with intrigue.
“I found them hidden in some bushes by my house. Not sure who they belong to, but they’re mine now.”
“What you gonna’ do with ‘em?” asked Paul.
“Well smoke ‘em dodo. What do you think I’d do with ‘em,” stated Dave.
“You gonna’ smoke ‘em! Your dad’s gonna’ whip you,” declared Paul
“Not if she doesn’t find out about it,” Dave eyed Paul. “And you’re not gonna’ tell now, are you?”
“Well you can’t take them into school with you, so now what you gonna’ do with ‘em?” Paul asked.
“I thought about that,” Dave replied calmly . “Know that old tree on the way to school. Mr. tree-with-the-hole-in-the-side of it. Well, I’m gonna stash the cigarettes and matches there then after school I will come and get them. Then we’ll go hide somewhere and have ourselves a little fun.”
“We?” Queried Paul.
“Yes, we. You are my partner-in-crime and I need you to keep watch in case someone comes along.”
“Oh boy,” muttered Paul. “This isn’t going to end well, I’m sure of it.”
Dave stashed the cigarettes and matches in the tree, making certain they were well hidden before the two boys completed their walk to school.
“Good morning, Miss Hathaway,” the boys smiled cheerfully to their teacher on their way into class.
The morning seemed to drag for Dave. Every so often he looked out the window to make certain no one approached the tree, then he would smile and nod to Paul indicating everything was still okay.
At two-thirty Dave looked out the window.
“Oh my gosh!” He cried. “The tree up the road is on fire!”
“Fire?” Everyone yelled. Nineteen kids ran to the window to see what was happening.
“Now how did that tree catch on fire,” Miss Hathaway mused.
Before anyone could say another word, they heard the firetruck coming up the country road. Quickly the firemen put the fire out, but could not save Mr. tree-with-the-hold-in-its-side. Three firemen stood scratching their heads wondering how a tree, in the middle of a field, could suddenly catch fire.
With all the excitement, class was dismissed early and seventeen kids took off at a run to check out the tree. Paul and Dave meandered up the road. When they arrived they heard one of the firemen say that a dead squirrel was found near the tree with matches around him. They surmised that a squirrel must have found these matches in the tree and started biting them. Their gnawing set a match ablaze which then caused the old, dead tree to ignite. With no warning the tree was up in flames and poor Mr. Squirrel was long-gone.
When everyone finally left, Dave looked at Paul and said, “Can you believe it. Some squirrel did all this. Burned down the old tree and ruined my opportunity to smoke a cigarette.”
“You can thank your lucky stars that squirrel saved your hide,” admonished Paul. “I can only imagine what your punishment would have been if your dad had discovered you were smoking. You would have had to do hard chores for the next month plus be grounded for just as long. I don’t even want to think what would have happened to me if my dad had found out I was your accomplice.”
“Know what we should do,” stated Paul. “We should bury this squirrel for saving the day and keeping us from trouble.”
“Seriously?” Exclaimed Dave.
“Why not. His life ended, but he saved ours. He at least deserves a proper burial for his sacrifice.”
Dave shrugged his shoulders and said, “okay, you start digging and I’ll supervise.”
Hole completed, squirrel safety tucked inside, dirt spread on top, Mr. Squirrel found his final resting place.
Based on a true story about my husband and his cousin.
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