The Invisible Boy

I sat on that big irrigation pipe, waiting to get hauled away. Wendy had run as soon as the fire trucks turned down the road.

It had taken them a very short time to throw the pump into the lake and extinguish the wild fire ripping through the tall dry wild oats. Quicker than I ever could have by rolling on it in my own vain attempt.

I waited, then looked up and saw the man with the shovel who had called the fire station talking to the investigator. Then they just packed up and drove away.

a reply to: pthena

Your story reminded me of an old joke.

Son: Dad, is it true? Are we pyromaniacs?
Father: Yes, we arson.

a reply to: ColeYounger

And that joke reminded me of Faulkner's short story "Barn Burning"
faculty.weber.edu...

a reply to: ColeYounger


Best laugh of the day award.

a reply to: zosimov

So that's Faulkner!

I neglected Faulkner for too long.
So caught up in Steinbeck.
Flight
Some more human desperation.