Katie



“Should we do something?”

“Probably.”

But they didn’t, they just stood with their backs against the wall and watched the poor person burn. “How did he even set himself on fire anyway?” Ben asked, a soda in one hand and a camera in the other. “Don’t know, something stupid I suppose.” Anna snorted, glaring at the screaming man as he darted this way and that about the room. She looked to him, snatching the camera that he was holding out and smacking him once over the head. “Now that’s just rude.” She growled at him, but made no move to put out the fire, returning to leaning against the wall and watching him with a bored expression.

Other people were laughing, some were screaming, but most of the screeches were coming from the man who was currently rolling around on their hardwood floor. “Well damn, Mom just scrubbed that.” Ben commented airily, throwing back his head and chugging his coke as if it were beer. Anna glared at him in disgust, shaking her head in annoyance at her boyfriend’s idiocy.

“…why is he wearing one of those bee suits?”

“Shits and giggles? Why is he on fire?”

The fire had eaten most of the costume now, and was licking the man’s skin hungrily. Rolling around and flailing his arms wildly didn’t seem to do much to put out the flames. He heaved himself up and tried to run but ended tripping over the coffee table. The crowd laughed in their cruel sense of humor, Ben and Anna included. “Oh for the love of god, someone put it out before it leaves scorch marks on my floor or the furniture goes up.” Someone from the surrounding group sighed in their pity. A female voice, Ben’s mother or aunt probably. Some distant cousin came running in with a large pail of water and dumped it over the man who had taken to accepting his fate and lying on the ground like a dying, burning slug.

Now he laid there like a dying, still smoking, heaving slug.

Bored claps for him.

Anna put her cup on the fireplace mantle and stood over the panting bee-guy. “Why’re you in that thing?” His covering had burned through and showed his face. Late 20s, early 30s, with a red face and wide eyes. He sat up, pushing down the blackened hood and running a hand through his hair. “A trick gone awry.” She offered him a hand and he took it graciously, standing and wiping his palms on his pants. He looked around the large apartment sitting room, nodding approvingly.

“Taylor household?”

“Yeah.”

“At least I got one thing right, then.”

dear katie, i realy enjoyed this short discription of the picture. i mostly liked the word choice and the sardonic humor that the crowd had. i think however, that the character telling this story could have shown his emotions thorugh his actions, because he would say things like my mom just cleaned the floor but he does not react to it. the ending was very funny, but predictable. i actualy did suspect that the person on fire was performing as i read the crowds reaction. you really explained this picture well nice job? sincerely, luke

Dear Katie, I'm chuckling inside, good job. You really have an eye for humor and capturing the behaviors of people, especially the part when Anna doesn't try to help the "bee-guy." Another good description was the imagery of the fire "licking the man's skin hungrily." It's creative. One thing is to maybe elaborate a bit better explain the scene through words, for example if there is no image attatched to it. I would be happy to see more of your work posted on the page! Sincerely, Joyce