FIRE 

By Tessa Harvey

    "Come in," called Mrs. Bird, cheerily, hearing the expected tap on her door.
"Ah, hello Robert," she said, smiling. The boy looked around, carefully as though someone else was lurking around the cupboards.
    Colleen felt half annoyed, half admiring. He is good, she thought, and decided to let it go.
    "Okay Buddy, how are you?"
     Immediately she had the boy's full attention. His hair stuck up in small tufts, but his gaze was direct and intense. Colleen had thought of him as a bit of a rapscallion, but was revising her opinion.
    They discussed the fire and how so much of the town had escaped unscathed. "How are you all managing?" Colleen asked as caringly as possible.
    Buddy hesitated. "We could afford to get help," he suggested tentatively. "Mrs. Elliott down by the shops should love to help. Her children are grown. Just till mum gets better, like. We have enough money. Could you ask our mum, Mrs. Bird, please? She likes you - we're just kids," he added, sadly.

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