Fire: A Fictional Narrative

The growl was closer. Gabe opened his eyes and raised his rifle, holding it ready to fire. The warm fire, the sweet wine, and the steady rain had made him forget and dose. This time he threw a handful of rock dust toward the eyes and heard the animal snort and crash down the hill in the brush. At least, he knew the animal was a black bear.
Rubbing his face with his dusty hand, he sat upright. For a minute he stared at the dying coals, then rushed to build the fire back up. Satisfied, he moved to sit closer to the opening, away from the heat. Reaching out a hand, he brought back a wet palm to wash his face and neck to cool it off. Then he managed to catch enough water to sip. It took several times, but eventually he had enough to chase away …show more content…
He crossed his heart, then shoved her back up the path. When he turned around a couple of the older boys were there.
“Where are the Daniels? We heard voices.”
Gabe felt more annoyed than frightened. Without Eb and Ned to egg them on, he hoped he could handle the other boys.
“They dropped out, won’t be coming anymore.”
From up the trail, he heard Alma’s high voice, heard the loud, angry voice of her Pa. While the other boys stood in the lane listening, he swerved around them and ran toward the school bell. Even if he wanted to quit school now, he couldn’t. He had promised her he would teach her all he learned.
That spring and summer had been the sweetest in his life. He didn’t have time to go hunting with Pa and Shep. His Mama was always scolding him for running off when she needed his help, but he never explained or apologized.
When the fire died down, the rain also seemed to stop. Even though he doubted the animal would return, Gabe stood and stretched before moving to the side of the rock to whittle through the base of a white oak sapling. By the time his parents stirred, he had whittled and shaped a strong walking stick with the vee of the first tree branch as a brace for Ma’s hand.