The Library Fire: A Short Story

The Library Fire Joe and John had been friends since elementary, and were thrilled to learn they had been accepted into the same college. Secretly, Joe wondered how many Ivy League schools John had turned down to stay with his long-time friend. John was a prodigy, a genius. He always had straight A’s, and was the teacher’s pet in every class. John had dyed his hair two years ago in a bright crimson hue, and his eyes were green. A lot of Christmas jokes had been made, but John didn’t really care. Joe, however, was extremely plain, with brown hair and eyes. Few ever took care to remember him, simply due to his simple nature. He had had average grades throughout his school life, and had no defining features.
At the moment, Joe and John were studying for theoretical physics. John had picked the class in order to become a physicist, and Joe had …show more content…
Are you sure you should be messing with it?” Joe’s voice betrayed his nervousness. Josie looked offended at the question.
“Moron, of COURSE it’s dangerous. Didn’t I just say it was a fire potion? But don’t worry, I’ve got it all under control!” At her words, she started flipping the bottle in her hand in a show of how “under control” she had it. Both boys nervously followed the bottle’s path.
Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down.
Down.
Down.
Josie had missed the last catch. The phial hit the library floor and shattered. The liquid immediately burst into flame, hungrily devouring the old wood of the library floor. The three college students looked in horror at the bright orange flames. John recovered first, and immediately started barking orders.
“We need some way to extinguish the fire! Joe, grab that fire extinguisher!”
Joe complied, and held the bright red cylinder nervously.
“Now empty it, and then fill it with water from the water fountain in the north-east corner!”
Joe looked at him in confusion.
“Why don't I just spray the white fluid in the fire extinguisher all over the