FIRE PIT

It was late afternoon and my husband Steven and son Alex and I were all enjoying a soft breeze as we sat on our back porch waiting for the sun to set.

“Anyone interested in a fire?” I asked as I looked over at our fire pit that was overflowing with dried out sticks.

For the last couple of months anytime any of us were in the yard and saw a stick laying in the grass we’d toss it in the fire pit.

I looked over at Alex. “Can you go inside and get the lighter and some newspaper?”

Alex got up. “Sure.”

I walked over to the fire pit and began breaking the larger sticks into smaller pieces. As I was working on that Alex came over with the lighter and newspaper.

“Thanks.” I grabbed the newspaper and began balling it up. Reaching down I placed the newspaper balls under the sticks.

“Are you going to stack them in a teepee shape?” Alex asked.

I looked over at him. “I was just going to light the newspaper on fire and see what happens.”

“Oh.” Alex sounded disappointed. “I’m not sure you’ll have enough air flow.”

I waved the lighter at him. “Let’s not get all science-y here.” I bent down clicking the lighter and watched as the newspaper began to burn. “I’m sure this will go up pretty quickly.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “We’ll see.”

He sat down in the Adirondack chair next to me and we watched the flames begin to get bigger.

“I did it.” I said as I smiled and sat back enjoying my effort. “You know, this is the first fire I ever started.”

Alex looked over at me with a surprised look on his face. “You’ve never started a fire before?”

“Nope.”

“I can’t believe that.” He didn’t seem convinced.

I looked over at him. “I live with three guys. Do you really think I would ever get a chance to make a fire with you guys around?”

Alex laughed. “I guess not.”

The heat from the fire began to reach us and we moved our chairs back. “You know there’s something very satisfying about making a fire.”

“I know.”Alex watched as I turned around to scan the woods. “You’re looking for more stuff to burn aren’t you?”

I had to laugh. “I am.” I got up and was headed for the woods when I looked over at our birdhouse which had a Black-capped chickadee family in residence. One of the parents was sitting on a limb right outside the house loudly chirping. I could see the smoke going in that direction. “Oh no!”

“What?” Alex asked.

I pointed to the birdhouse. “The babies hatched the other day! I heard them when I was filling the feeders!”

“Okay?”

Another billow of smoke floated in that direction. “The smoke’s going right into their house.”

I sat back down in my chair. “Maybe we shouldn’t add anything more to the fire.” I could see the fire was beginning to die down.

“I guess that satisfying feeling of fire building is over.”

“It is for now.” I got up and walked toward the house. Grabbing the hose I headed back to the fire pit. “I’ll have this out in a second.” I called over to the chickadee.