Prompts: Silent, Flames

Short Story

It was Christmas Eve night, no one was awake. The house was completely silent besides the crackling of the fireplace flames. The tree was lit brightly, with every bulb shining its best. Each present was wrapped neatly - red, green, and white wrapping paper covering each package. The children upstairs tried to sleep, but the excitement was too great. And then the noise came: Santa Claus. He was on the roof and he came bearing gifts. They all knew what was coming. Tommy’s new scooter, Julie’s baby doll, Mom’s new rocking chair, and Dad’s hunting supplies. Santa came down the chimney and landed right on their floor. He ate all the cookies and drank all the milk. He left all their presents right by the tree. Then it was time for him to bring the same joy to every other house in the town. 

As the flame grew bigger and bigger covering the whole house, everyone was silent. They waited and waited for the flame to be put out by the firefighters, but nothing was helping. It just kept growing. Soon, that small fire had consumed a whole neighborhood and was still on the move. No one knew what to do or how to help. The fire was far to big and moving very quickly. People in the neighborhood was grabbing water and putting it on the fire but nothing was working. Everyone was speechless.  This neighborhood was completely burned to the ground and now burning right through their city. Everything they loved. Gone. They didn’t think the fire could get so big. The only thing they felt: regret. 
Santa Clause 52

Maratfe 

Regret

Standing in the middle of the street with a hole in her car and on the phone with the police to address the situation. The young girl, Maratfe, was just hit by a white truck that had pulled into an intersection and after a sudden feeling of regret, the young boy in the white truck reversed right into the Maratfe’s car. There was no time to do anything, and everyone was in shock that this young boy started reversing. Maratfe told the boy to pull off to the side of the road to see the damage that has been done. They figured out all the police reports, and continued with their day. After a week of no information about the accident, the boy’s insurance calls maratfe and tell her that this was her fault. They start to tell her that she could have done something to prevent it. After fighting for four weeks about whose fault it really was, they compromised with 90% and 10%. Maratfe was paying 10% because she did not honk her horn. This is a very sore subject for Maratfe til this day, and talking about honking a horn with her is not recommended.