Source: Children Come First
http://www.childrencomefirst.com/burnt.shtml

Contests
A Burnt Offering
By Daphne Rice, Contest #200806

He smelled something burning, tossed back the cozy, warm quilt and winced as his bare feet hit the chilly floor.

“Wally, are you making toast again?”

Taking the stairs two at a time, and then grabbing the handrail to stop his rapid descent, Buddy slid around the corner to land in the kitchen almost before his hollered question got there.

“Makin’ breakfast, Buddy!” said Wally.

The step stool was next to the sink where he’d left it last night. The counter was littered with half a loaf of bread spilling out of its bag, the uncovered butter peppered with toast crumbs, and not surprisingly, Wally.

“Wally! You little stinker! What am I gonna’ do with you?” Buddy chuckled before biting into a gritty slice of charcoal.

“Love you, Buddy!” said Wally.

Buddy smiled, “Love you too, Wally.” He took a big swallow of cold coffee to gag down the burnt toast before continuing, “Even if you ARE a lousy cook, you’re all mine.”

Interrupting, Wally nodded agreeably, “I’m a myna! Awk”



Author's note: Wally, the myna in the story, is a bird who only lives in my imagination. He 'hatched' when I read the CCF first line for this month's writing contest and then evolved into a character as the story unfolded. Wally has a limited vocabulary and can put bread in the toaster with his beak and press the toaster lever with his foot.


Daphne Rice, a retired elementary school teacher, spends her time between the big city life of Portland, Oregon and the high desert solitude of Burns, Oregon. Rice is a happily married practicing writer. After teaching fourth, fifth, and sixth graders for thirty years, Mrs. Rice retired in June 2007. She loves having the time to write stories, essays, and poetry.  Her previous CCF stories include: A Little Bit Irish, Seagrapes, and Behold! The Wolverines!

© 2008 Daphne Rice. Original for CCF  (Rice grants CCF  first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).

© 1998-2008 Children Come First. All rights reserved.

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