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Birthday Candles

August 9, 2016

Birthday Candles
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The button on her striped clown shirt read Frieda the Flamer. The kids at the backyard birthday party watched as she lit the fuse disguised as a daisy flower on her black top hat. When the first Roman Candle fireball shot skyward there were audible gasps from several of the children. The second ball shot into the air as Frieda feigned surprise by covering her mouth with her palm. Four more shots burst forth before the neighbor came around the corner and exclaimed, “The cedar shake roof is on fire!”

Frieda’s big red shoes flippity-flopped as she dashed for her car.

— Jim Landwehr

Filed Under: All Stories, Writing Contest - Issue 18

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Parker says

    August 10, 2016 at 4:52 am

    Great story! The reader gets caught up in the fun, party feeling and then is quickly thrown into the tragedy mode. Well done.

  2. Thomas Minder says

    August 10, 2016 at 7:48 am

    Good story. Not easy to dart away in clown shoes.

  3. Bobby Warner says

    August 10, 2016 at 10:42 am

    Nice, neat, taut story. Enjoyed it immensely.

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