Science Lesson

By Trenton Pomeroy

The pond is black and smooth in the airless summer afternoon. Dad and I sit on the bank, watching the dragonflies swoop, the water striders skating in tiny ripples. Invisible frogs are calling each other in the reeds.

Dad winks at me, fumbles open the gas can cap. His breath smells like iodine. “Watch this,” he rasps, and empties the can onto the dark surface. “Which is heavier, kid? Gas or water?”

I shrug. “Gas?”

“Nope.” He lights his pipe, tosses the match. The pond explodes into violet flame. The dragonflies rise like bonfire sparks. I watch them as they burn.