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Fiction, © Copyright 2003, Jim Loy
Do you know Arnold? He's kinda famous. Well, you oughta know his story, so here goes.
It was the summer of '99, the big drought. There were forest fires all over the nation. Ours was just a little one, lightning caused, according to the papers. It smoldered for a while, and then it seemed to burn itself out. Then the wind picked up, and the fire came back to life, and it headed right for the Bear Grass subdivision. Arnold's house was the first one in the fire's path.
Arnold's back yard was an acre of dry grass, about two feet tall. Arnold was smart enough to see that this was a disaster waiting to happen, and not waiting very long to happen either. As the fire approached, he decided to get rid of the grass, with fire. He set the grass ablaze, and then watered down his house and the surrounding ground with his garden hose. Nevertheless, five minutes later, his house was on fire. He hadn't paid his insurance either, and the fire department let the house burn to the ground, with the car still in the garage.
When the forest fire reached Arnold's yard, there was nothing left to burn, and the fire was easily brought under control. Arnold probably saved the rest of the subdivision. His insurance company suspected arson. But his neighbors came to his defense, and the insurance company bought him a new house and a new car. And they warned him not to play with matches.
He became a popular guy. People greeted him, bought him drinks. They cut his grass for him, every summer. No use sacrificing another house to stop a forest fire.