Lesson # 1

Glad you could join us for the next illuminating episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

Elliot 028
Photo credit: Bill Beck

“Cassandra! Come quick!” Elliot called.

“What is it?” she yawned, scaling the side of the nest to join him at the top where she saw the approaching fire. “Oh, my! It’s a good thing it’s raining, isn’t it?”

The rain stopped. The flames continued.

“Huh.” Her eyes drew together as she turned her attention to the clouds overhead. “What do you suppose we should do?”

Elliot admired her unflappable nature, but as the blazing orange tower crept closer, he was having a hard time matching her calm.

First, he thought, don’t panic. Out loud, he said, “If I’ve learned one lesson during my travels, it’s that problems have solutions, and panic is not one of them.” The scrunching cellophane sound mocked him as it grew. He squelched his urge to scream and run around in circles.

Turning to look into Cassandra’s eyes, he felt peace flow into his heart. “We should probably be looking for a way out of here,” he said.

“That sounds like a reasonable plan. Have you any suggestions?” She cocked one eye toward the edge of the nest. “I don’t really want to jump, Elliot. We were lucky the first time, but…” Her voice faded away as she dropped her gaze to the forest’s distant floor.

Elliot had learned at least one other lesson: “It never hurts to have luck on your side.”

“True,” Cassandra agreed. “The problem is that we can’t control our luck.”

The rising heat made Elliot’s thoughts boil. “If that’s the problem, there should be a solution. What if we try calling for help? It might give our luck a boost.”

Together, they faced the trees and shouted over the flame’s crackling voice, “Fire! Help us! Please, someone help us! Fire!”

In the shadows overhead, a branch creaked and a voiced croaked, “Maybe I can help youse out.”

To be continued…

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .

Author: Sue Ranscht

Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related. Let her tell you a story...

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