Contrast in the Night

The boy was nearing the end of his nocturnal journey. He was elated that he had reached his destination at the end of the edge of the forest. The conflagration was consuming the trees and the light of the fires was in stark contrast to the dark of the rest of the countryside. The boy often ruminated about the licking flames that he found to have an august grace about them. These trips to see the yearly wildfires had recently become a clandestine venture since the boy’s parents didn’t think his fascination was healthy. Their compunction with the boy’s hobby had led to many callous remarks. The boy didn’t mind though. The forbidden nature had made the show that much more indulgent. It was not as if the boy relished in the destruction, in fact it was the exact opposite. He found the destruction to be a tangible symbol of rebirth. Most people saw the wildfires as uncontrolled destruction of what should be indelible forests but the boy knew the tacit story behind the fires. He knew that they helped fertilize the soil and plant the next generation of trees all at once.

King of the Prom

The king of the prom was a school legend. He was a pretty average guy but at this dance of dances, his decorum was perfect. Every seemingly infinitesimal facet of his persona and appearance was flawless. The king remained sedate even as the stentorian music blasted through the dance floor. His dancing prowess was unmatched which caused great antipathy from disgruntled boyfriends who found their dates distracted by him. While some jealous dancers beset him for his superior dancing, others attempted to imbibe as many of his patented moves as they could. For the single girls, an invite to dance with him seemed like an ultimatum; either they could accept and surely be shown up, or they could reject and lose standing among their peers.