the womens' fire

Now that Leigh had been cremated the three women felt the other fire. The womens' fire.

Laura, Leighs' sister sat closest to the fire. Laura knew bad from good. Laura was good. To Laura fire meant the warmth of hearth and home. The winter warmth heating the fire. The wholesome warmth of Lauras' stove.

Laura provided warmth, food and safety for her children, her grandchildren and for the two girls she had helped to save from a bad woman.

Ruth, Leighs' ex, sat some distance away. Ruth too knew bad from good. Ruth was neither bad nor good. To Ruth fire meant play. She could play with fire or keep her distance. Ruth saw songs and stories in the fire and made some herself.

Lauras' children and grandchildren learnt fire from Lauras' fire. They learnt to provide comfort, safety and warmth.

Ruths' children learnt fire from Ruths' fire and from the wide world. They learnt to fire building bricks to build schools and hospitals.

Suzanne, Leighs' ex-wife,(and by far the youngest for Leigh, Laura and Ruth were within two years of one another) was alone. Where was she? That is neither here nor there. What did Suzanne know? That too is neither here nor there.

Suzanne felt pain from the fire. Worse pain than she had ever made.

Suzannes' fire is the fire of Hell.