Ballistic Bushfire

• Charlotte Cashin, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2019

I looked out the window watching Lexie and Cookie our adorable puppies chasing a big white butterfly. Suddenly, Cookie pounced at the butterfly and landed head first in the dirt. She sprang up and bolted to her kennel yelling.
“Goodnight,” I whispered into the darkness.
WOOF! WOOF!
Errrr mmhhh, I yawned, what's going on?
WOOF! WOOF!
Ohhh I smell smoke.
“Ahhhhhhh FIRE! FIRE!”
A wall of flames rose in the neighbour's garden, fear slapped me in the face. The dogs! I raced down the stairs two at a time.
“Cookie, Lexie!” I screamed into the smoke, two glowing eyes stared through the melting window. I raced to the back door and ripped it open. Two dogs came bolting in. I could see Mum, Dad and Jamie at the front door. Dad had his phone pressed hard against his ear, I swear it was cutting off his circulation. I ran towards the door, sirens screaming at me. NO! The house collapsed behind me.
The bushland behind the house blackened along with our house, demolishing everything I owned, ashes, flames, everything, but my family and I.