The Firesaver

• Ravali Gaddam
• Short Story
• 2009

The Little Hailey Farm was on the outskirts of the Adiland city. It was beautiful. There had once been green pasture. Now, the harsh drought transformed the beautiful country side onto a savannah, yellow and dry.

Peanut was the grey donkey that lived on that farm. He was loved and adored by everyone. He had a soft white muzzle and blue eyes could pierce the heart.

Peanut had a very unusual taste for peanuts. He adored them. He could have three cans of peanut butter, without getting a sore tummy. Peanut had a habit of eating a peanut a day. Where he got his peanuts from, nobody except for Peanut knows.

It was a hot day. The temperatures in the shade recorded 30 degrees Celsius. All of the farm animals were sheltering from the blistering sun inside the old shed that was clearly visible in the vast sea of dried up crop.

Suddenly, a huge roar struck the farm. All the animals peered from the air-conditioned shed they were comfortably resting in. What they saw made them scatter around the farm, braying and putting up a rampage. What they saw was that flames of abnormal size were licking the farmer’s house, bringing it down into ashes.

Peanut, however, was very calm. He walked up to the locked gate and using his donkey senses, he unlocked the way to freedom. He first calmed the animals down and did a quick count of the animals. He then called the farm dog, Wagtail to lead the way using his extraordinary sense of smell to find a path out.

Peanut gave everyone of the farm animals a job to do. The cows had to check if the ducks, rabbits and all the other small animals that had big families were recorded in their full numbers. The flames were getting closer. Every second of Peanut’s plan had to go well. One hitch, all their lives were to be ended.

Peanut quickly rounded up all the animals. He led them to a nearby well. There was a wombat inside. Peanut then quickly explained his plan. He raised his voice over the thunder of the roaring fire near by. “All the animals, every single one of you will be sent down this well. It’s dry because o the drought. My friend wombat will take you to a safe place. Stay there until some one comes to rescue you. Don’t peek out, or the fire will extinguish you. Stay together and be safe.”

As he ended his speech, he slowly stepped backwards, towards the flames. “But what are you going to do? You don’t seem to be coming with us?” enquired a baby rabbit that was trembling all over.
“You’re right!” said Peanut, who was dangerously close to the flames now.” I’m going to the fire people and ask them to come and put out the fire.”

The old horse suddenly exclaimed “, No, you’re not. You’re too young to run to the people. Any way, why risk your life for…” He stopped. Peanut wasn’t visible anymore. Wombat had already begun the process of lowering the animals into the well.

After a long time, maybe even two days, a familiar braying of an exhausted donkey was audible. Peanut had returned. Only this time there were people with him. People who helped rescue the animals in the well. They used a machine to lower themselves in and rescue the animals.

But among the rescue mission, a little grey donkey that was burnt in several places stood there, smiling.