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“I love fireflies. Did you know they talk to each other by flashing their yellow lights?” Joelle asked, beaming up at Madison.
She shook her head. “I didn’t. But that sounds seriously cool.”
“Daddy taught me that. Right, Daddy?”
“Absolutely. Finish eating your pizza and I’ll get the fire started outside.”
“Yay.” Joelle picked up her slice of pizza and ate it, proving that motivation was a great cure-all for slow eaters.
Caleb headed out the back door and grabbed a few logs from the woodpile. He wasn’t above using a couple of Fatwood firesticks that were made from old pine stumps that produced an all-natural resin for a quick start.
Within minutes, he had the wood stacked into the shape of a teepee and a flame burning from the center, licking at the logs as it continued to grow. The back door opened, and his daughter came running toward him.
“I’m here. How do I cook a smore?” she asked, stopping all too close to the firepit.
Caleb reached out and put his hand in front of her, just in case. “First, how about backing up some? You need to be calm around a fire as one wrong move and you could get burned and it would really hurt.”
“I wouldn’t like that, Daddy,” Joelle said, shaking her head with exaggerated moves.
“Exactly. So you need to pay attention to the instructions.” Madison joined them, holding her hands out to the flames as they licked higher.
“Don’t burn yourself, Madison. Daddy says it will hurt really bad.”
“I’ll be careful. Thanks for the reminder,” Madison said, shooting Caleb a grin.
“I found a nice green twig from a long branch on the tree over there,” he said, pointing toward the large maple tree nearby. “I’ve cut off the leaves and sharpened the point. Now you just need to slide the marshmallow on the end and hold it over the fire,” he explained, holding up the stick for inspection.
“Did you use your knife?” Joelle asked, reaching out toward the knife.
Caleb nodded. “I did.” He took her hand and gently let her touch the point. “This is very sharp and also very dangerous.”
“Can I make my own stick with your knife?”
“Like I said, knives can be dangerous. So maybe when you’re about fifteen.” Caleb laughed, grinning at Madison.
“Do I need to make my own?” Madison asked, just as he handed her the other stick.
“No. I took care of both of you. Just remember, I’ve made them extra-long, so you don’t have to get too close to the fire.” Just because he was opening his heart to Madison, didn’t mean he would give up his protective ways.
“Then how do I cook it?” Joelle shifted her gaze to the bag of marshmallows and then back at him.
“Hold it over the fire and keep turning the stick until the marshmallow is nice and golden brown. Like this,” he said, sliding a marshmallow on the stick and then holding it high above the flames.
“Or you can do it my way and stick it in the fire until it flames up,” Madison said, making good on her suggestion. Within seconds, orange and blue flames licked at the soft marshmallow, quickly turning it ashy and black. She blew out the flame.
“You’re going to eat that?” Joelle asked.
“I am.” Madison slid the gooey mess off the stick and moved to sandwich it in between two graham crackers, neatly tucking a piece of chocolate next to the warm marshmallow.
“That looks yucky,” Joelle said, her face scrunched up tight. “I want to do mine your way, Daddy.”
Caleb had never understood why people would burn the marshmallow to a crisp, but he figured to each their own. “Agreed. It does look yucky.” He chuckled.
It took a while, but the first toasted marshmallow was ready. He took the stick from Joelle, and they headed to the table with the crackers and chocolate. “Watch and learn.” He made the gooey sandwich and handed it to Joelle.
“Mmmm. I love smores. Yummy in my tummy.” Joelle polished it off in record time for a slow eater. She picked up the stick and held it out. “Can I have another one, please?”
“Of course,” he said, eager to please.
