That girl was nuts!
If Ol’ man Corbet had seen me he would have marched right down to my house.

When I first started burning fires in the backyard, it was Corbet that had come down the alley to rage at my parents, forcing them to sit out with me, and the fire, babysitting, for weeks. He hadn’t seen who did it, but he was probably going to frame me anyway.

I entered my house.
“Charlie!” I was accosted by my mother just inside the back door. “Do you know anything about a burning dog house? And don’t lie to me Mister, Corbet’s already called.”

Now I had to decide how much of the truth to tell. The thing about Mom, she values the truth over anything. She would defend me to the grave, if she knew I told the truth.

“Yeah, but it wasn’t my idea! That girl next door made me do it.”
“Made you? Did she dare you?”
“No.”
“Well, you’re too old for that anyway. Did she bet you?”
“No.”
“Gambling’s evil, so.. you must want to impress her! Oh! Is that it?!”
“No!” I went to my room.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about her.