Sunlight scattered gold across the park as Isabella walked beside Jimena. They passed waving trees, bright flowers, and a pond glittering like glass. At the sidewalk, Jimena pointed toward her house. Isabella followed, her shoes tapping a cheerful rhythm.
Inside, Jimena opened a small box and lifted out a candle and matches. “Let’s pretend we’re camping,” she said. Isabella watched as Jimena struck one match. PFFT! The flame sprang up, and Isabella laughed at the sudden spark.
They placed the candle near a curtain and crouched beside it. The little flame flickered like a campfire in a pretend wilderness. Another match flashed. Then the curtain caught with a sudden whoosh, and the alarm shrieked overhead.
Jimena grabbed a blanket, and they pushed it toward the flames. The blanket flapped up like a startled ghost, then landed across a chair. Smoke curled along the ceiling. Isabella shouted, “Fire! We need help!” and moved away from the burning curtain.
They dropped low beneath the smoky air and crawled toward the door. Isabella kept her face close to the floor, where the air was clearer. Together, they reached the sidewalk and hurried to a neighbor’s phone. Isabella called emergency services while Jimena pointed toward the house.
WEE-OOO! Sirens rolled down the street. A fire truck stopped, and firefighters hurried toward the house with hoses. Isabella and Jimena stood far back beside the neighbor. A powerful stream of sparkling water struck the burning room, and the flames shrank.
The firefighters checked every room while the last wisps of smoke drifted away. Isabella stood safely outside with Jimena and watched the hose coil on the pavement. She thought, “Matches are never toys. If I see flames, I must tell a trusted adult right away.”
Later, Isabella and Jimena drew a bright red fire-safety poster with crayons. They pictured a crossed-out match, a ringing phone, and children moving outside. The real matches stayed locked away in a high cabinet while their poster dried in the sunshine.