Magpie Tale

MAGPIE TALE # 23

Willow at http://magpietales.blogspot.com/

host a weekly writing prompt

from the below photo write a poem or vignette

It now holds the door open like a good man,

the beautiful old cylinder of copper

that once held an important position 

-first defense against Hilda's cooking.

She always burnt something down there in the church's  kitchen.

But, because she was really a wonderful cook,just a bit absentminded,and no one else would take the job of church cook,

the pastor made sure that there were 3 extinguishers on hand,

and that the fire department was always made aware when the church was having its

big toodooings.

Sometimes the chief would come by to check on Hilda and she'd be very upset

that everyone thought she would actually burn down the church

but, we all knew the chief actually came by to get some of her struedel and rattle her chains a bit.

Well, it turned out that one time they really did use the old copper extinguisher

but, it was when the pastor's cigarette slipped out of the ashtray and started the carpet on fire,

and he began yelling FIRE FIRE and Hilda grabbed the canister and tried hauling it to the church offfice

but, when she got there the Chief had already arrived with 2 firetrucks and an ambulance.

Never again did Hilda have to suffer ridicule for a few potholders that had caught the flames of the stove

or a few trays of cookies that were left in the oven too long or that one pork roast that flared up in the oven sending smoke up into the sanctuary...

no, now it was pastor's extinguisher to carry around his neck.

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