Banana Man (a Novella) Read Online Free
Author: Christian Blake
he’d hurt himself (and possibly burn the house down). Despite her protest, Danny made one every time he got home from school.
Beside the fireplace was a messy pile of old newspapers, and a short stack of wood and some kindling. He opened up a section of newspaper, separated the pages, and twisted the individual sheets. He cranked them nice and tight, and then unwound them a little. His dad told him they couldn’t be too tight or the fire wouldn’t be able to breathe. The flames needed oxygen.
His father explained to him on more than one occasion how to build a proper fire:
Layers Danny. A good fire starts with layers from the bottom up: first newspaper, then a pile of kindling. Then a fast burning wood, like pine. After the pine is burning hot, add a piece of oak. Make sure it’s dry though; can’t be wet or green otherwise it’ll just smoke. The oak will take a while to catch, but once it does it will burn through the night.
After creating several layers of newspaper, he piled on some kindling. On top of that Danny strategically placed several pine logs. Finally, he squirted a heavy dose of lighter fluid over everything and let it soak. Danny laughed. He remembered his dad telling him about the lighter fluid: use it but don’t tell your mother; she’ll have a heart attack and think you’ll catch the house on fire. Keep it in the pantry so she won’t see it.
Danny sprayed another shot of lighter fluid over everything. Then he set down the can and went to his bedroom.
He stripped off the rest of his wet clothes and threw them on a pile of laundry in the corner. He put on fresh everything: underwear and jeans, a sweatshirt, and socks. The dry clothes felt good against his skin. He would feel even better once he got the fire started.
Hanging on the wall in his bedroom was the first issue of Banana Man, the one his mother bought him for his birthday. A thin sheet of glass protected the first edition, and the comic was center-framed inside a wooden box. The issue was titled Banana Man: Rise of a Super Hero . The cover depicted Banana Man pinning down a pile of rough looking men with one foot while he smiled and flexed a bicep to photographers and fans.
Once he got the latest edition, he would frame it inside another box and hang it next to that one. He wanted to line the walls with this particular comic. He collected a lot of comics but for some reason this one meant a lot to him. He flicked the light off, and the darkness swallowed up his room.
Danny returned to the living room and sat down in front of the fireplace. Even with dry clothes on the chill air made him shiver, and he rubbed his arms to get warm. The cold rain had soaked him to the bone.
The storm clouds choked off the afternoon sunlight, and dim light filtered in through the windows; the day was fading faster than it should.
His dad still hadn’t come home yet but he would be there soon.
Danny grabbed one of those long and thin matches, the kind meant for starting fires from a distance. He dragged the tip against the end of the box, and the match flared up. The flame burned bright and hot in front of Danny’s eyes. It immediately started to eat its way down the wood toward his fingers. He stared at it for a moment and watched it burn, and then he gently poked the flame into a corner of the twisted newspaper. The lighter fluid ignited at once and flashed across everything. A short blast of heat followed. Danny liked it. He tossed the match into the flames. Then he swung the protective grill shut and enjoyed the heat in the darkened house.
He loved making a fire on a cold day. The warmth and the smell of burning wood made the house cozy.
The kindling crackled and popped, and soon the pine logs burned at a steady pace.
CHAPTER FOUR
The photographs
The firelight cast shadows about the darkened living room while the afternoon rain tapped at the windows. Danny
Beside the fireplace was a messy pile of old newspapers, and a short stack of wood and some kindling. He opened up a section of newspaper, separated the pages, and twisted the individual sheets. He cranked them nice and tight, and then unwound them a little. His dad told him they couldn’t be too tight or the fire wouldn’t be able to breathe. The flames needed oxygen.
His father explained to him on more than one occasion how to build a proper fire:
Layers Danny. A good fire starts with layers from the bottom up: first newspaper, then a pile of kindling. Then a fast burning wood, like pine. After the pine is burning hot, add a piece of oak. Make sure it’s dry though; can’t be wet or green otherwise it’ll just smoke. The oak will take a while to catch, but once it does it will burn through the night.
After creating several layers of newspaper, he piled on some kindling. On top of that Danny strategically placed several pine logs. Finally, he squirted a heavy dose of lighter fluid over everything and let it soak. Danny laughed. He remembered his dad telling him about the lighter fluid: use it but don’t tell your mother; she’ll have a heart attack and think you’ll catch the house on fire. Keep it in the pantry so she won’t see it.
Danny sprayed another shot of lighter fluid over everything. Then he set down the can and went to his bedroom.
He stripped off the rest of his wet clothes and threw them on a pile of laundry in the corner. He put on fresh everything: underwear and jeans, a sweatshirt, and socks. The dry clothes felt good against his skin. He would feel even better once he got the fire started.
Hanging on the wall in his bedroom was the first issue of Banana Man, the one his mother bought him for his birthday. A thin sheet of glass protected the first edition, and the comic was center-framed inside a wooden box. The issue was titled Banana Man: Rise of a Super Hero . The cover depicted Banana Man pinning down a pile of rough looking men with one foot while he smiled and flexed a bicep to photographers and fans.
Once he got the latest edition, he would frame it inside another box and hang it next to that one. He wanted to line the walls with this particular comic. He collected a lot of comics but for some reason this one meant a lot to him. He flicked the light off, and the darkness swallowed up his room.
Danny returned to the living room and sat down in front of the fireplace. Even with dry clothes on the chill air made him shiver, and he rubbed his arms to get warm. The cold rain had soaked him to the bone.
The storm clouds choked off the afternoon sunlight, and dim light filtered in through the windows; the day was fading faster than it should.
His dad still hadn’t come home yet but he would be there soon.
Danny grabbed one of those long and thin matches, the kind meant for starting fires from a distance. He dragged the tip against the end of the box, and the match flared up. The flame burned bright and hot in front of Danny’s eyes. It immediately started to eat its way down the wood toward his fingers. He stared at it for a moment and watched it burn, and then he gently poked the flame into a corner of the twisted newspaper. The lighter fluid ignited at once and flashed across everything. A short blast of heat followed. Danny liked it. He tossed the match into the flames. Then he swung the protective grill shut and enjoyed the heat in the darkened house.
He loved making a fire on a cold day. The warmth and the smell of burning wood made the house cozy.
The kindling crackled and popped, and soon the pine logs burned at a steady pace.
CHAPTER FOUR
The photographs
The firelight cast shadows about the darkened living room while the afternoon rain tapped at the windows. Danny
Readers choose
John Dechancie
S M Reine
Barbara Delinsky
John Ed Bradley
Penelope Lively
Rebecca Brooke
Robyn DeHart
Sasha Gold
juliet blackwell
Jillian Hart