Bonfire Magic

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I held two cups of coffee from the Starbucks nearby. They were the perfect temperature, and I handed one to Matt. 

"Here's you're Pumpkin Spice Latte."

"Well, here's your bonfire," he says, gesturing to the flames. "By the way, what did you get?"

"The same thing," I tell him, "Pumpkin Spice Latte is my favorite Fall coffee from Starbucks."

"Cheers to Pumpkin Spice Latte," He calls, lifting his cup to the sky. I bump my cup against his, and we both take long sips.

We stare at the flickering flames for a while. "So," Matt begins, "how's Evangeline going?"

I look at the ground "She's getting better. The doctors say she might have a chance of making a full recovery."

"Well, that's better than nothing."

A tear slips down my face, glistening in the fire's light.

"Hey, Catlin. I didn't mean to make you cry." He wraps his arms around me, hugging me, and pulls me onto his chest.

"It's ok," I say in a hoarse voice.

"She has a chance. It might be small but it's a chance, and if she can make a small chance, she can make that chance bigger, you just got to believe in her."

"But what if she doesn't make it? 9 in 10 people die."

"Evangeline is strong, she'll make it, she'll be the 1 in 10."

I shake my head to get rid of the images of Evangeline in the hospital bed. Evangeline's grave. Evangeline just gone.

"And maybe the bonfire fairies will here you if you wish something, and they will make your wish come true," I roll my eyes. Matt makes up little stories about stuff all the time.

"What's the bonfire faries," I ask, instead of pointing out that anything he says is not real.

His eyes look in the distance, as they always do when he begins to tell a story.

"Every time you make a bonfire, a bonfire fairy is born inside it. The bonfire fairy takes your deepest darkest most coveted wish, and makes it a reality, but not always, only a few people have ever seen a bonfire fairy, and even less have had their wish granted. A bonfire fairy lives by the five rules.

When you grant a wish it must be an unselfish one, and one that will help, not destroy. The chosen one and the friend must also have a pure heart and a pure soul.

 You must never show yourself to anyone but the chosen person, and the chosen person's most trusted friend.

 You must always make the chosen ones swear to secrecy.

Do not show them the Pavilion

 Whatever you do, do not, and I repeat, DO NOT break any of these rules.

"If you ever find yourself talking to a bonfire fairy, please let me now, and thank you."

Matt bows deeply, and I clap, out of impulse. 

"Good story tonight."

He beams "Thanks! I worked extra hard on it."

I roll my eyes. "I thought you made it up on the spot."

"Yeah, I did. How does that change anything?"

"Whatever. Never mind."

We don't say anything for a little bit. Finally, Matt breaks the silence.

"Weelllllll. . .What do you want to talk about now?"

I shrug. " What do you want to talk about?"

He shrugs back.

Suddenly the bonfire starts to spit out sparks. "Oh god! This place is full of dry leaves, somethings gonna burn!" I realize, my eyes widening.

But Matt stays where he is, staring at the flames, enchanted."It's the bonfire faries," He whispers above the fray, and suddenly, all the fires that were created by the sparks, fly up, and surround a figure, hovering over the bonfire.

"I am Matouw, from the House of Sparks," he says in a deep, booming tone. "I have come to grant your wish."

I stare at him dumbfounded. Now that the fire as dropped, I can see he wears a skull and crossbones t-shirt with a navy Gap sweatshirt, and jeans. He has black Nikes, white socks, and his hair is damp like he just got out of the shower.

"Ahem. Hellooo? The person that is named Catlin, who's best friend is Matt? Are you gonna say yes? Because you can't say no."

"I-I-I. . . B-b-b. . ." I stammer.

He rolls his eyes and descends from the flames. He holds out his hand. "I'm Matouw. I'm gonna make your sister alright."

I tentatively shake his hand. "O-ok."

He grins. "Check your phone."

I look at my phone. There are 3 missed phone calls from my mom, and more than a dozen text messages, proclaiming that Evangeline had recovered in record time.

I threw my arms around Matouw. "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!"

He pushes me away. "Ok, ok, no hugs. But you do have to sign this, it says you will never tell anyone else about me, or this. He hands me a pen, and I sign my name. Matt comes over and does the same.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, Matouw is gone.

I jump into Matt's arms. "Thank you! And can you check my toilet for Glubs?"

"Your welcome, but no way am I checking your toilet for Glubs. You have to do it yourself. Now, let's go check on Evangeline."

***

When we get to the hospital, my mom grabs me and shakes me roughly. "Why didn't you respond!"

"I was doing Bonfire Night with Matt." I shoulder off her hands

"Oh. That's right, but you should have come earlier."

"Can I see her?"

"Go right ahead!"

I walk into Evangeline's room. It is completely white. I go over to where she sits on the hospital bed. "Hey Angel," I say. "Nice to see you up and at it again."

"Nice to see you finally came, Cat." I groan.

"You know I hate that name!"

"Exactly!"

"Well, anyway, guess what? Mutt has more stories for you!"

"Which one is your favorite?"

I pretend to think, but my mind is already made up. "The one with the bonfire faries."

"Cool, get Mutt in here, and make him tell it to me."

"Get in here Mutt, " I shout at the door. The door opens, and Matt strolls in.

I couldn't help but eavesdrop. . ."

Evangeline groans."You are the worst, Mutt"

"Anyway, It starts like this.

"Every time you make a bonfire, a bonfire fairy is born inside it." Matt begins. "The bonfire fairy takes your deepest darkest most coveted wish, and makes it a reality. . ."