Request: SuFin Family: 2006

It was early summer around the end of June. Peter just got out of school and Berwald had the day off. We decided to stay home and have a nice big lunch as a family. It was one of those mornings where you feel relaxed and carefree. Peter helped me clean the whole house yesterday, and only breaking a vase or two in the process.

Berwald was outside giving Hanatamago a bath, while Peter played with his action figures in the grass by the pool. Kiku gave Peter a whole set of those action figures even though I said he had way too many. I find one in almost every corner of the house! Even in my office on my stack of letters!

"Mummy!" Peter ran into the kitchen where I was cooking, "What are you cooking for lunch?"

"The meatballs we got from IKEA the other day," I said, while stirring the gravy.

"Really?! Yes! Did Daddy want them?"

"Of course, Peter! Daddy always wants IKEA's meatballs,"

"Did someone call me?" Berwald walked in through the patio door with a couple soapsuds on his clothes.

"Nope, no one called you," my husband nodded and left to rinse off Hanatomago.

"The gravy smells really good, Mummy!"  Peter nudged close to me to get a nice sniff of the creamy, Swedish gravy.

"It'll be ready soon, don't worry," I said patting his head.

"Hey, Mum."

"Yes?"

"Why do you get so many letters in the mail?"

"It's because lots of people—,"

"WAHHHH!!!!!!! MUMMY!!!!! MUMMY!!!!!! HELP!!!!! AHHH!!!!!!" Peter screamed. I looked over and saw his shirt on fire! He was waving his arm around like a maniac trying to put it out, but the flame just got bigger.

"AHHHH!! BERWALD!!!!! BERWALD!!!!!" I called. I didn't know what to do! The flame was too big too put it out with just a cup of water. So I had no options. My husband ran in the house. Peter wouldn't stop running around and screaming.

"Calm down now, son!!" Berwald said.

"DADDY!!!!! MUMMY!!!! DO SOMETHING I'M ON FIRE!!!!!" the fire engulfed his entire shirt by now. Berwald had no choice. He picked our son up and ran outside. I quickly followed behind them.

My husband then threw Peter into the pool to extinguish the fire. Peter swam to the surface with his burnt up shirt. I let out a sigh of relief. Berwald and I helped him get out of the pool. I wrapped him in a towel and took him to put on some new clothes. Berwald tended the gravy.

The kitchen walls were scorched black. "Mummy?"

"Yes?"

"I'm never getting too close to the stove again."