It was just for one night. It was Christmas Eve night, and we were in the McGarrett mansion, visiting one of the heirs to the newspaper’s fortune. There were six teenagers ages 16-18, three girls and three boys, including Thomas McGarrett, the heir to the throne. We were only going to do a little kissing and maybe drink some mulled wine. However, even then, the boys thought that kisses meant a contract.
They employed every method to try to get us girls to give them a “present” that none of us was willing to part with, being “good” girls. The boys’ credibility was taxing our patience. When I asked to be taken home, Thomas reached out and gathered me in a hug. I grabbed a lighted candle off the mantle of the fireplace to threaten him to let go.
In the struggle, the candle lit the huge tree in the living room, and the tree went up like dried kindling. We were stunned by how quickly the fire spread. We all escaped safely into the cold, dark night, shivering from shock and fear, freezing with no coats on. We jumped into Thomas’s car and never looked back. I spent the night scared of being found out and going to jail for arson.
We learned later that by the time the firemen arrived, half of the downstairs was in flames, and all the Christmas gifts were lost. We agreed among ourselves to keep quiet about having been where we weren’t meant to be, doing what we weren’t supposed to be doing.
Years later, at our 50th high school graduation reunion, the five of us still living, only Thomas had passed away, finally spoke of our guilt and shame that the McGarrett family lost so much. But that night taught us two life lessons we never forgot. First, your life can change in the blink of an eye, without warning. And second is that one should always be clear on their intentions, so misunderstandings don’t turn into tragedies that can remain with you all of your life.
Written for the Fandango Story Starter #227: It was just one night. Fandango One Word Challenge prompt is Heir. The Three Things Challenge #MM282 prompts are Mansion, Tax, and Credibility. Ragtag Daily Prompt is Present. The Daily Spur Word of the Day prompt is Employ.
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