Back Porch

Back Porch

When they were about 5, 7, and 8, Jimmy Richard and Betsy were playing in the little enclosed porch off the back door.  We would keep newspapers and stuff out there.  We had safety matches.  In the olden days safety matches would only light on the box.  We would take a match and run out back and try to light it on the floor of the porch.  When it didn't work, we would run put the match back in the box and get another one and try again.  All of sudden, one of them lit and caught fire on the newspaper.  I'm not exactly sure what happened after that but Betsy ran to her cousin's house and didn't come back until the fire engine came.  Richard and Jimmy kept telling my mom that Betsy was here too but she denied it.  I don't think the truth really came out until a family reunion 30-40 years later.