BARBEQUE, ME N' YOU

'Dude, this is like the world's greatest barbeque BO, man!' exclaims J.Z. as the gang sniffs the scene; dusk wafting with smoke and sparks. The whole town is barbequed.
Vidoo and I disperse firecrackers and glo-stix, while virtuoso MC Eddie raps a 'Bar-Yok-Hey' piece.

'I can juggle fireballs,' Freddie informs us.
'We don't care,' Benny replies diplomatically.
'But I really can, wanna see?' he steps towards the furnace.
Benny drags him back. 'Not now. You may use your cigarettes later.'
Freddie shoots me an imploring look, and I smile dazzlingly. 'Some talents better remain a legend, you know.'
'Hell yeah,' reiterates Mac. 'Imagine if Eddie ever went on air.'
'Oy vey,' I conclude as they hurtle unto the ashen ground, calling fair vengeance.

'I would love to die on this,' Vidoo points at the largest bonfire yet, a roaring brute of tires and school-benches. 'Burnt at stake,' she rolls the words on her tongue.
'I'd wanna die without needing salsa,' says Eddie, offering her a marshmallowed stick.
Suddenly I see the moon right behind the fire, camouflaged due to its flaming color. It's low, orange, and huge, slightly oval and disturbingly dimensional. I grab Vidoo's sleeve, speechless for a minute.
'Holy shiatsu!' hisses Mac appreciatively. 'Beastly!'
Earth becomes very quiet, and all I hear is the echo of crackling flames and the slow rise of the moon. A moon so violently golden, so pockmarked, like a burnt skull.
Houston, we have a problem.

Quick head count. And again.
'Ben, come here.'
I hear sirens. I know they are fire trucks, but premonition hits me like broken water.
'Dana, where the hell is she? She has a fear of fires.' As well as impulsive and self-harming.
We climb on a curb fence, scrutinizing the crowd, finalizing that Dana isn't present. Benny jumps down, instructing, 'Don't ask the kids. They'll get worked up. I'll go back to her dorm, and call you from there. Alert 2 counselors.'
He snatches Freddie's skateboard and kicks off. There is no way he could catch a taxi on these crowded streets.

Dana is the youngest child of an alcoholic father.
There is a twist to his personality: he happens to be a pyromaniac. Not the sort who get high on birthday-cake sizzlers. Upon dissipation, he would examine items with fire. It could be his dinner, dog or daughter's hand.
She developed a drinking habit early, together with pressing cigarette butts against her skin when stressed. Generally, she is a docile, passive girl who rarely commits to a decision with the same ferocity as her drug of choice: combustion.

A counselor contacts me, saying that Dana had a little incident, but Benny says it's all under control, should I be kind enough to get back soon, they'd love to see me. I call another counselor, asking him to supervise the bonfire-hoppers, and catch a ride to the dorm.
Dr. Patty is chain-smoking on the porch, with her favorite MDA crew. I rush to the kitchen, following a bloody trail.
Dana is bald, wrapped in a blanket huddling against Benny, who never touches a girl but must've bent his rule to adjust another. His arms wrapped tightly around her, he motions with his chin back to the porch.
'What happened?' I ask Patty.
'Slashed wrists. Nearly mutilated her scalp. Caught on act pretty early,' she smiles at me. I thank God for the moon. 'She's fine, just shocked. Apparently, Ben said she has Arsonphobia?'
I nod. 'We should've remembered it. Jesus, what neglect. We should've taken it into account, like potential asthma attacks.'
'What are you afraid of?' she asks, dragging on her cigarette.
'Malls and shopping centers,' I answer, perplexed.
'Imagine you took that into account every time you went out.'
'I'm different! I don't count,' I exclaim. 'But Dana is my responsibility.'
'Don't mention that word to a commissioned doc, ok sister?'
I nod.

Back in the kitchen, Benny rubs her fresh stubble. Her arms are bandaged and she's shivering.
'Hey Dan, nice 'do,' I say softly.
She looks up. 'Sorry, May.'
'Oh no, I'm sorry. We should've remembered. It's a bad day.'
'I like the bonfires,' she says. 'I looked at them from the window when my blood flowed. They aren't little flames of hatred.'
I clutch her hands firmly. She inhales the heady air, and continues. 'They're big and warm. They're like you two, they don't intend any harm. They like to party. They're beautiful. And just when I realized that, I also realized I'm going to die.'
Benny looks at me over her head, and we realize we can never express our appreciation for such a tribute.