I later learned that the smoke billowing out of those shops was so thick and the fire so hot, the fire trucks could not get within a hundred yards. As a bonus, the school building itself was in flames. The horrendous stink of it was overwhelming to the point that people several miles downwind evacuated their homes for the day.
Clothes hanging out to dry had be washed and rewashed for the smell and soot. Farm animals were protesting loudly in their pens.
As a diversionary tactic to occupy everyone’s attention, it was a beautiful thing—although I am quick to admit, a bit overdone. I had no idea what a huge thing I was setting in motion.
We all had those over-the-head Halloween masks—Darryl as a pirate, J.C. Frankenstein, and Larry a gorilla. I was Tweedy Bird. From that point it was suppo
