Fire Marshal Elijah

I was reminded that Elijah is still learning some valuable life lessons...so am I for that matter:

Eddie and I were sitting back watching TV when Elijah calmly comes in the front door from playing outside and says, (very calmly if I may say so myself) "Mom, there is something not good going on outside."

"Oh really, what is it Elijah?" I admit I was 1/2 way paying attention -- they were about to catch the fugitive on U.S. Marshals and I was into it.

Again calmly taking off his shoes and coat, "Well this boy was playing with a lighter and we told him to stop , but he kept playing with it (FULL attention is now given to Elijah). Well he was playing and playing and we just kept riding bikes and then he started a fire and the fire got bigger and bigger. I mean it is really big, Mom........like from here all the way to the other side of our kitchen!"

"Is the fire still going on right now, Elijah?"

"Yes, it is!"

These 2 shots are NOT duplicates of the same spots -- the entire damaged spot would not fit into one frame.
After 90 minutes of the fire department, police interviews, first sergeant briefings......Eddie and Elijah returned. Elijah did NOT start the fire, but he was aware that the boy was playing with the lighter and chose to continue to ride his bike around it.

Here are the lessons we discussed afterwards:

1. Elijah has been on a kick of lying about things. I have told him that when he lies it causes people not to believe him when he is actually telling the truth on big things. This was a BIG thing!

2. Choose your friends wisely! You will be grouped with the people you choose to hang out with - even if you may not be guilty.

3. If you KNOW something is not right or unsafe - don't passively comment about it - DO something about it. It wasn't enough to say that the action was unsafe - he needed to say it with authority or get an adult.