Burnt Pancakes

Sometimes easy things are a lot harder for some people.

“Please tell me that wasn't you,” Simon pleaded. “Please tell me you didn't set the building on fire.”

I sighed. Honestly, even if he was my brother, Simon could be incredibly annoying. I couldn't see why all the girls in my grade had crushes on him. Then again, he was a senior.

“At least there was a fire this time and not just a malfunction due to rain.” I casually tried to turn the subject away from me.

“You did,” he groaned. “Michelle, what did I tell you about fires?”

“I didn't do it!” I cried. “Okay, I did. But I had a good reason!”

Simon huffed in obvious annoyance. He wouldn't think that any reason would be good enough to set a school on fire. He was such a stickler for the rules.

Simon and I were both glaring at each other when Mrs. Whittaker came over.

“It's okay, Michelle,” she said. “We'll try again next week.”

Simon's glare softened. He knew my weakness in cooking. That was the whole reason for taking Home Ec.

“You didn't,” he said. It wasn't a question.

“It was only pancakes,” I said. “It wasn't supposed to start a fire. Everyone said they were easy.”