The Burn

Neel Debdutt Paul -13 Years India.

Is that my body being burnt down there? Well, I think so! I really don't remember why. Why in the world would Bill be burning a body if the body wasn't mine ... and was I not flying in mid air?!!

Yeah, it is hard for a man to give in that he is dead, specially a man who was like me who doesn't even know why he is dead, all I really remember is the house& Maybe if I went on pondering about what happened earlier, I might just learn the cause of my death.

Well, I can remember the fight, HEY! The fight! Now I remember it all about the house! The house! See - if I try, I may be able to find out the cause of my murder! So now back to trying to figure out why I am up here.

I still don't remember the reason for the fight with Bill ... oh yeah, the new house being built. I had paid for the cement, the labor, the paint, the bricks and almost every thing else that was needed to make the house. But then Bill said that he would not have me take two apartments. I needed an extra apartment. There's no way Bill can keep me from it ! He can be my partner in the building complex but he can't dictate to me, I had thought then and laughed in Bill's face. Bill had gone red with rage. But he did'nt say anything. Later, he'd said "Pal, you are stepping way out! Don't spend your money like water by building a palace for yourself .When we began building this together what was it that we had wanted ?"

"To sell this building" I replied with a surly air "To sell and be out of this city before the building collapses."

Then he smiled at me. Bill was lately looking like an rat with his sly rat smile."Pal, you gave the money to build this. All I want is the house to look good when it is finished and then re-sell it. We become millionaires pal, it cost so little to build, it'll cost a lot to sell and then you and I can blow town. No one will find us when the house collapses. Who'll know what went into building the house. So come on, pal, ease up. It's not like you're going to live here in this house of cardboard - ?"

I looked coldly at Bill and said " Suppose I've had a change of mind? Suppose I don't feel like cheating people ? Bill, I want out. I don't want to cheat on people. This house is where I stay. And another thing, I'll change my will." He stared at me. We had first planned that both of us will our portion of the house to the other, so I was on Bill's will. And Bill was on mine. But no, I wasn't going to go by plan. I would change my will the next day. I told Bill so.

But he said nothing doing, so I just told him to shut up and thats how the fight started. My memory is now getting clearer, so I think I might get close to an answer soon.

After that I left feeling pretty miserable. I returned home. I opened the door to find all the lights turned off. I went in and felt a chilly feeling inside me. Suddenly all the lights came on. I turned around and sitting there was Bill. Bill was pointing a gun at me. He said I was a pain and I tried to make him understand that he was not being reasonable. He has never been reasonable. Always the rebellious one. He said I would not make him change his mind. He said - in my will I left him a third of my property, which included the house, so my demise would be in his best interest. It was weird how people can be so ungrateful.

He stretched out his hand. There was a flash of light and a popping sound and then there was darkness.

I can't remember anything else, but life, or rather death, goes on.