I sent this challenge out and here is my contribution to the cause. Let me know what you think. Enjoy.
Gun Smoke and Flames
The shock of the January wind that was cutting through Amanda and Dotty as they came in the kitchen was nothing compared to what faced them. The smoke detector was going off as they came in and flames were engulfing the spaghetti pot.
"Oh, my gosh, what in the world?" Amanda exclaimed as she ran toward the stove to turn the eye off.
Lee came running into the room with something Amanda could not describe clinging to his shirt. He didn't notice the two new occupants in the kitchen as he yelled upstairs, "Jamie, don't worry just let her snuggle close to you, girls like that."
"Excuse me? What in the Sam hill are you thinking, Lee Stetson? You are letting not only our kitchen burn down but you are giving our son 'snuggling tips'! I can't believe you!"
"Amanda, wait I can…" Lee started to explain, except about the fire, he didn't know about the fire but that would explain the detector beeping incisively.
Amanda stormed up the stairs heading straight for Jamie's room only to find that his door was locked. Knocking hard on the door Amanda said, "Jamie, you let me in this very minute."
Amanda had to strain to hear Jamie deny her admission to his room. "Jamie, I am not sure if you are aware of this but I am the mom and I say you have to do what I say and I say open this door!"
She felt her temper rising with her youngest son and just as she was about to pound on the door, Phillip, Dotty, and Lee were all standing watching her as she said, "Damn! James King, open this door this minute before you, Lee and whoever that girl you have in there are grounded for life!"
"Mom, aren't you over reacting? He is in there with Gun Smoke, our cat. We picked her up at the shelter today with Lee, Dad, and Carrie. Dad said we could keep her at his place but we needed to bring her here this week while their roof is being fixed at their new house. Jamie was afraid that you would be mad, especially since she didn't handle the car ride very well. We came home, Lee started dinner and while he was waiting for the water to boil for spaghetti, Jamie started screaming."
"We ran up to see what was wrong and the cat was getting sick. Jamie held the cat away from him and I got hit. I was coming down to take my shirt to the laundry room when you came in and the detector was going off. I didn't get a chance to explain what happened. Did you really think I would let either one of these two have a girl in their room and give them advice once they did?"
Amanda blushed as Jamie opened the door to show her the grey and black cat. Taking the cat from Jamie and petting her gently, Amanda shrugged her shoulders and said, "Lee, of course not, why would you think that?"