Oona’s Button of Sparks — Every evening before the Thanksgiving supper bell, Oona lined up three candles on the brick mantel, tucked leaves around the pumpkins, and polished a plain brown coat button she kept in her pocket. Read the full story →
Every evening before the Thanksgiving supper bell, Oona lined up three candles on the brick mantel, tucked leaves around the pumpkins, and polished a plain brown coat button she kept in her pocket. It had fallen from her first handmade apron, and she rubbed it whenever she wanted an idea to click. Until one day, the fire popped so loudly—piff! pock!—that ash freckles jumped onto the hearth and Aunt Len’s best acorns rolled under the candles.
Because of that, Oona grabbed wire, a bent spoon, and her button, building a tiny spark-keeper with wobbly wings. Because of THAT, the sparks hit the spoon, spun in circles, and made the little birds on the mantel chirp like they’d heard the funniest joke in town. “Hold still, you fizzy fleas!” Oona laughed.
Finally, she stitched her button to the handle, gave the gadget one proud twist, and the next pop became a neat golden wink. If you peek along the mantel, can you spot the spot where Oona’s button of sparks first made the fire behave?
