THE LIVING FLAME 

By Tessa Harvey

    Ernst came down the garden path, slouching a little. Eliana came running out to meet him. "Hi Ernst!" She seemed very happy.

    "Why are you laughing?" he asked, grumpily. "Because your sister is following you and so is Staria Bordman. Eliana, Staria and Daria. It's so funny! Sounds like bells."

"Huh!" Ernst looked round. Two little girls were giggling, peering around the cropped box hedge. One was dancing up and down near him. He groaned. Three awful little girls!! 

    Mr. David Alfonso came out. "Come on girls. Go to the kitchen and help my wife fix breakfast. Ernst and Peter can have theirs upstairs in peace. Go on, go!"

    He clapped his hands. Pushing each other, the three girls ran inside. Relieved, Ernst went to see Peter.

    "Sorry mate!" Peter leaned over the small landing stair rail. "Come on up."

    A few minutes later, both boys were balancing full plates of warm buttered toast. The breakfast tray also held containers of honey, jam, peanut butter and fruit. The boys devoured it all, hungrily. 

    "Well," said Ernst, "I got offered the job of Youth Leader as you are, er, not well."