Conditional Reality

Wildfire Pushpin’s skin turned a deep rich red every fall, matching the leaves on the maples in her backyard. For many years Wildfire was embarrassed by her condition. Then one October she built a tree house in her biggest maple and moved in. Wildfire was so well camouflaged that no one knew she was there. On Halloween night the full moon rose orange and fat. The pumpkins in Wildfire’s garden started singing. Wildfire sang with them. Her neighbors came outside and clustered around Wildfire’s tree. Wildfire invited them up for tea and cookies. OK, they said, when the song’s over.