A Yellow Lighter (for A.H. by request)

2008... the first prose i ever wrote. We had to choose an object from a table and write about it.

A Yellow Lighter

 

 

 

I am a bright yellow lighter, fairly cylindrical with a silver head and black scarf which hangs mostly down my back. My name is Clipper.

 

Today I am sitting quietly in the kitchen of the house in which I live. The lady of the house has come downstairs to make breakfast; she usually makes a cup of tea and porridge which she cooks in a silver coloured saucepan on top of the stove.

 

She is smiling and talking to the cat as she measures out the oats into the pan, then as she tries to light the gas something goes wrong; oh dear, there is a power-cut; she fervently looks around for a box of matches, ah yes she has found them in the drawer but to her disappointment the box is empty.

 

I know that I could light the flame for her but she isn’t looking in my direction. I try to make my yellow body glow even more, and then she looks at me and smiles. She gently picks me up and takes me to the stove where she runs her thumb over and over my head, I breathe sparks the biggest ones I can muster and blow them in the direction of the gas jet. I have done it, my lovely sparks have lit a flame, and now the lady puts the pan of porridge over it, she smiles again and gives me a gentle squeeze as she puts me back on the shelf. I am still glowing, but now it is with pride.

 

The morning passes and the lady goes shopping. She comes back in the afternoon with some candles and

pretty holders; still the electricity is still not working.

 

Time for the evening meal and the rest of the family are coming through the door and complaining about the cold, dark house. The lady puts the candles in their holders and places them in the kitchen, living rooms and one on the staircase. Once again she picks me up and strokes my head and I willingly breathe sparks to light a candle from which she lights all the other candles and the stove, and she is smiling again.

 

The family are now basking in the flickering light, eating a warm meal the children’s faces all aglow. The lady thinks that she might use candlelight again, returning me to the kitchen she puts me gently down and I just know she will be stroking my head much more often.

 

© Stella Armour 2008

 

Reviews

[A.H.]

Thank you Stella for posting this on my request. Really appreciate you finding this for me and sharing it :) A BIG Thank you! Btw I like the name of the lighter - Clipper :) that's so nice for a name.

You have shared such a sweet and heartening anecdote from the past. The write is so brilliantly simple at heart and brings together a certain warmth. Many a times, this happens when you search for lights and you're out of box of matches. But then, you find a way to get your day going. Here, it was a compassionate and helping hand that you lend to the lady of the house is touching. I see a genuineness in the act of being there for her and making her day easy and warm for her family. It sure was a special candle light dinner for the family with your kind efforts. And, it must have been a happy feeling to see the family have a meal together, making it a bright day when it could still have been a darker night without any lights. You're a sweet soul, Stella! This world needs compassion and kindness stories. This sure is one! Thank you for sharing this bright, caring account from the past.

[Stella Armour]

Your poem "Matchstick" made me recall this , written before or at the the same time as my first attempts at poetry.
This is lovely and caring review A.H. I am so pleased you enjoyed reading about Clipper :)

Stella

[A.H.]

My pleasure :)

[Red Brick Keshner]

Now this brings it home to the hearth with bacon and bread to boot! Much enjoyed 🙏🏻🕊

[Stella Armour]

Thank you my friend, down to earth and imaginary as well lol.
Stella

[Red Brick Keshner]

Indeed, dear Stella; I’ve lived through quite a few power outages and as well in places and seasons where there wasn’t any electricity. So this resonates quite personally.
Frederick

[Stella Armour]

It always good to know when a poem resonates with someone , this was a first write before i even was really interested in poetry at all.
Living without electricity must make you very inventive , hard to imagine that not so long ago it didn't exist in most homes, it was candlelit meals everday..

Stella

[jacob erin-cilberto]

very clever piece. I like personifying a lighter...I like how it describes itself and the lady, and how wonderful it is to be needed. We all need to be needed...human or inanimate object.
Clipper saved the day and night for this family.
j.

[Stella Armour]

Good morning Jacob, it is strange how we all do need to connect with something or someone; a child with it's teddy bear or me with a painted picture of my old dog who died years ago but i still say "Goodnight" to lol.