I’m reposting this photo prompt because the inspiration it gave me for the beginning of a story is one of my favorites. What’s the mystery behind the fire? Here’s what I wrote six years ago:
*****
Even though me and Jace stood like a football field away, we could still feel the heat of the fire that ate up the caretaker’s building in the Union Cemetery.
Lots of people had come into the cemetery to watch: Father Mihalic, Mrs. Hudson, who worked as a janitor at our school, mean, old Mr. Olsen, Mayor Coleman, some other kids on their way to the middle school.
Jace elbowed me. “Did you see the mayor?”
“I ain’t blind. Nobody can miss him.”
He was closer than anybody to the fire, except the firefighters, walking fast, back and forth, shouting if they were sure Mr. Delaney hadn’t been in the building.
“Mayor Coleman’s acting real upset,” said Jace. “Do you think he’s scared he killed Mr. Delaney when he set fire to the place?”
I tried to remember what we’d seen in the early dawn when we’d left the house because Dad had finally come home.
I shook my head. “I think he’s scared he didn’t.”
*****
What mystery does the photo inspire for you?
Here are more mystery writing prompts.
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