Dear Ms. Martha,

I want to tell you something that has been haunting me for many years. While you were out one Sunday morning, I snuck into your house. I knew you would be out all day since you were very involved in the church. When I was a child you left your doors unlocked, as most older people did in that town.

My parents did not allow me to cook at my house, and I wanted to learn so much, I came up with the idea to use your house. I thought your home would be a perfect place for me to learn on Sundays and you would never know. I could practice and learn while you were away all day, every Sunday. So, I waited until your friends come and picked you up for church and I snuck in through your backdoor, Fiona was there to greet me with her tail wagging. I looked around your kitchen excitedly finding apron, mixing bowls, a huge spoon for stirring; eggs, flour, extract, and oil. I mix those ingredients together, as I had seen others do when preparing a cake and at the last moment decided to add peanut butter, in hopes of making a peanut butter cake. However, peanut butter soon filled the air, making me afraid the smell would linger far too long. Yet, I do not overthink it too much, since I knew I still had hours and hours before you would return.

As cake was baking, I began getting a little hungry and decided to cook bacon and eggs. Then thought I should make toast also, so I put 2 pieces of bread in toaster. I felt I was doing an amazing job; I didn't burn the bacon or eggs; I was very proud of myself. While I waited on the cake to finish baking, I sat and ate some of the eggs and bacon, and my toast. I wrapped the rest and placed it into the pocket of your apron I borrowed, for later. Fiona began barking and I didn't know if you were returning home or someone else was trying to visit you. Searching for cause of her barking, I see a fire in the frying pan I not too long ago used for making the delicious bacon. Realizing too late, I forgot to turn burner off; but this isn't the reason I wasn't allowed to cook at home.

The pan is on fire and its stretching to cabinets above. I saw fire, and my first thought was to pour water on it. Regrettably, I learned that day, that was the WORST thing I could have done for a grease fire. POOOFFFFF! well you could probably imagine. Yet, I will elaborate, it spread everywhere and quickly. I tore your curtains down trying to slap it out, as I had seen in movies, they used cloth sometimes to beat out fire. But I didn't do that correctly either because they just caught on fire as well. In hindsight, I think I wasn't fast enough, allowing curtains to linger on fire too long before removing from flame. So, I actually made fire worse, it began crawling up your cabinets and I tossed the curtains aimlessly. Which wasn't a good idea either because it fell near your newspapers and mail. Now two rooms were on fire, and I knew I had to find help, some adults to put it out correctly. I opened the backdoor, Fiona darted out before me into backyard, with me on her heels. I yelled for Fiona to come back so I could bribe her with bacon and buy her loyalty. I shoved two floppy pieces of bacon in her face and put a finger over my lips in a shushing manner. She accepted the bacon chewing happily, Fiona liked my cooking, she gobbled it down quickly. Then I left her in your yard while I ran to payphone to call fire dept to your burning house.

After that call I got home fast, I heard later it was blamed on the homeless man that lived not too far away in the woods and he was arrested. I felt bad but I was scared because I knew I was the one that burnt half your house down. I haven't known what to do for a long time, I could not tell anyone, and the poor man that was homeless, I don't know what become of his life. Not even knowing his name. But I wanted to tell you, I am sorry I went into your house without your knowledge or permission, and your kitchen. I'm very sorry for burning half your house down. I'm sorry for getting your dog to betray your trust the with bacon strips, sorry about homeless man taking the wrap for me. I'm so sorry you had to move somewhere far away. Because you were a really nice lady, but I do want to thank you for use of kitchen, that was so fun and educational. I decided that would be my career choice, I do hope I make you proud of me. Love Always, Sandra