Nadine Hinshaw

The Burning Bush Nadine Hinshaw

A burning bush has appeared over night in Leonard Cooper's back yard in Escondido, California. He has no easy explanation for its appearance. One of his neighbors, Digger Tyson, has become very worried about the sparks that are flying all over the place, fearing they might land on his new roof and cause his house to burn down. He enlists the aid of another neighbor, Dr. Ronson, and they try unsuccessfully to extinguish the flames. Digger's children and their dog like the fire, and they loudly plead with the men to leave it alone. Other neighbors have gathered, and they too like the fire and want the men to stop trying to put it out. Since all their efforts have failed, the men give it up and sit down to rest. Cooper orders barbecue and beans for everyone, and they have a grand picnic. Dr. Ronson decides that he wants to have the burning bush in his own yard, and makes a huge attempt to move it. In spite of his efforts, the bush remains firmly planted where it was. The doctor goes home, an unhappy man who refuses to eat barbecue with his neighbors. He returns later and makes a very generous offer to buy Cooper's house and lot, thereby gaining possession of the burning bush that way, but Cooper was not willing to sell at any price. Doctor Ronson felt that Cooper must have a price that he could not refuse, so he went home to discuss with his wife the possibility of borrowing a million dollars from his family to offer Cooper for his house. Everyone else went home after cleaning up the litter in Cooper's yard, and thanking him for the barbecue. Left alone with his burning bush, Cooper stood before it, speaking to it as if to a human, thanked it for coming and for making his neighborhood more friendly. He told the bush that it could stay as long as it liked. The bush shot huge sprays of sparks into the yard, as if accepting the invitation. During the night, the bush brought a delightful surprise to all who loved it, as well as to the one who had feared it.