Fire

I flicker and I dance, sending wiggly shadows all around. I whisper with a soft crackle and sometimes I shout with a loud POP. If you come close, I share my warmth, but you have to be careful not to touch. I can turn a hard, crunchy vegetable into a soft, yummy meal and I can make marshmallows gooey and delicious. In the dark, I am a bright and cheerful friend, chasing the scary shadows away and making everything glow. I can be as tiny as the light on a candle or as huge and powerful as the sun in the sky. Have you guessed who I am yet. I am a wonderful, powerful thing. I am Fire.

My friendship with people started a very, very long time ago, maybe even over 1 million years ago. Early humans, called hominins, would see me in the wild. Sometimes a bolt of lightning would strike a dry tree, and suddenly, there I was, roaring and bright. At first, they were scared of me. I was wild and big and they did not understand me. But soon, they grew curious. They saw how I kept the cold away and how other big animals stayed away from my light. They learned how to capture a little piece of me, maybe a burning branch, and carry it carefully back to their caves. They learned to feed me sticks to keep me alive. Then, about 300,000 years ago, they made an amazing discovery. They figured out how to make me themselves. They learned that by rubbing two sticks together very fast, or by striking two special stones together, they could create a spark. I wasn't just something they found anymore. I was a friend they could call on whenever they needed me.

Once people could create me, I helped change the world. When they used my heat to cook their food, it became much safer to eat and full of energy. This amazing change helped their brains grow bigger and smarter over a long, long time. I gave them light so they could see in the dark, which meant they had more time to make tools, tell stories, and be with their families after the sun went down. I became the heart of their homes, a warm and cozy place where everyone gathered. Even today, I am still your helper. I warm your home through the heater, I cook your dinner on the stove, and I even help power the cars that take you on adventures. I am the tiny, dancing light on a birthday cake, holding a secret wish. I am a very old and powerful friend, and I am always here to help you shine.