A foot of Fire

"Hey, for those who don't know me, I'm Tony Romànado. And I'm going to tell ya 'bout a town called Horse heads, New York." I said in my Mexican- punk accent.
"Every town is made of legends, but, hey bo', I think this one's just made of nuts. One example is this hom'e, Tuck. He is the strangest guy in town. He used to be the coolest adult I knew. He was friendly, but not too friendly; he was helpful but only when you wanted his help; and he never seemed to get in the way. He was so perfect he was freaky.
"It all started about a year ago. This other guy, Frank McTee, he was working at this electric station, right. It was right behind Tuck's place, and Frank fell. If Tuck hadn't been there Frank would've died for sure. But, Tuck had a knack for bein' there when help's needed. He saved the day, only to loose balance himself and fall onto the generator."
"Did he die?"
"This where it gets freaky, man. Yea, hundred volts later. he was still kickin'. Some how, he was saved. Some say 'by the grace of god.' But I don't think it was grace that saved him man, 'cause he was never the same after that. He kept going off on these long conversations with no one, and he kept walking into doors and stuff like that. Some say the electricity rattled his brains, but I think there's a little more to it than that. Ever since then I've gotten a little chill when I walk by him."
"D'you mean you've seen him?" Spence asked.
"Of course, man, you see, he acts normal except for his mind is like some where else."
"Great story, did ya make it up?" Joey said, obviously hinting that I was starting to lie.
"Na, friend told it to me," I said to Joe. (Then turning to the kids,) "On a night just like this one."
"Is there any more to it?"
"No." I lied.
"Right, man." Joe chuckled (he had been there too).
"Funny, the fire looked exactly the same then, as it does now."
"Don't think too hard on it."
"Even the wood is piled the same."
"Tony?"
"Then the wolves howled."
"STOP IT!!!" (Joey shouted this suddenly; everyone jumped an inch.) "You're scaring the little kids" Joe said, nodding his head towards the huddled and shaking mass of five- year-olds.
"Sorry," I said, not really meaning it, "Well, I've got to go. Nature calls and everything."
I took a little stroll through the woods while Joe started a story about parental blocks. "500 channels and nothing to watch!!!" He said in a way overdramatic voice.
I kept walking, thinking about that story. I did know the other half; I just didn't want to know. It sent shivers up my spine, and I never get scared. Imagine what it would do to a little five-year-old. So I.

Something interrupted my train of thought. It was a figure, moving through the bushes. From what I could see, he was a lean and clean-cut man of about 23 years old. At the moment, he was looking for something, ignoring me completely.
"There you are." He said, crouching to pick something up. "See better now? Mr. Brunswick?" (Talking to midair) "Oh, you're welcome. Anytime." He smiled. Then, he turned towards me and froze. I knew who it was. It was Tuck. I'll never forget that face. It wasn't a scared or a petrified face; it was a calm and knowing face. Yet, I could see a terror in his eyes, an indescribable terror, as he whispered one word: "You!"
The next day, I and Joey were the first ones to wake up. We both went over to the lake and I told him all about what happened last night, in the woods.
"You remember what it means, don't you!"
"Yea, that's what scares me," I said.