Charlie was a kindly soul he wished no one harm; he preferred the title ‘Gentleman of the road’ rather than tramp. He delighted in the open air even when the weather was inclement and other mortals were making for their warm cosy houses. Charlie knew when each village had their festivities and he would turn up for free food and drink.

As bonfire night was drawing nearer Charlie needed to organise his visits because he knew if he was very careful he could visit several parties over the space of a week. Hailing End was always his favourite village he was always assured of a great welcome he felt he was apart of this community. He would be given a bed at the village hall if the weather was too bad. Mrs Green would fetch him some hot food and several other kindly villagers would provide him with new boots and clothes. Charlie couldn’t want for much more.

He arrived early evening and the whole of the village was shrouded in a low swirling mist coming down from the hills. He could see lights on in the cottages and as he passed Mrs Green’s he was about to knock but decided not to disturb; he carried on towards the village green. The few street lights in the village revealed an enormous bonfire; the biggest he had seen for a long time. There was dampness in the air from the mist and he thought he felt the odd drop of rain. He pulled back a few branches and tunnelled into the bonfire for some shelter. Rather than being disturbed he put the branches back in place and pulled his coat tightly around him and lay down. He wasn’t the only living thing keeping shelter from the weather he could make out a couple of hedgehogs searching for tasty morsels and a fox which put it nose right up to Charlie, it froze and then darted off back across the green. Charlie knew there would be no festivities tonight so fell into a deep sleep.

Several hours later Charlie was coughing from inhaling a large quantity of smoke. He could feel heat all around him and it took him a moment to realise where he was and what he had foolishly done. His screams for help were drowned by the sound of delighted villagers watching the guy burning on top of the bonfire and the loud rockets whooshing into the night sky. Charlie thrashed around trying to get out but his exit was impeded by burning wood.

Charlie was found later that evening in the smouldering ashes. It was a small child who first noticed and raised the alarm. The festivities were brought to an abrupt halt. Children were taken away from the area; the police cordoned off the area. Mrs Green was being comforted by friends as she looked down at the remains of poor old Charlie and blamed herself. She had seen him pass her window and was going to call out to him but was just too busy. She sobbed as the body was being removed ‘He was my husband.’