Each week in my writing group, we are challenged to respond to a writing prompt. This week the prompt involved cooking.I don't know from cooking other than that I enjoy eating. Lynn does all the cooking around our cave and she's damned good at it. Every time I arrive for dinner I say "wow". Sometimes Lynn wonders why I'm so impressed. "It's just spaghetti".

I answer that preparing spaghetti is beyond my skill set so Lynn says "well  according to  your skill set, you must be impressed by almost everything" and the truth is that I am. How do other people do all the amazing things that they do?

About the only thing that I can do is write which doesn't impress Lynn in the slightest. So here I am baffled by the simple challenge of my group. I'm supposed to be a writer at least in my own imagination.

I was thinking about this challenge while I was standing over our grill and keeping an eye on the pork chops that we were about to have for dinner.

Then it hit me.

Dude, what the hell do you think you're doing with these chops and that propane and this grill. You're cooking.

I had something to write about.

So let's go back 2.5 million years. There's a guy like me who really doesn't cook. He's never seen fire. He's just trying to breathe and breed. Simple rilly.

This practice went on for a million years or so and nobody knew what they were missing.

Then one day, a guy named Dawg was out exploring the vast landscape surrounding his cave. As he roamed through the wilderness, his senses heightened by the sights, sounds, and scents of the natural world, something extraordinary caught his attention. A nearby volcano rumbled and spewed fiery lava into the sky, casting an awe-inspiring glow across the land.

Mesmerized by the spectacle, Dawg couldn't tear his gaze away from the molten lava. His mind began to wander, and he found himself imagining what it would be like to harness the power of that mesmerizing fire. A spark of an idea ignited within him. 

As fate would have it, a curious   scurrying squirrel, happened to venture too close to the fire, perhaps enticed by the aroma of roasting nuts. In its hasty retreat, the squirrel inadvertently fell into the flames, causing an uproar of screeches and squeals.

Dawg, with his characteristic curiosity, approached the scene, both alarmed and intrigued. He watched as the flames licked at the squirrel's fur, gradually transforming it into a crispy, golden brown . The enticing smell of the cooking squirrel wafted through the air, mingling with the smoky aroma of the fire.

In that moment, an audacious thought crossed Dawg's' mind. With a bold and daring spirit, Dawg carefully used a stick to retrieve the charred squirrel from the fire. As he held the roasted squirrel in his hands, a mixture of excitement and trepidation coursed through Dawg's veins. He took a cautious bite, expecting the unexpected. And to his amazement, the flavor explosion that erupted in his mouth surpassed his wildest dreams.

The heat had worked its magic, transforming the raw meat into a succulent and tender tidbit. The charred exterior gave way to juicy, flavorful meat . Dawg's taste buds danced with delight, and he knew he had stumbled upon something truly extraordinary. With his heart pounding with newfound enthusiasm, Dawg realized that cooking with fire could unlock a world of  possibilities. He imagined his tribe savoring meals that were not only safer to eat but also tantalizing to the palate. The idea of sharing this discovery with his fellow cave-dwellers filled him with excitement and a deep sense of purpose.

Armed with his roasted squirrel triumph, Dawg returned to his cave, eager to gather his tribe and share his fiery discovery. Little did he know that this seemingly small and accidental encounter would spark an  evolutionary revolution.

Dawg was a big hit in his little cave but he was restless.

With the image of the volcano's fire burned into his mind, Dawg embarked on a mission to capture and control that transformative element. He knew deep down that if he could somehow replicate the intensity and heat of the volcano's fire, he might be able to revolutionize the way his tribe enjoyed their meals.

Inspired by the volcanic flames, Dawg set out to experiment with other sources of fire, learning how to tame the power of flickering embers, sparks, and kindling. Through trial and error, he discovered ways to coax fire into existence, mastering the art of ignition with rocks and friction.

Dawg's journey took him through countless setbacks and singed eyebrows, but his determination burned brighter than any flame.  during  these daring attempts, while coaxing fire into existence that Dawgs began to hunt for meat to throw on the flames. 

Lynn yelled out to me, "isn't the meat ready yet."

I looked at the chops.

Indeed they looked ready.

It only took a couple million years.