Lachie and the Slow Fuse

Lachie Bell is the only boy in a house with three sisters, and when Dad heads off for a fortnight's fencing job out west, he leaves Lachie with one big job: look after them. Lachie decides that means being tough, loud, and quick to jump in whenever anyone needs defending.

There's just one problem. Lachie already has a short fuse, and a cracked window, a shove into the sandpit, and a big sister who didn't actually need rescuing all prove that his idea of protecting isn't working the way he hoped.

It takes a phone call from Dad, two verses carried on a small card, and a very real moment down at the creek for Lachie to realise that being the man of the house was never about who shouts the loudest or throws the first shove. It's about being steady enough that people feel safer around you, not more scared, just like the words Dad shares with him: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (James 1:19) and "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self control than one who takes a city." (Proverbs 16:32)

A funny, heartfelt story for boys about anger, patience, and what it really means to protect the people you love.