Answer to the Riddle

Path of solution for Saturday's riddle:

1. Try to dig up dirt with a plastic cup (no shovel) and throw it on the fire. That isn't helping, it just splashes gasoline out of the quickly melting gas can.

2. Douse ground all around the fire area, especially that wooden fence 4 feet away. Must use the two unpacked plastic garbage cans, no hose.

3. Watch the flames get higher, passing 6 feet as the top of the can melts off completely.

4. Realize that there are probably still 3 gallons of gas in that can.

5. Hope none of your new neighbors see what is happening. This would not be conducive to a warm welcome to the 'hood.

6. Call your friend Riki the firefighter. This is the first good decision of the afternoon.

7. Riki and her firefighter friends (with whom she happens to be hanging out - how convenient!) recommend throwing a wet towel over it.

8. Rummage through boxes to find a towel, then douse in the bathtub.

9. Run the towel to the backyard, throw it over the huge inferno and watch it go out instantly with a "phoomp" sound.

10. Report back to Riki that she's a genius and that it worked.