The Five-Alarm Flake

You thought a little heat would make me pass out? That sounded like an open wager! I marched straight across the kitchen table toward that breakfast plate, eyeing a solitary fiery red chili flake clinging to a strip of crisp bacon. I dabbed my gloved fingertip against it, puffed out my chest, and gave it one brave taste. Whoa nelly! It felt like a rocket engine igniting in my mouth! My heels started tapping a furious double-time against the cork placemat, but did I faint? Not on your life! I lunged forward, snagged a stray ice cube right beside the water glass, and clamped down until the smoke cleared. Challenge accepted, and challenge won!