“I don’t mind.” After I deposited it by the street, I moved to the door. I lived above a laundromat which Mrs. Mayne owned. She lived across the street in a small house alone. Her husband had died a decade ago, and she was adamant about having no time for anyone else.
“Well, it’s gonna be a cold one this evening, so bundle up.”
“Will do.” I rushed up the stairs to shower and change. I had a shift tonight, and the bar was a bit of a trek.
I didn’t own a car because there were bus stops everywhere. Worst case scenario, I’d hop on one.
I showered, dressed, grabbed a banana and granola bar that I’d eat on my way, locked up, and made my way to Kaleidoscopes. It was cold, but I didn’t feel the biting pain others did in weather like this. The coolness on my cheeks was nice. But I had to watch for frostbite, so I pulled my beanie down to covermy ears, yanked up the scarf to cover my nose and mouth, and made sure my gloves were on tight.
I was about to turn left onto Broadway, where I’d have to walk three blocks to the bar, when I heard a shout to my right. From the distance I could see orange flickers and a yellow glow, and a sudden breeze brought the scent of smoke confirming it was a fire.
Without thinking I ran toward trouble, ignoring the tsking in my head that sounded like Tenny.
This was a fancier street, nice homes, but one stood out more than others. It was a cream-colored two-story classic colonial, and it was ablaze.
Everyone on the street was gawking—most on their phones, likely…hopefully calling 9-1-1. My eyes flickered to the front, where a woman was dragging a man’s limp body out the door.
“Help!” she screamed, and I ran to her as fast as I could. I bent and hoisted him over my shoulder and got him as far away from the house as I could.
She then turned and was about to go back into the house. I grabbed her arm.
“What are you doing?”
“The kids! My son, niece, and nephew.” Tears streaked her smoke-painted face.
I glanced up and sure enough, three sets of eyes were on the second floor staring at us, wide and terrified. The tallest child was shouting through the broken window. Where the hell was the fire department?
“Stay here. I’ll get them.”
“What! No, who the hell are you?”
“Please, ma’am. Stay here and help him.” I gestured to the unconscious man with the head bleed. “I’ll get the kids.”
I didn’t give her a chance to argue. I saw one of the neighbors wrapped in a blanket. “I need that, now.”
She didn’t fight me; she handed it to me. I quickly grabbed the hose and drenched it in water, wrapped it around myself, and like the fool I was, ran into a stranger’s house to rescue people I didn’t know.
The stairs were intact, and I raced up them. “Call out!” I shouted.
“Here, in here.”
I made my way down the hall toward the only closed door. I pressed my palm to the wood—it wasn’t hot—and I kicked it in. Three kids were by the window. One appeared to be about eight or nine, but the other two couldn’t be older than five. There was no way they could jump from here, and from the outside I didn’t see any way they could climb.
“Come here.” I ordered. Thankfully, they didn’t hesitate. I looked at the older boy. “This blanket is cold and wet, and it’ll protect you from the flames, but we have to be fast. Wrap yourself and your siblings in it.”
“Cousins,” he corrected as though now was the time.
“Fine, cousins. Wrap yourselves.” I turned to the little girl. “Your job is to hold the loop of my pants. The three of you don’t let go of each other, follow behind me. Don’t stop, keep your heads down, just move. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” the older boy and the girl shouted at the same time while the little boy nodded.
“Good. Let’s get out of here.”
I turned and left the bedroom. The fire was climbing the stairs at this point, and there was no chance we’d get out that way without it turning us into ash.
“There are side stairs by the guest room that way.” The older boy pointed.
I nodded and made my way there. The tug I felt told me they were still with me. It wasn’t as smoky here, but I knew thatwouldn’t last. At the far end of the hallway was another stairwell. Fortunately, it was free of fire.
