The yellow phone on the wall started ringing.
Tommy jumped
Then ran across the kitchen and picked up the receiver
“Hello?” he said, a little out of breath.
Tommy’s father was downstairs in the basement wood shop cutting a piece of clear pine on the table saw.
The sound of the saw was screechingly loud and a big bloom of agitated sawdust was forming in the air.
Tommy’s mother was outside on the front lawn
Tending to a small flower garden
She was visibly upset about her flowers’ condition.
She was observing a black film on the stems and leaves, then trying to wipe this black substance away while running hose water on it, but it was too greasy, and the water wasn’t washing it away.
The front door opened and Tommy appeared behind his mother “Mom, there’s a phone call for you”
Tommy’s mom stood up and turned, the garden hose in her right hand shooting water.
“Who is it?” she asked.
“I don’t know. It’s a man. He said you would know what it’s about”
Tommy’s mom stood frozen for a moment and Tommy saw lines of worry racing across her face.
Something else scrambled into Tommy’s awareness, he saw that the sky was noticeably darker than usual and he saw a huge, red-orange glow moving on the horizon.
Just then, a man appeared running frantically in the street
The man yelling, “Fire is coming! Fire is coming!
Fire is coming! Fire is coming!
Fire is coming! Fire is coming!”