It’s a really gloomy day on the way back home. I sit on the couch in front of the T.V. and I’m eating a delicious bowl of cereal, Count Chocula, my favorite. The clock says 2:30. Wow. Where did the time go? I’m really tired now and I think it’ll be a perfect time to catch a nap. Wait a second where’s that smoke coming from? Is it from my room? That was the start of the worst day of my entire life.
I opened the door to my room and it was full of smoke. So thick you can’t see a step in front of you. My parents were keeping a cat in the bedroom because my sister rescued it from being beaten at a gas station. I could hear him crying. I ran as fast as I could outside to open the window to the bedroom, hoping the cat could somehow see the light to escape. I got back in the house to try to call 911 but the phones were already dead. There was no time to get a fire extinguisher because the fire and smoke was so advanced through the house. Because our homes down a long driveway in the woods I had to run to the top of the driveway. Surprisingly, none of our neighbors were home. Barefoot and crying, I run up my street hoping to find anyone to help me. A black truck stopped and a man asked if I was ok. I told him the situation in a panicked out of breath voice. He called the fire department and my mom at work.
As I was sitting in the truck, I looked to my house and I saw was the blackest smoke over the tops of the trees. I kept repeating to myself, “No, No, this cant be happening.” Five fire trucks and numerous people later, I realized it was all gone. Everything was gone. My mom’s best friend was the one who told me about my beloved dog, Brooke. She was 14 and had poor eyesight. He bones were weak and she sometimes needed help to get around. We all loved her more than anything in the entire world. She was outside by the dryer that was against the house. Because of the electricity blowing out, the dryer caught on fire, with her next to it. I guess I thought that she would always be around, no matter what happened.
It was that night when we all realized that we were really homeless. Although we had an offer to stay with friends that night, what would we do in the future? Everything we treasured was gone. My mothers baby grand piano, my father’s grandfather clock, all gone. My homecoming was the next day and I had nothing. Although my parents encouraged me to stay home the next day, I told them that I wouldn’t miss my homecoming parade and dance that next night. After a tear-filled day at school, and a parade to lift my spirits, it was time to go “home”. I found out that my sister went shopping all day to find another homecoming dress that looked like my old one. It made my night perfect.
Most people my age never have to go through something like this. Although people were being exceptionally generous to us, nothing was the same, nothing was really our own. Going through something of this measure can really change a person and teaches you not to take anything for granted. My new life will hopefully start soon at college in the fall. Who knows what the future may hold, but I know I’ll be ready.