Fire

I open the door and “Fush!” a heat comes towards me, and throws me off my feet and on the floor. I scream! I am frightened. Flames are coming out of the door. The house is on fire! I scream, I burn my face; it hurts, aua, aua, aua, please help me! Anybody!?

What to do? I’m helpless, the fire is so strong, so much draft; it will destroy everything! I’m hurting , the fire burnt me.

I know I should not have opened the door. There was a strange smell in the air and I neglected it.

But also I admire the colours of the fire: yellow, red, even blue and green!
So alive! I am flat on the ground, it is hot. Please somebody come and support and help me! There is a man coming; it is my father! He is a fireman; he has a huge tube in his hands which has foam to spray to extinguish the fire. He is saving me. Thank god.

And he helps me to stand up and to put a soothing liquid on my burnt face.

Chandrika 2004