“Our house is on fire.Jenny and the kids are safe.She called the fire department already and is getting the neighbors out of their houses too.”
Konni stood.“I’ll drive.”
Forty minutes later, Mom and I stood in the road with our neighbors, watching the fire department subdue the remaining flames.Our homes were so close together that the siding on Jenny’s house was warped from the heat.
“I’m so sorry, Abbye,” Jenny said.
“Me too.Thankfully, we weren’t home, and no one was hurt.”
That same thought had rolled through my mind.
We hadn’t been home for two days.How had the fire started?Mom wasn’t the type to light candles, and I didn’t use a curling iron.Nothing had been accidentally left on.Just the normal appliances that stayed plugged in.
I lifted my phone and took a picture, sending it to my uncle and the friend chat separately.
Me:If you see the news, don’t panic.We’re safe and don’t need anything yet.I’ll let you know when we do.
Uncle Jay:Shit, Soph!I’ll come pick you up.
Me:No need.It’ll be a while.I’m sure the fire department will have questions.I promise to call when we know what’s going on.
Uncle Jay:I hate waiting.
Me:You’re better where you’re at.Stinks here and too many people.Make some money tonight!
Uncle Jay:I will.
I switched over to the group chat, which was exploding.
Wrenly:What happened?
Miranda:Were you home?
Wrenly:Where’s Konni?Is he with you?
Miranda:He better be with you!
Me:Konni’s not here.He dropped us off, and I asked him to stay away for now.Too many people and cameras.
Me:We haven’t been home in two days.Not sure what happened to cause a fire.I know we didn’t leave anything on.
Miranda:You think it’s not an accident?
Me:Too much has been going on lately for this to be a coincidence, don’t you think?
Wrenly:When I find out who’s behind all of this, Bennett is going to kill them.
I almost laughed, which would have been extremely inappropriate, given my location and the circumstances.
Miranda:He’ll need to stand in line for what’s left after Konni and then me.
Me:I’m putting on a sad face for appearances, but we didn’t lose much.Family photos are all online and I sold off my designer clothes a year ago.Anything new, I took with me to Konni’s.Same with Mom.Besides her outdated laptop, it’s just the house itself.Being poor has perks.
Wrenly:You’re not poor.Not with me around.Unlimited spending shopping spree tomorrow.
Me:(Laughing emoji).Actually, I already have that covered.Konni’s mom.We’re going to publicly prove we’re on good terms.
Wrenly:Good.
