- 3.
When the fire trucks arrived, Dad rushed up.
He headed straight for Annabelle’s apartment.
I looked at Mom, fire reflecting in her eyes.
く
“Lily, who do you think your dad will save
first?”
I didn’t answer.
She already knew the answer.
Neighbors stood at a distance, watching,
gossiping.
About half an hour later, firefighters started
carrying people out.
Mom and I stood and watched.
Then, we heard a firefighter shout.
“Chief’s still inside!”
L
Mom squeezed my hand.
A few minutes later, three firefighters brought
them out, the whole family.
Someone said, “That must be his wife and
niece. Chief cares about them.
Too bad, the fire got them pretty good.
Chief got pinned by a beam. Lucky he got
them out.”
I stared at them, hate burning inside.
So, he could save people. Last time, he just
gave up on Mom!
Then, a neighbor gasped.
く
She pointed at Annabelle and Cindy. “Hey,
that’s not Lily and her mom!”
The firefighters panicked.
“Someone’s still inside? Chief’s wife and
daughter are still inside?”
The neighbor nodded, upset, and two
firefighters started to run back in.
But Dad, wincing, grabbed their legs.
He said, “Don’t, don’t go. Too dangerous.
I don’t want any more casualties.”
Mom’s hand shook in mine.
