When Tragedy Strikes

Fire- Noun

1. A state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame.  2. A burning mass of material, as on a hearth or in a furnace.  3. The destructive burning of a building, town, forest, etc.; conflagration.  4. Heat used for cooking, especially the lighted burner of a stove:

A house fire can be a devastating tragedy.   It can leave a family without a house and belongings.  I would never wish a house fire on anyone… even my worst enemies. It can leave people with anxiety, depression, and the loss of loved ones. Unfortunately I had this happen to me and my family.

The day was April, 20^th, 2015. My day started out like any other I went to school, came home did homework, played with my niece, read and wrote. I ate a snack after school. The part I didn’t want to do was clean my room... yes it was getting to that point that I couldn’t even walk around.

I clean, vacuumed, dusted, made my bed and set out some flowers I had picked from my neighbors garden (they said I could). After I was all worn out from cleaning I sat down on my bed and to read.

Around 9 I went in my room while my sister, Elise, went to fry potatoes… we all wanted some fried potatoes.  At like 9:15 my cousin still hadn’t made them so I went out and asked why. She forgot about making them. I saw her walk into the kitchen, satisfied I went back to my room to read. Around 9:30 pm I heard my sister scream at the top of her lungs… she ran into my room yelling “GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!” I was half-asleep at the time so I just ran. As I ran out of my room I saw the big red-orange flame.

We called the fire department. “Umm guys… where are Anna and Kristoff?” My sister, Clarissa, asked. (They are our birds.) We forgot to grab them so my dad, Ben, ran into the house really fast to grab them. Keep in mind that my mom is almost 2 hours away in Warren, Ohio.

While we waited for the fire department to come, Elise and I went around asking if anyone had a fire extinguisher. No one did. At 9:35 pm the fire department finally came.  Keep in mind that they are in walking distance from my house. K By 9:45 a lot of people were at our house… old friends that we had grown apart from and new friends even some strangers. My sister was crying because she thought that it was her fault.

The fire department said we couldn’t go back and sleep in there, there was too much soot. I didn’t have any friends around... so I didn’t have anywhere to go. Luckily Clarissa’s boyfriend’s mom, Melissa or Missy. knew our family. She said I could stay with her until we get everything situated.  I stayed with Missy, Carly (Her daughter), Charles (Her husband), Clarissa, and Kaylin (my 3, at the time, year old niece.)  The fire department let Clarissa go in and get my school stuff, no clothes though.

Clarissa didn’t want me going to school but I convinced her to let me.  I didn’t have my mid-term that needed to be signed because well… I left it on the fridge. I had to explain that to my sub teacher, and she said, “Well that’s an excuse I’ve never heard before.” So I went over to my LA teacher. That explained that we really did have a house fire (she knows my family). I had to explain to everyone why I smelled like smoke.

Our landlord, Rick, end up kicking us out. That is very illegal. He has tried to sue us! That didn’t go well for him.

                I lived with Missy for 3 months... I started calling her mamas (Mua-Muhs) as in mom. I really appreciate everything she did for me.

                I got made fun of once or twice and I told them off. Telling them that a house fire isn’t funny and people could die.

                We moved into a bad school area and so now I have to go to an online school called ECOT. It is amazing but it’s not my first choice. I have adapted to online school but it was hard.

                My family still doesn’t have furniture as in like a couch or chairs. Everyone has a bed. That’s all that really matters that and having all of your family.

                The months after the fire were hard but we got through it with persistence, determination, commitment, teamwork, and family.  We are rebuilding our lives piece by piece. It will never be the same but that doesn’t matter. What truly matters is that we survived and are rebuilding our lives.