The Fire Next Door

[Dreamer]

by Jim Sherman--Grangerland, Texas

from Guideposts Magazine (I was feeling sorry for myself--blind, out of work
and no use to anyone, until...

THE FIRE NEXT DOOR

One night last summer, my neighbor Debbie came over and knocked on my door. "I'm leaving for work, Jim," she said. "Would you mind dropping by my house in a bit and checking on my mother?"

"Not a problem," I said.

I'd lived next door to Debbie and her 84-year old mother, Nan, for about six months, and we'd become fast friends. Debbie worked the overnight shift at a nursing home. She worried about leaving her mom alone, so she asked if it was okay if she rigged up one of those baby monitors and gave me a receiver. I said, "Sure, why not?"

I was glad to help. But I also felt a little funny about it. After all, what could I do? I've been blind since infancy and out of work for years. In fact, at 54, I'd come to wonder if I had much value anymore. I didn't like having those thoughts and would ask the Lord to help me fight the thoughts off. Still, sometimes they got the better of me.

A bit after 9:00 p.m. I grabbed up my cane and headed over to Debbie's. 'Evening, Nan," I said, as I felt my way into the living room. Nan didn't answer. Maybe she hadn't heard me. Like me, she was blind--and was also hard of hearing. Quite a pair, the two of us! I made my way toward the sound of her creaking rocking chair. She was cooing to her apricot-colored poodles, Bevo and Biddler. It sounded like they were trying to jump up onto her lap.

"Oh, you get down now, you silly little fools," she said, with a laugh.

Nan and I chatted for a bit. After a while I punched the button on my talking watch; "The time is nine forty-five."

"If you're okay," I said, I think I'll turn in." Before I left, I made sure the baby monitor was plugged in and working.

"Goodnight, Nan," I said. I picked up my cane and headed out the door.

"See you tomorrow," Nan called behind me, still playing with her dogs.

I locked the door and found my way home. I plunked down into my easy chair, switched on the receiver and laid it on an end table. Checking in on Nan had done me a world of good. "Thank You, Lord," I said, "for giving me a chance to help."

Minutes later I heard a sound--over the years my ears have grown supersensitive. It was Nan on the receiver. She was shuffling across the floor. A door opened. Then I heard something strange, something I couldn't identify. It sounded like 'shusssssss'. Had she turned on the shower? Why? She never showered without Debbie around. Maybe the sound was something els. The gas jet on the stove? God forbid, something catching fir? The monitor was one-way. I coudn't call her. I reached for my cane.

More sounds. A door closed. Tapping sounds, like someone feeling her way around, someone who'd lost her bearings. I got out of my chair.

Then a loud, unmistakeable crash. I headed for the door. "Jim! Jim!" I heard over the monitor. "The house is on fire! Help!"

I went as fast as I could to Debbie's. I had to get Nan out. But how? How big was the fire? And where had it started? I wasn't even sure where Nan was, let alone how I would ge to her. One thing I knew: There wasn't much time.

To be continued....

 

[Dreamer]

I got to the front door. I could smell smoke, a heavy, thick smell. 'Now what? What do I do, Lord? Help me. Help me find Nan!'

I put my hand on the doorknob. It was cool to the touch. I reached for my key and unlocked the door. "Nan!" I called. No sound. Nothing. Was I too late?

'Here, Jim. Help!" Her voice was weak.

I felt my way inside. I could hear the roar of a fire from somewhere in the rear of the house. Smoke stung my nose, as if my nostrils were on fire.

'Keep talking, Nan!"

'Here, Jim, here!" 'Sounds as if she's right in front of me.' I flailed my arms about, hoping to find her. Sweat poured down me. I heard crackling. Not much time left. The fire, wherever it was was getting closer.

I reached out desperately. My fingers struck something soft. Her shoulder.

'Jim, oh, Jim," she said.

'Let's get out of here!" I shouted. Grabbing her hand, I started to walk and again I felt the panic rise. Could I find the way out? OUr lives depended on it. 'Lord, you lead us to safety,' I prayed.

I tapped with my cane until we found the front door. We felt our way down the steps, breathing in the sweet, fresh summer air, and to the gate of her yard. We hurried down the street toward safety. Finally we had to stop to catch our breath. Did anyone know Nan and Debbie's house was on fire? I heard steps approach. "Are you two okay?" a neighbor asked. "Where's Debbie?"

shortened version: after Debbie came, I listened to the house fall to the ground. Crackling timbers. Shattering glass. Collapsing beams. Finally, the firefighters got the blaze under control and put it out.

Biddler and Bevo, Nan's poodles, were found later by neighbors---they had run to safety.

'Thank you, Lord.' I breathed a sigh of relief. 'We're all safe.'

That's when I heard Nan's voice break. I heard her sobbing, but I wasn't sure why. "Jim, I just want to thank you," she said. "When the fire broke out, I panicked and got turned around. I couldn't find the door. You saved my life."

Now Debbie's voice started to quiver. "You rescued my mom," she said. "You're a hero."

I hardly knew what to say. Two hours earlier I'd wondered whether I really mattered to anyone. And now I'd saved a life. Nan and Debbie were thanking me. Truth was, I wanted to thank them. Nan wasn't the only one who been saved that day. Discouragement and depression are a horrible trap, and I'm going to try, with God's help to stay as free as possible from discouragement.

 

[jculver]

Great story God can use anyone, and it feels good to know that.

 

[hadirfuss]

'Thank you, Lord.' I breathed a sigh of relief. 'We're all safe.'

That's when I heard Nan's voice break. I heard her sobbing, but I wasn't sure why. "Jim, I just want to thank you," she said. "When the fire broke out, I panicked and got turned around. I couldn't find the door. You saved my life."

Now Debbie's voice started to quiver. "You rescued my mom," she said. "You're a hero."

I hardly knew what to say. Two hours earlier I'd wondered whether I really mattered to anyone. And now I'd saved a life. Nan and Debbie were thanking me. Truth was, I wanted to thank them. Nan wasn't the only one who been saved that day. Discouragement and depression are a horrible trap, and I'm going to try, with God's help to stay as free as possible from discouragement.

Amen! The Lord works in wondrous ways

 

[mounty]

that is an amazing story wow ,fantastic