FIRE 

By Tessa Harvey

    My mind struggles and I think it will be better to stand up, then remember a school poster in our hallway. A small dark-haired kid, like a cartoon kid is crawling, looking scared. The writing advises crawling is better to keep lower than the smoke if there is fire.
    Desperately I try to pray but a nasty inner voice says I can't because I failed my family. I did not keep watch but fell asleep.
    Where are they? Then a small voice is calling. "Ellie, Ellie, please answer if you can, Ellie!" It is my little brother, Sean. "Sean, please keep calling. I can't see the way out. God is helping me anyway." Sean keeps calling, sounding less anxious, more hopeful. I scurry, coughing, towards his voice. Flames are bursting out around me. I am so hot, like burning. My knees hurt so I half-stand. Then I see the way out and run, coughing. 
    Poor Sean is nearly knocked over. We hug each other, moving away from the barn. "I have Minnie," he says, "in my pocket."

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