This is the kind of new beginning that none of us want to face and none of us choose, but here, our husband and wife face it in a way I hope I could match. 

 

 

            Red, Yellow and Orange

by

Cher'ley Grogg

 

"That's my house!" My screams pierce the air. A fireman holds me back as red, yellow and orange flames shoot sky high to join the billowing smoke. It's all in slow motion as the flames twist and turn.

             Thick smoke blurs my vision. There's a complete outline of the frame glowing and smoldering in the heat of the inferno. The monster's giant tail curls around the banister that leads to my art room. I cringe as the stairs fall. The house moans and groans as the life is sucked from it. A startling noise thunders through the carcass as a chunk of roof falls into the blaze. I'm aware of other noises... breaking glass, exploding aerosol cans, the crackle of wood, and metal scraping against metal. Each sound brings a new vision of precious items that are being devoured by the monster.

            I have an irresistible urge to run in and grab something, anything. The heat of the fire stops me. My nose burns from the smoke filling my nostrils and my lungs feel close to exploding.   Funny, I hadn't really noticed the firemen who were scurrying around trying to contain the fire. Men dressed in yellow slickers, who had been yelling and trying to hold onto the hoses that were like giant anacondas, now stand motionless.

            The flames are gone, just hot embers repeating the colors of the blaze--red, yellow and orange. There are a few charred studs still standing along with the skeleton of the refrigerator. Nothing else is distinguishable.  In my numbness I watch the last fireman leave. My eyes follow Del, my husband, as he kicks at the smoldering coals.

            "It's not safe." He grabs my arm.

            "I need to see." Jerking away edging closer to the charred remains, my stomach churns at the sight of the devastation.  There's no furniture left, even the bathtub is gone. I spot a glimmer of blue beside the house. It's a photo album. Charred on the outside and soaking wet on the inside. The cover falls open and familiar faces look up at me. Cradling it in my arms I sink to the ground, gently rocking, listening to the crackles that are still coming from the house and staring at the streams of smoke that try to make their way skyward.  "What are we going to do now?"

            "I don't know. The insurance will pay off the house. We'll just start over. It'll be a new beginning; we'll be newly-weds, again." Del pulls me to my feet and holds me close. "We don't have to make any decisions tonight."

            Later, I buy him a new pair of boots to replace the sandals that had been ruined at the fire site. 

            "Get me a pair of socks and I'll try these on.

            "You don't have any?" His surprised look makes me giggle.

            "You think that's funny, how much underwear do you have?"

            We both laugh at the same time.