WRECKAGE

Someone's having a bad vacation

5 Likes, 1 Comments - Cindy Maddera (@elephant_soap) on Instagram: "Someone's having a bad vacation"

Eric and Melissa stood silently staring as the RV that had been their home for the last two years burned. A small, now empty, fire extinguisher dangled from Eric’s left hand. Melissa had managed to run inside the RV and grab both of their backpacks that contained their laptops and a laundry basket of clothing. Both backpacks where still hanging on her shoulder with the laundry basket propped on one hip. Melissa turned to Eric and opened her mouth to say something, but he put up his hand and shook his head. They could hear sirens in the distance and their gaze shifted to the fire truck as it sped down the interstate in one direction. The fire truck would have to go north for more than a mile just to find a turn around spot. Melissa reached over and grabbed Eric’s hand. She gently tugged him back from the burning wreckage to what she thought might be a safe distance. A loud ‘BOOM’ accompanied with an intense burst of flames lifted the entire RV slightly off the ground sending it bouncing back down hard on the tires.

The fire truck pulled into the desolate parking lot and the fire fighters all jumped from the truck ready for action. Melissa looked over at Eric again, his face lit with the flames from the fire and she could see tears streaming down his face. She leaned over and said “I’m going over to that picnic shelter to call my mom, Okay?” Eric just nodded his head without bothering to look at her, still transfixed by the scene of destruction in front of him. Melissa sighed and then set down all of the stuff she’d managed to salvage before the fire had spread from the engine to rest of the RV. She walked over to a picnic shelter that was far enough away from the noise and dialed her mother’s number on her cell. It was pretty late. Her mom was probably already in bed.

Mom? It’s me. Melissa.

Melissa! What’s wrong? Why are you calling so late? Are you okay?

Everything’s fine. Well…depending how you look at it. Eric and I are stranded at a rest stop in Oklahoma. The RV caught fire and has now burned down to the tires. We’re watching firefighters attempt to put the major flames out as I speak. I am going to ask them to take us to the nearest town and check into a hotel. After that, I don’t know what do.

I’m coming. I’m coming to get you.

Mom.

NO! I’m coming to get you RIGHT NOW! Text me with address information when you get to the hotel.

Thank you, Mom. I love you

I love you sweet pea. Momma is on her way.

Melissa sighed in relief as she ended the call and tears filled up in her eyes. She looked over at Eric who was now sitting on the curb. One of the firefighters was crouched down in front of him saying something to Eric. Eric didn’t even nod his head in response. He just continued to stare at the charred remains of the RV. Melissa walked over to the firefighter. “Sir? My husband seems to be in a bit of a shock. I’m…I’m sure he’ll snap out of it, but in the meantime, is it possible to get a ride into town? Maybe a town with a motel?” The fireman stood and turned to her “Of course ma’am’. We just need to be certain that the fire is completely out and then wrap up our stuff. I’ll come get you when we’re ready.” Melissa nodded her head and said “thank you.” Then she sat down on the curb next to Eric, their only belongs stacked in a small mound on her other side.

There was a lot that needed to be said. Melissa should explain that her mother was coming to get them, that they’d figure out everything. She wanted to say that they would call the insurance company as soon as they reached a hotel. She wanted to say that this was just a temporary set back, everything was going to be okay. Instead, Melissa said nothing. She looked at the RV, now just black charred metal, and couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. Melissa couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, that the RV had read her thoughts. The RV had seen inside Melissa’s heart and found out how much she hated this RV, this life. The RV knew that Melissa had reached her limit of tolerance and that Melissa was struggling with finding the words to tell Eric how much she hated this RV and how she wanted nothing of this life with him. She’d given it two years and she felt no different today than when they started this crazy plan. Melissa had tried. She really had, but she couldn’t do this another second. It was if the RV understood all of that and sacrificed itself to give her a new start, a way out.

“Your mother doesn’t need to come. We can just get someone to take us to the nearest RV dealership and get a new RV.” Eric said, still staring at the wreckage. Melissa turned and looked at her husband. His eyes were open wide and he looked a little crazy. She realized that he was more than a little crazy. He was certifiable. Melissa placed her hand on Eric’s shoulder “Eric…honey…I am never getting in another RV with you. Ever again.” Then Melissa stood. She picked up her backpack and the laundry basket and walked over to the fire truck, away from her husband and his beloved RV.

A HOUSE ON FIRE

This is happening across the street. Michael and a neighbor busted open the door, but didn't go inside. All of the surrounding neighborhoods don't think the man who lives there is home. Firefighters are in the scene.

1 Likes, 5 Comments - Cindy Maddera (@elephant_soap) on Instagram: "This is happening across the street. Michael and a neighbor busted open the door, but didn't go..."

Last night Michael stepped outside and noticed flames shooting up from the roof of the house across the street. There was a small group of teenagers standing next to a parked car, looking on in awe. Michael yelled at them to ask if any one had called 911. One girl yelled back that she was on the phone with them now. I ran to my room and threw on some shoes and a coat. Michael did the same. We stepped outside and could hear a guy banging on the door to the house yelling the owner's name. Michael ducked back inside, ran to the garage and grabbed our sledge hammer. Then the two of them took turns busting open the door, while yelling for the owner. They finally managed to bust the door open, but had to shove the door because of all the stuff pilled up around it. The house was thick with smoke. It was determined that the owner wasn't home, but no one felt it was safe enough to go inside and check. 

The firetrucks started to arrive (seven in all) and we all stepped back out of the way. Many of us stood on the sidewalk across the street, watching the firefighters work. The owner, thankfully was not home at the time of the fire. Michael said that from what he could see, he suspected the man of being a hoarder. There are five cars parked in his driveway and none of them are in running condition. The roof was still visibly smoldering an hour later. I fell asleep to flashing red and blue lights reflecting through the window and dancing on the ceiling. When I left for work this morning, it was still dark. The house, still over grown and shadowed behind trees, didn't look any different than usual. The street was quiet and all of the cars still lined the driveway. The hint of a charred wood smell was the only indicator that the fire had even taken place. 

When I was a kid, we'd hear the firetrucks and Dad would say "hop in the truck! let's see where they go!" The firetrucks never led us out to a house fire. We always ended up in one of the many rolling fields that filled up the spaces between towns. Grassfires. Someone said to me today "Oklahoma just seems to get all the weather. Ice storms and crazy tornadoes." She forgot to mention the grassfires and the burn bans. I remember the time we were all sent home from high school early because there was a grassfire a field over and the winds had shifted. The high school sits just on the outskirts of town. As you drive east on Highway 20, the first thing you come to is the Collinsville cemetery on the right. As soon as you pass the cemetery, the high school is there on the left. Fields and farm land lead up to it all. Watching the grass burn is as a familiar of a sight as watching the clouds swirl in the sky. 

But a house fire? That was a new sight. I have seen burnt out shells of homes and buildings, but never the actual fire until last night. I felt an urgent need to do something, had even ran across the street prepared to help drag anyone or anything out of the burning building if need be. I was also really worried that once Michael and the neighbor busted down that door, that both of them would head inside the house, searching for life. Just as they got the door open, part of the roof caved and this was what we were seeing from the outside. There was no telling about what was happening inside the house. In the end, all of us came to our senses and backed away from the house, but there was the tiny fraction of a moment where I would consider our actions to be unsafe if you think house fires turn out like they do in the movies. 

This house fire, thankfully did not turn out like a house fire in the movies.