Fire.

Late last night, just as I was turning off all the lights to go to bed, I heard pounding on our front door.

I peeked out the window to see our neighbor, Allen, standing on our porch. It was late. I wondered what was the matter...

I opened the door, and he flew inside the house, while saying, "There is a fire in your backyard! Where is Wayne?!"

He was already racing through the house, to the door that leads to our yard, before I comprehended what was happening.

A fire. A FIRE?!

I followed him outside and saw red, burning embers in our mulch. As I went to get the fire extenigusher and to wake Wayne, Allen was telling me he thinks it is an electrical problem.

Wayne flew out of bed and was outside in a flash. A fire extinguisher and shovel put the fire out, but also our neighbor, Cindy, who lives on the other side of us, hooked up her hose and snaked it over the fence so we could saturate the ground to make sure it was out completely.

It was not caused by an electrical problem, but we had been grilling for dinner, and one of the coals landed on the mulch, causing the fire. It must have been smoldering for hours.

Thank God Allen was out on his deck last night (pitch black outside and he still loves the fresh air) and saw what was happening to us.

I don't want to think of how this story could have ended had he not been there.