Linkmeister

Hot day, huh?

A Sunday in May, Honolulu, 5:15 pm

A ham slice has been defrosted and candied yams are being readied for the oven. Fresh artichokes have been trimmed and are about to be placed in the steamer. Suddenly, a siren is heard. It seems to be getting close to the house, but sounds are often deceiving. The homeowner goes to the front door and looks out; he sees a yellow fire truck passing by going up the hill. He returns to his kitchen.

Then, loud engine noises are heard outside. The homeowner again investigates; this time the truck which had gone up the hill has returned, and fireman are jumping from it, uncoiling hoses. Then a second siren is heard. A ladder truck appears. More fireman leap from it. The homeowner wants to ask what's going on; he's looking around for signs of fire, but sees none. The firemen are all too busy to answer his questions, even with a directional wave. Then, the homeowner sees a large billowing white cloud of smoke from behind the house across the street. This is suburbia; if it's a house fire, surely the smoke would be black? Still the firemen work with their hoses, attaching them to hydrants, turning the valves. There's no sense of urgency coming from the men; what is going on?

Neighbors begin to congregate outside. They are all watching the cloud of smoke, as is the homeowner. He remembers that behind the neighbor's house is wild brush; could that be burning? It's been an awfully dry spring; the weatherpeople on TV news have repeatedly said "we need the rain." There have been other brush fires around the island recently, none doing serious damage to populated areas. That must be it.

Suddenly the cloud of smoke disappears. As far as the homeowner can tell, none of the fireman on his street have gone anywhere near the source of flames; has it been doused from the other side of the hill? Neither the neighbors nor the homeowner have seen or heard helicopters, often used to fight brush fires in inaccessible areas; perhaps it was a very small fire.

The firemen begin to coil up their hoses and stow them back on the trucks. The neighbors disperse. The firetrucks leave. The homeowner goes back inside, plates the ham, candied yams, and artichokes in garlic butter, and serves up.

How was your Sunday?

Posted by Linkmeister at May 25, 2003 08:52 PM