忍び足

Same spot #9

Certain events become time markers. There is before ________ and after _________. I have several: Before moving to Mississippi and after. Before living in Japan and after. Before Connor was born and after. Before marriage and after. Now the newest edition is "Before the fire, and after." So let me describe the events as they unfolded in my reality.

I was setting up for prom. As can be expected, there were eight alpha females standing around talking about what should happen, while I tried to put things together. I believe I was the only one interested in being home before midnight. Any excuse I had to leave and get things was used, so I had already been to pick up pizza, been to Lowe's, and was heading home to pick up extension chords (side note: an extension chord to me is orange and at least 25 feet long. An extension chord to the other Junior sponsors is white and measures no more than three feet).
As I arrived home, I saw Connor and Elizabeth on the lawn, which is not unusual, because Connor loves to play outside with the neighbors. As I pulled into the driveway, Elizabeth approached me and had water on her shirt and dirt on her face. Thinking she had finally decided to let herself go, I accepted my life as a married man and planned to start letting myself go first thing tomorrow morning. She simply said that our house was on fire.
I looked at the house, which appeared fine on the outside, and wondered how big it was. Then I thought about the possible causes. I tried to think if this was in any way my fault. It is true I do own an XBox 360, which is notorious for it's failure and "red ring of death" that appears when it is broken. I never had thought it might create a literal "red ring of death." After thinking of the possible ways this might be my fault, I asked her what happened. She said that she did it, and with everyone safe, I was actually relieved.
I then looked at the house, and wondered how large this fire might be. Some people have a tendency to over-react, and maybe I could go in and put it out. I moved closer, and smoke was coming out of the front door, so I abandoned my efforts. The firefighters had not yet arrived, and all that was left to do was wait.
Now we continue to wait as our house gets put back together..and wait and wait. In Michigan, this house would have been finished at least a month ago. If I hadn't stopped them from painting the kitchen the wrong color, or putting in the wrong tile, we would be looking at another month, at least. Hopefully we will be back in soon.