Gloria started crying. Aunt Erma hugged her and rubbed her arms. Gloria let go of me, but didn’t let go of Chicken. He was pulling harder and growling and barking. “Oh, Erm. Grease fire,” she said. “Caught the curtains. I couldn’t get it out. Nearest hydrant is right at the top of the circle.”

“Jesus. It is, isn’t it?”

“Worst thing in the world, putting water on it. I’m such an idiot! That place is a tinderbox.”

“Now’s not the time to beat yourself up. You’re lucky you and Maisy got out safe.” She frowned. “What you two haven’t been through this year. Too much for anyone.”

Shar pushed in next to me. Her eyes were big. But she wasn’t scared. “That’s so cool,” she whispered in my ear.

It was summery warm out, but my insides were ice cubes.

There was screeching. Two fire trucks were coming and lots of red lights were flashing. They drove straight down the driveway. Men in brown overalls leaped off the truck before it stopped. They had helmets on.

“Whose house?” the man yelled.

“Mine,” Gloria said. He came right over. Gloria put her hand on her head. She said, “I must look a fright.”

“You’re alive, ma’am. That’s what matters.” He looked at the house. “Is everyone out? You’re all accounted for?”

“Yes,” she said. “Everyone’s out.”

He smiled at me, but the woodpecker was stuck in my neck, tak-tak-takking so hard my head was going up and down. Everyone’s out. Everyone’s out. Gloria said that. That meant everyone was out. You need to trust me. I had to trust her. I had to keep the skipping rope tied tight. I had to keep the lid stuck on the box.

“Are you absolutely certain?”

Gloria puffed out air, and when she reached her arm around me she let go of Chicken’s collar. “Yes, I am. It’s just me and my daughter and that dog.” Chicken was racing at the house. Gloria slapped her leg. “Chicken! Get back here!”

“Ma’am. Nearest hydrant is some distance away. Is there a creek or pond close? Any water source?”

“There’s nothing. Slowrun Creek is all the way in the woods. And my outside water’s turned off because Maisy was playing with the hose too much.”

Her words got wavy. I couldn’t remember playing with the hose.

“Okay, ma’am. Okay. I understand. A tank’s on its way, but it’s a fierce burn. There’s no wind, so at present there’s no danger to surrounding properties.” He pointed his glove at the house. Then he pointed at the trees. To the same spot where they’d swallowed up Rowan. “You’re far enough away from the woods, so that’s not a concern.”

“Okay.” She patted her hair again.