FIRE BELLS AND OLD GALS!


I went to church last night so that today I could look forward to having a sleep in this morning! I was having a nice sleep when all of a sudden I was awakened by the fire alarm going off out side my apartment door. I jumped out of bed in a panic and my first thought was, get dressed. I can't go out side in minus 25 weather in my P.J.s My next thought was I need to go potty. I can't go outside in minus 25 weather having to pee! So I quickly went to the loo and ran for the door grabbing my coat and shuffling into my shoes, not bothering to tie them. I made my way down to the first floor ( from the 3rd) trying to keep my composure and not panic. As I passed the 2nd floor I could see folks slowly poking heads out their doors . It made me question why they were not trying to get out of the building like I was. I got to the first floor and again I saw people standing in the hallways, not in a panic at all. They were not rushing to the exit. It seemed that they were visiting. So I stood at the bottom of the stairs trying to get my bearings. One of my neighbors came walking down the stairs and said " no fire on the second floor how about the third? " I shook my head ( still foggy from sleep I'm sure) and replied " I did not smell any smoke, so it must be a false alarm." If truth be told I did not even stay on my floor long enough to even smell smoke. He said to me " this building is very fire safe so it will take a long time to burn." This is very true. There are thick brick walls between each apartment. So I guess there was no panic to get out as quick as I did. I just heard alarm and thought okay gotta go. The alarm stopped just as the man said that to me. So I made my way back up the stairs. As I got to the 2nd floor there were several people out in the hallway. This is where the old gal comes in. She came up to me with her fuzzy died hair flying behind her. She had many wrinkles, but I noticed that she was wearing a bright red lipstick and a strand of pearls. She must have been in her 80s. She started in on me right away, asking me " has the fire department been called yet" I told her " I think they had. I saw someone on the first floor with a phone in their hands." Little old gal kept on saying " it's against the law if the fire department is not called, and someone could be held responsible for this. The alarm has been going off for and hour now, and I closed the laundry room door then I opened it up, and someone needs to call the fire department" I suddenly felt responsible for the alarm going off. I tried to reassure the old gal that I'm sure the fire department had been called and were on there way. Then she just walked away from me mumbling down the hallway, maybe to call the fire department herself. Just then the landlord came around the corner saying " is everyone up now" and the rest of us just kinda giggled . After I saw the landlord I knew for sure that it was indeed a false alarm and made my way up the last flight of stairs to my apartment. I let myself in and then heard the sirens. I watched out the window as the fire truck pulled up in front of our building. They did not stay long. My heart was still racing and slowing calming down. It all turned out okay. You know when your in a deep sleep and the phone rings and you race to the phone and try to pretend to the other party on the other end that you were not asleep. And they ask you did I wake you and you say no, but you are so disoriented for a few minutes. That's how my day started. I still chuckle at the little dear gal. But I think she was probably just frightened too. Funny how people react when the adrenalin gets going.