When Galilee woke she could tell by the light coming in at the door, and that her tummy was empty, that it was late.
She got up and went over to be by Dad, who was typing. She liked the sound of the clickety-clack of the keys as they hit the paper. He stopped and gave her a hug and went on.
“Where’s mom?”
“She went to take a quick bath in the tent while the boys get supper ready.”
“They started long ago. I thought it would be ready by now.”
“Mr. Deming came and asked them to help him so they’ve just gotten back. It will be soon now.” Dad replied.
Galilee went and stood at the door and looked out. She was shy to go out because she didn’t want to see the kids laughing at her.
She could hear her brothers talking in the ‘kitchen’.
Mom came around the corner from the tent carrying a towel and washing stuff in her hand, and looking very pretty. She paused by Galilee to give her a squeeze and went inside.
Galilee heard Jim say, “Okay, Jerry, you and Dick need to start the fire now. I’ve got things mostly ready and we need to start cooking.” Jim was always very bossy in the kitchen.
“Dick” Galilee heard Jerry command, “You pour a little gas on the kindling and I will light the match. That will get it going quicker.”
Suddenly there was funny whoosh sound and a terrible yell. Dick came stumbling out the door.
Galilee could see fire in the grass on the roof.
Fire, Fire” Dick was shouting.
“Here’s some water in this bucket” Jim said.
“There’s not enough. The roof’s burning. Dad, Mom, Help!” That was Jerry.
Galilee just stood there gaping. She had never before seen such a thing. She didn’t even cry out. Dad and Mom pushed past her and ran over just as Jim and Jerry came hurtling out the door.
Then everything was wild. It was a swirling mess of color, smoke and flames, and a roaring crackling noise. The air began to smell strongly of burning grass. It is a very distinctive smell. Everyone was running up - the people from the village, and all the people living at Tatanda - the name of where they lived.
Dad ran to the burning house shouting, “Come help me pull the stuff out the kitchen .”
Mom went to the truck that was very close to the kitchen. She got in to move it. For the longest time mom just sat there in the truck. Then one of the men came to her window and said something. Mom leaned forward and did something. Suddenly the engine roared like the gas pedal was on the floor, and the truck jerked forward in hops and jumps and then died. Again, the engine roared to life and Mom moved the car away from the fire.
Getting out of the car Mom saw people just standing around.
She grabbed two buckets by the tent, and Nurse Bjimers and the people from the village all with buckets in their hands followed mom down the path to the water hole.
Galilee just stood and watched, stunned by the noise and the shooting flames. She saw her dad go into the burning house and come out. But, then she saw him go in but not come out. She was looking and looking for him. She could not see him anywhere. Frightened now, she started to cry and run toward the burning house. Someone caught her and held her still.
Galilee fought to get loose shouting “Daddy, Daddy” but the hands holding her didn’t let her loose. She slumped down on the ground sobbing.
Finally she looked up to see buckets of water being passed hand to hand from a line of people leading down to the water hole. The front person threw the water on the fire and jogged down to the end of the line to get another bucket. Galilee didn’t really understand what was happening but later heard as everyone talked after the fire.
There was an after the fire, time. It was night time when the fire was finally out. Black specks of ash floated around in the wind. Everyone just stood and looked at where the house used to be, now a black scar on the ground.
Everything had been taken out of the house. A big box in the middle was the last item they drug out. It was too heavy to lift. Even as they drug it clear, the roof collapsed. That was when Galilee saw her dad on the other side of the house. The flames were dying down and at last the buckets of water were poured on the smoldering grass and then it was out - everything was dark. For a few minutes there was only the sounds of the night and people quietly milling around in stunned silence.
Dad and mom went to the different men and women who had helped and thanked them. Then, the village people slowly turned and walked back down the dark path to their homes.
Someone came out the Deming's house carrying a light. It was Mrs. Deming. Dad gathered us all around to check if any of us were hurt. Galilee hardly recognized her dad and mom. Mom was all wet. She told dad she just got down into the water and filled the buckets as they were passed to her. She was leaning exhausted on one of the rescued boxes.
Dad was black with soot. I started laughing. He looked like the other people here now, with his white skin all black. The others just smiled but clearly didn’t see anything funny to laugh about. Dad started to hold his arms out to hold us all in his arms but he was so dirty, mom said he should wash first, and not get those of us who were still clean dirty - that was mostly me. I was about the only one clean.
Then Dad bowed his head and said quietly, “Thank you Lord Jesus that we are all safe!”
Then the men went down to the water hole to wash. It was their source of drinking water but by now it was so filthy they figured a couple more people in wouldn't matter.
Mrs. Deming spoke up quietly. “Thank the Lord. I knew I couldn’t help so I went and prayed that God would change the wind. It was blowing sparks toward the other houses. Then, I thought maybe you would all be hungry. I made some soup and sandwiches. I think we should feed the children and let them go to bed.”
Galilee found she was very hungry and was so glad for some food. Then Mom walked with her over to the sleeping house. Dick came also. Mom changed into dry clothes and helped Galilee ready for bed.
The next morning Galilee woke up late. She could see the sun shining through the open doorway. She laid in bed and could hear quiet talking outside. There was a horrible smell in the air.
Then she remembered the fire. Mom had placed clean clothes under the net for her to put on. She got dressed under the net, even remembering to tip her shoes upside down and shake them before putting them on, and fully dressed, crawled off the bed. No one else was in the room.
When Galilee got outside it looked very strange. A big black area was all that was left of the kitchen. There were boxes and all the kitchen stuff laying all around. Everyone was just looking around. Nobody really seemed like they were doing anything.
Only the men went to church that morning, while the mom and the other women made food and tried to make some order.
After lunch, as mom and dad walked around seeing what had been burnt up and what was left, they found only one of the boxes they used for shelves burned down one side. Then mom and dad started talking about the one big box that was the last thing dragged out the fire.
“What’s in it” dad asked mom.
“I don’t remember. I don’t think anything that important.”
“Well, lets take a look. Dick, will you get me the hammer and that chisel.”
Soon he was pulling the nails out the lid and then lifted the lid off. There was a funny smell as the lid came off. Galilee didn’t like it. Mom said it was smoke smell. They pulled out stuff. The clothes in the box were still hot to touch. It was cooler as they got to the middle of the box, but was still warm. We were all crowded around looking at what was in the box. Then, when mom lifted the next layer of clothes off, dad gasped. Right in the center of the box he uncovered ten or more boxes of ammunition for his guns. The shells were all warm to the touch.
Everyone, move back.” dad spoke very quietly. He carefully lifted the shell boxes out and very carefully placed them in a shady place to get cool.
Again, dad called us all around him. He drew all us kids into his arms and looking around at mom and the other people standing around.
Galilee didn't feel like she knew a lot about God. Mom and dad talked about Him a lot and she knew He loved her but this gave her new ideas to think about. For right now, she was just glad her family was all around her.
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