Della and her daughter br Live in the depths of the city together br They have a house that they humbly call ours br Daily, sirens wail from passing police cars br br From their surroundings they feel reasonably safe br Protected from drug dealers, thieves, and rape br They stay to themselves… trusting no one br Venturing out by day is their only option br br In the early morning hours smoke stirred hysteria br Seeping from window frames near the kitchen area br Neighbors vainly tried to enter and began to shout br Knowing the twosome were inside… they had to get out br br A rescue seemed impossible…observers began to weep br In an upstairs bedroom; the unsuspecting were asleep br Franticly, caring people began throwing bricks br At high windows with an intent that was transfixed br br Mother and daughter awoke to sounds of shattering br A smoke filling room… sent thoughts scattering br Raising a broken window wide… no time to stall br Looking to the ground… they did not want to fall br br The waiting arms of people motioned… jump to survive br Daughter leaped… but mother refused to take a dive br Choking and gasping… as the heat was intensifying br A winded man appeared… with a ladder he was carrying br br Extending just short of where it was urgently needed br Unable to reach the rungs… Della's hopes were impeded br Two strong men lifted the ladder to their shoulders br The distressed woman descended to the aiding holders br br Backing away from what looked like a giant can of Sterno br Watching as flames burst from an incinerating inferno br Unfortunately the home was gutted beyond recognition… br Della and her daughter are in satisfactory condition br br br 22908br br Theresa Ann Moorebr br