WE TOOK IN OUR NEIGHBORS AFTER THEIR HOUSE FIRE — ONE TIME, THEY CAME TO ME ASKING TO OPEN THE DOOR IN THE BASEMENT.
It was late at night when we smelled the smoke. I looked out the window and saw James and Eloise’s house on fire.
Thank God, I saw them standing outside in their pajamas! My husband, Jim, and I rushed over.
Eloise (sobbing): “They said it was faulty wiring! There’s nothing left!”
Me: “But you’re ALIVE! That’s what’s important. Come on, you can stay with us for a while.”
We have a fully-equipped basement with a comfortable sofa and TV, so we let them stay there for a few weeks.
But after 10 days, James whispered to me in the kitchen, “Violet, please don’t say anything to Jim. But listen carefully. He asked us not to open the door under the stairs because of a huge mess. But we heard some sounds from there. Could you open it, please?”
I rushed downstairs, nervously searching for the right key. When I opened the door, I was hit by a strong odor and almost fainted. 
