Life

             As dawn creeps over the city, early morning traffic begins to move slowly along Main Street. In just two more hours, the sound of horns honking and sirens blaring will fill the air. An occasional passing delivery truck or the screeching of tires from a car turning a corner breaks the silence. In an alley, a cat howls and a dog barks. All is as it should be. Then, suddenly, a loud resounding boom comes from a distance. The sight of billowing smoke rising slowly in the air draws the attention of passersby. The sound of claxons and sirens disturb the morning peace. In the distance, the early sun is a bright orange as it glows through a white cloud and flames leap skyward to meet the heavens.
             The clock on the nightstand shows 6:00 a.m., only half an hour before the alarm is due to sound. Looking sleepily out the window, a man sees nothing but chaos. On the corner, a shopkeeper is standing on the sidewalk and peers quizzically around the corner to catch sight of the tragedy. A fire engine with sirens blaring and horns honking rounds the corner. Panic and confusion are evident on the faces of the people who have emerged from their flats to witness the event that will haunt their lives for some time.
             At the scene of the explosion, firemen are busily setting up their hoses. Police are stringing yellow tape to cordon off the area and control the crowds that begin to congregate to observe the holocaust that is consuming a brownstone building. Commands are shouted by supervising firemen through raspy bullhorns. Ladders are raised and water begins to spew from high-pressure hoses. The curious are standing around jabbering in a cacophonous din. Some of the witnesses are dressed in robes and nightgowns, while others are in suits and ties, clutching their coffee cups and unsure of whether to eat their morning bagels or wait until all is resolved.
             The fire blazes on as groups of brave firemen enter the building in search of surv...

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Life . (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 05:17, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/87946.html