Better Than Onions

CHAPTER 15

I bang my fists on the door. "Shrek! SHREK! ARE YOU OKAY? DON'T PANIC IM GETTING HELP"
I shove my hand in my pocket to get my phone. I need to call an ambulance. And then I remember, again, that my phone is at home.

I groan and sit on the floor in a squatting position, like i am about to go to the toilet, and push my hands through my hair.

What do I do? I've never been in a situation where someone is trapped in a burning house and I have no idea how to deal with it. My life is so hard. This was supposed to be a nice first date-but-not-a-date and now I have to save my date from a burning building.

Although, I can't smell any smoke. Maybe it's because I'm far away but I would be able to smell smoke if Shrek was in serious danger, wouldn't I? So maybe he is ok.

Either way, I can't deal with this. I get up and start to jog away. Hopefully someone else will pass and save Shrek because I'm not mentally stable enough for this.

About ten minutes later, I spot a man walking on the street with a cup of coffee. He looks tall and strong. He is the perfect person to save Shrek! I start to follow him.

"Hey!" I call out. I make my voice deep and loud so he will pay attention. "Hey, man with the coffee! Stop now!"

I am not sure why, but he starts to speed up. Maybe he is training to be in a race. I start to also speed up until we are running together dow the street. Luckily, the man is not very fast. He will probably lose his race because i easily catch up with him.

"I give up! What do you want? My money? Fine!" The man stops running and searches frantically in his pocket. To my confusion, he takes out his wallet and starts throwing out money. "Take it! Please don't hurt me or my family"

"I don't-"

"Do you want my coffee? I will give you that too if you want!" He grabs my hand and shoves his coffee in it.

He starts to talk again but I stop him by grabbing his head and putting my hand over his mouth.

"Stupid" I say. "Why would I hurt you? I just want your help"

I remove my hand. Now he stares at me in confusion. "So why were you chasing me?"

"I was trying to talk to you!"

I point up the hill to Shrek's house. "I was going on a date with someone but his house started burning so I went to look for someone to save him"

"Are you crazy? Why would you leave someone in a burning building?"

"The house was locked and I forgot my phone"

He stares at me again and shakes his head, as if he can't believe what he is hearing. Then he pinches himself.

"Ok, not a nightmare" he says to himself. Then he turns to me, "Tell me teh address and I'll call the fire brigade"

I quickly tell him the address and he calls the ambulance. This man is really nice. I think I will invite him to the date with me and Shrek.

I start to ask him but as soon as I open my mouth he turns and runs.

What do I do now? I stare up at Shrek's window. There is still smoke in the window, but no sign of a fire yet. I put my head up and sniff the air but it only smells like onions. Hopefully Shrek is ok...

"Don't worry Shrek" I whisper to the house. "The ambulance is coming soon, and they'll save you"

***

The ambulance is still not here.

The window is now so filled with smoke that it looks like there is a grey curtain across it. I walk up and down nervously.