At times in our lives, a tragedy comes along that makes us stop and helps us consider the small things in this life. In the Fall of 1936, such a tragedy occurred in our family and caused us all to stop and be more appreciative of the things we have.
October 1, 1936
The family sat around the table eating supper. John-Boy, Jenny, and Jen came over to join them.
"John-Boy, may I hold my great-granddaughter?" Zeb asked.
"You sure can Grandpa." John-Boy smiled, handing his baby daughter over to his grandfather.
"Oh, she is such a doll! She's growing bigger every day." Zeb paused a moment. "She's almost three months, in…"
"Three more days until she's three months old." John-Boy smiled.
"Where did the time go?" Zeb smiled. "I remember the day she was born. Our All-American girl was born on The Fourth Of July."
"It's hard to believe she's already three months old. Here, I see her still in Jenny's arms the day she was born."
"And in the blink of an eye, she'll be three YEARS old." Zeb smiled.
"Oh Grandpa," John-Boy shuddered slightly.
Zeb laughed.
That evening, Zeb sat in his favorite chair reading the paper. He enjoyed the warmth of the heating pad until Esther suddenly yanked the cord from the outlet.
"Esther! What on earth did you do that for?"
"You're gonna burn down this house, Old Man!"
"How in the blue blazes am I gonna burn this house down?"
"You've had it plugged in for over two hours!"
"Esther, do you HEAR the wind whistling outside? Did you feel the cold air today? It's chilly, I don't care to get frostbite!"
Esther shook her head and walked away. "Stubborn old man."
After wrapping things up for the night, everyone went to bed.
Around midnight, John and Olivia awoke.
"John, I smell smoke." Olivia said.
"Hmm?" John was half asleep yet.
"John!" Olivia exclaimed.
John jumped out of bed and opened the bedroom door. The hallway was engulfed in flames!
Olivia rushed over to the crib and grabbed Joy, who was now crying.
In the girls' room, Mary Ellen woke up, coughing. She couldn't stop.
"Erin! Elizabeth!" she said through coughs. "Wake up!"
The girls did so.
John ran to the boys' room. "Boys, fire!"
Ben followed his father, but Jason and Jim Bob stayed behind a minute more.
Jim Bob threw some of his toy planes out the window while Jason grabbed his guitar case. They then ran out as well.
Olivia got the girls. "Girls, fire!"
Mary Ellen and Elizabeth followed their mother.
Erin stayed behind to try and save her new dress. It was the first dress that Erin had bought with her own money. It was the first dress she owned that wasn't a hand-me-down from Mary Ellen. Erin still remembers the day that she went with Jenny to Ike's store to get it. Erin was very proud of the dress and wasn't going to let the fire destroy it!
Everyone besides Erin gathered outside.
"Jason, get in the truck and go get Ike. Jim Bob, run over to John-Boy and Jenny's. Get John-Boy here as quickly as you can, please." John commanded two of his sons.
The boys agreed.
"What about me, Daddy?" Ben asked.
"I may need you here, Son."
Ben nodded.
John did a quick head count. "Where's Erin?"
Alarm washed over everyone's faces.
Olivia tried to run back inside the burning house, but John and Zeb stopped her.
"We'll get her!" they assured Olivia.
Olivia went back and stood by the others. All she could do was cry and hug her baby.
Mary Ellen was bawling. She hugged her grandmother.
"ERIN!" Elizabeth screamed, wailing as Ben held her.
John and Zeb found Erin in the hallway, passed out from smoke inhalation.
John picked her up and the two men ran back outside.
Erin regained consciousness as soon as they were outside. She threw up onto the grass.
"Is she okay?" Olivia was concerned.
"She breathed in a lot of smoke. Pa and I found her passed out in the hallway."
Olivia and Mary Ellen hugged Erin, all three women crying.
Ben handed Elizabeth to his father.
Elizabeth cried in her father's arms.
Soon Jim Bob came back with John-Boy, Jenny, and Jen. Jason brought Ike Godsey, Yancy Tucker, Ep Bridges, and Harley Foster. The men put the fire out.
John thanked the men.
"John, I'll come right back. Corabeth and I have a tent that would be perfect for you and your family to spend the night in tonight."
"Thank you Ike, it's appreciated." John smiled.
While waiting for Ike, the family sat in the barn.
Elizabeth sat, cuddled up with Jenny and John-Boy. Jason sat holding Joy, Ben, and Jim Bob stared at the floor. Erin and Mary Ellen sat together under a blanket, both staring into space. John and Olivia were somber, as were Zeb and Esther. No one had anything to say.
Ike's truck is what broke the silence.
John stood up and met his cousin-in-law.
"I appreciate this Ike."
"Corabeth asked me to tell you that she is very sorry and to let us know if there is anything we can do. If you need a meal, us to watch the kids, she said you can name it and it's done."
"Thank you Ike. I think we'll be okay tonight, but if we need help in the coming days, we'll let you know."
Ike smiled and nodded. "Well goodnight everyone."
"Goodnight Ike. Thank you." Came responses from everyone.