I held the message to my heart and sobbed continuously. I looked at the dove once more, and it looked back with knowing eyes. After a miniature eternity, I went back to the gazebo. I tucked the paper into the pocket of my pajamas. I figured it was around 9:00 in the morning by now. Another firefighter was talking to Mr. Brown, and he announced that it was safe to go back inside the house. I could still smell the smoke, but not as strongly as I could before.
Most of the fire damage had occurred in the kitchen, as well as the adjoining breakfast nook and parlor. Someone had left a casserole in the oven for too long. Thankfully, nothing important had been destroyed. The only person who was harmed by the fire was Casimir, but he had no burns. The smoke had gotten into his lungs, and he was having some trouble breathing. He was the person who mattered the most in my book. Nevertheless, the firefighters reported that no one was killed in the fire, and the destruction and injuries had been minimal.