Paphos People

A STORMY NIGHT

It seemed like it had been raining for ever Dad joked with the kids that he had seen Noah’s Ark sailing down the High Street. The weather forecast wasn’t encouraging indeed more storms were due overnight.
The whole family were trapped in the house by the typical British summer holiday weather and were pretty fed up. They all sat in the cold lounge gazing at the downpour, Mum and Dad tried to cheer up the bored children with the suggestion of a game of cards or Monopoly but the lack of enthusiasm was overwhelming so they gave up.
They lit the gas fire and watched the T.V. Arguments followed over what was the best programme to watch.
“When I was a lad we only had three channels so we had little choice but now there are thousands of options and still can’t make up our minds” said Dad to a chorus of “Tell us the old old story” from the kids who had heard it so many times.
Finally they watched ‘The Sound of Music’ again with indifference from the older boys. After that they watched Die Hard, a bit more exciting until finally calling it a day and having an early night.

BOOM!!

Simultaneously the thunder roared and the bolt of lightning struck the T.V. aerial which was fixed to the chimney stack on the roof. The immediate result was that the television set in the lounge exploded and caught fire igniting the carpet and soft furnishings.
Dad leapt out of bed and dashed downstairs and grabbed the fire blanket from the kitchen. He threw it over the blazing melting mass which used to be the centre of the families entertainment. To little effect as the sofa was by now well ablaze and out of control!

“Come down all of you and get out in the garden well away from the house.” He yelled.
In a surprising orderly fashion the three kids followed by Mum came downstairs and exited through the front door. They huddled in a group, mum comforting Emily who was just three, While Tom and Johnny the twins both twelve stood by in a state of stunned shock. The torrential rain was coming down in sheets but they didn’t seem to notice.
The whole lounge was ablaze with thick black acrid smoke belching up through the hallway and landing to the bedrooms.

The neighbours on each side came rushing over.
“Is everybody out? Is anybody hurt?” yelled Tom from next door” I’ve called the fire brigade they’re on their way”
“Come on everybody let’s get in to our house” called Ray, picking up Emily in his arms as he spoke and leading them away.

“I’m going back in” said dad.

“No don’t, wait for the Firemen” shouted Tom as the sound of the Blues and Twos of the fire appliance approached and it screeched to a halt.
The fire crew piled out and proceeded to roll out the hoses.

“Is everybody out” shouted the Watch Commander.
“Yes they’re all safe” shouted back Dad.
By now the fire fighters hoses were trained on the lounge window and the flames were visibly dying down.

“What happened sir?”

“Lightning strike I think nothing else was wrong” said Dad.

The fire fighter switched on the spotlight and aimed it at the chimney stack it was visibly damaged and in the high wind seemed to be unstable.
“Back off lads, it looks like there could be falling masonry any minute.” As he spoke the entire chimney crumpled and collapsed on to the roof, breaking through into the loft area. A huge rush of smoke and ash came billowing through the still wide open front door.
Two fire fighters in breathing masks entered the building, exiting a few minutes later. They came over to Dad and the watch commander.
“Yes it looks like the seat of the fire was the T.V. but the smoke damage went right through the house. Upstairs the chimney has come through the main bedroom ceiling and crushed the bed. It’s a good job you both had time to get out sir. You were lucky.”
“We’ll damp down the building and secure it but under no circumstances is anybody to go in there ok?”
“Yes” said Dad as Ray led him away to his house for a hot cup of tea.

The next morning after a shower and dressed in borrowed clothing Dad made a phone call. Brrrrr. Brrrrr. Brrr click “Good morning AIRBNB holiday helpline what’s the problem?”
Dad licked his lips and took a deep breath.
“WELL.........”