KASE STUDY 

By Tessa Harvey


    Again Belle dialed the emergency services as she stumbled, crying, to the nearby house. She roused her son with difficulty - he had been drinking. She had never known him to be a hard drinker before.
    "Our house is burning! Get dad out!"
In desperation, she yanked his bed covers off. Belle found a wet flannel in the ensuite and dripped very cold water over him. "Get your dad out," she repeated in desperation, "but don't lose your own life. Kase is dead."
    Remembering, she went to rouse Rosa. Here the smell of petrol overrode the stench of drink. What was happening here? she thought, but there was no time. The two girls peered round the doorway, afraid. "Don't hurt our mum," Willow whispered. It's too late for that, Belle thought wildly. Rosa has already damaged herself and so much more. So many more.
    Already she could hear sirens. The ambos and police and firies were almost here. They must have already been called out somewhere near. The older lady turned back to their beautiful little home, so wonderfully designed and lovingly made.
    Dimly, she heard Rosa muttering about losing money, the fire wasn't meant to be so bad. but her own legs were like jelly. She staggered and fell, cutting herself on some sharp object.
    Undefeated, she crawled forward. Her head was whirling. She needed insulin. Darkness swirled around, weakness robbed her limbs of strength and she fell once more, lying prostrate.
    Later, she was told Silver had saved her, calling the medics, alerting them to her condition.
    And, amazingly, only part of the kitchen was lost. The mural of trees still undamaged on the wall by their table. When she was released from hospital, the stench of sodden, burnt timber was nauseating. Belle closed her eyes and again saw the hungry flames reaching high with greedy fingers, roaring and crackling, consuming the wood fire - and little else - undoubtedly a miracle.
    A small voice said "Please forgive me." Rosa looked at her and Belle's anger flared like fire.

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