Itwas3:12a.m.whennine-year-oldGlennKreamerawoketothesmellofburning.Exceptforthecrackling(爆裂声)offlamessomewherebelowtherewasnotasoundinthetwo-storeyhouseatBaldwin,LongIsland.Withhisfatherawayonnightdutyatalocalfactory,Glennwasworriedaboutthesafetyofhismother,hissisterKaren,14andhis12-year-oldbrotherTodd.HerandownstairsthroughthesmokefilledhousetopushandpullatKarenandTodduntiltheysatup.Thenhehelpedeachonethroughthehousetothesafetyofthegarden.There,hissisterandbrother,takingshortandquickbreathsandcoughing,collapsedonthelawn. Thenine-year-oldracedbackintothehouseandupstairstohismother’sroom.Hefounditimpossibletowakedherup.Mrs.Kreamer,avictimofthesmoke,wasunconscious,andtherewasnobodytohelpGlenncarryhertothegarden.Buttheboyremainedcalmand,asafiremansaidlater,“actedwithalltheself-controlofatrainedadult.” Onthebedroomtelephone,luckilystillworking,Glenncalledhisfatherand,leavingMr.Kreamertotelephonethefirebrigadeandambulanceservice,gotonwiththetaskofsavinghismother. Firsthefilledabucketwithwaterfromthebathroomandthrewwateroverhismotherandherbed.Then,withawetclotharoundhisheadhewentbacktothegarden. Hecouldhearthefireenginecomingup,buthowwouldthefiremenfindhismotherinthesmoke-filledhousewhereflameshadalmostswallowedupthegroundfloor? Graspingfirmlyaballofstring(线绳)fromthegarage,Glennracedbackintothehouseanddashedupstairstohismother’sroom.Tyingoneendofthestringtoherhand,heranback,layingoutthestringashewent,throughthehallandbackoutintothegarden. MinuteslaterhewastellingfirechiefJohnCoughlan:“Thestringwillleadyoutomother.”Mrs.Kreamerwascarriedtosafetyastheflameswerebreakingthroughherbedroomfloor. 小题1:WhydidGlennrundownstairsfirst? |