I hear the piercing beep and stumble out of bed. It's not my smoke alarm, it's coming from upstairs. I hear the upstairs neighbor thumping around. I go outside. Nobody has exited the building, I see no smoke or flames. I go back inside. after a few minutes the sound stops. A few minutes later it starts again. I go outside and smell smoke. I call 911 and head up the stairs and knock on the door. My neighbor, Delilah, answers. She is frazzled doesn't know where it's coming from. The smoke smell is strong coming from her door. The 911 dispatcher is sending help.
A few minutes later, not one, not two, not three, but SIX full size fire trucks show up, plus the a smaller quick response truck. I'm standing outside and direct the firemen upstairs. A few minutes later I hear one of their radios crackle, "chicken nuggets"
False alarm. The firemen file out of the building. I hear one mutter "I don't know how you put chicken nuggets in the microwave then forget about them..."
It's a foggy night in the Lilac City. I watch the firetruck lights disappear in the mist.