They say that tragedy strikes us at the most unexpected of times, and to the people who least deserve it. On Sept. 6 at 4:30 p.m., Osceola High School teacher Mrs. McCall had tragedy strike her while she was two doors down from her house. Due to an electrical malfunction in her garage, her house caught on fire.
“It was like an overwhelming surf wave of fire, then it spread to the rest of the house,” Mrs. McCall said.
Her and her husband lost nearly everything except the 10 percent that was actually salvageable (some furniture, clothes, and family/wedding photos), their dogs, and her phone.
During the fire, all three dogs (Brody and Cali, who are Pit bulls, and Chance, who is a Cockalier.) were in the house. The neighbors threw potted plants at the window and unlocked the door for two of the dogs to come out, but Chance was still in the house. Mr. McCall ran into the house to get the last dog. Everyone got out of the house without harm.
Although it is a great inconvenience, McCall is keeping a positive attitude about what happened.
“It’s an emotional rollercoaster,” Mrs. McCall said. “One day I’ll be on the verge of tears and the next day I’ll be okay.”
She says she feels blessed for everything that is going on to help them. There has been a doughnut sale (Keyettes), a carwash (Hola Club), and separate donations that have been collected.
“I’m very thankful, especially since it’s all surreal, being on the ‘other side’ of the story,” Mrs. McCall said.
“You hear it on the news all the time, someone’s house burning down, but when you’re actually the one who is experiencing it, it feels unreal. I still think I’m going to wake up and say ‘what an awful dream,’ but realizing that I’m not is the thing that hurts the most.”
Mrs. McCall said she and her husband are “silver-lining people.”
“We just have to find the good in it and look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel,” McCall said.
As for their living standards, they’re staying at their neighbor’s house, two doors down.
“It’s a constant reminder of what happened, but it is very convenient in a way. For example, if the insurance company needs to speak with us and see the house, it’s right there,” McCall said.
Although they’re contemplating getting a short-term rental, and staying at another friend’s house, they’re at a crossroads because of the fact that they don’t want to commit to a lease and then have their insurance pull through.
They know it will work because they have lived together once before, so they are certain they can co-exist with each other. They seem to be pulling though just fine.
“We’re taking it day by day,” McCall said.
Osceola High School is not the only group helping the McCalls.
“People are constantly giving,” McCall said. “I’ve gotten everything from clothes to toiletries. I mean, just the other day, a man gave me a $20 for nothing. It opens my eyes and makes me realize thta there is still good in the world. And now that we’ve been on the other side, and experienced it, we will do the same for people going through it.”
