Shorties: Number 51

Felipe sat in the chair that gave him full view of the large room where the wedding reception now in full swing.  The noise level pressed in upon his ears but he savored the moment.  Around the table were his wife, three kids, son-in-law and dear friends he hadn’t seen in years.  He marveled at their daughter, now a college graduate, who was a child the last time he saw her.

 

The meal was savory.  Felipe was beginning to feel his stomach reach the full mark but was tempted to finish the last few morsels on his plate.  It was about that time his oldest daughter stood and walked to the table where the bride and groom were seated.  As Matron of Honor, Breanna would give a speech and toast to the happy couple. 

 

While Breanna took the microphone and made humorous opening remarks, Felipe looked at the faces of those seated at the table.  He could think nothing other than he was blessed.  Each person there had touched his life in one way or another.  Once Breanna began her comments specific to the toast, Felipe turned his attention to his daughter.  When she finished, all in the hall raised their glasses and touched the glasses of those around him. 

 

Then he saw it.  His son, Paul, tried to touch the glass of his brother-in-law.  Instead, Greg took the glass from Paul, took a sip and returned it.  Felipe and his wife saw this and laughed aloud.  Paul rolled his eyes and laughed.  Paul was not pleased when Breanna and Greg began their relationship.  He was a very protective brother.  Greg loved Breanna enough to not only endure the open hostility Paul displayed, he reached out and worked to make a relationship with Paul.  Now the two were best of friends. 

 

After the cake was cut, it was time for the father of the bride to make a speech.  A company executive, Mr. Walls was at ease in front of an audience and worked the crowd for maximum result.  A loud hissing noise popped in the back of the hall.  Mr. Walls simply spoke over it.  Then the noise stopped and the speaker and audience relaxed.  Mr. Walls continued his talk using a humorous aside about the noise when it returned again.  Felipe’s wife remarked it sounded like a pressure cooker release valve going off.  Breanna commented she believed it was someone filling balloons with helium. 

 

One of the kitchen staff rushed to the kitchen and entered.  The door was still open when a flash and flame erupted from within the kitchen.  A fireball quickly rolled to the ceiling and spread out above the walls surrounding the galley.  Startled noises from the revelers began to fill the silence and those closest to the kitchen began moving away.  Felipe considered what he saw and instantly decided to wait to see what happened next.  The rush of humanity toward him changed his mind and he turned to open the garage door behind him. 

 

About this time the clanging of an alarm bell reached his ears but, focused on lifting the door prevented him from identifying to noise.  The door was quite heavy and not until a fourth and a fifth man started lifting the door did it finally start to move.  Once it was about chest high, Felipe ducked under the door and stepped outside.  While doing this, he surveyed the humanity around him to located his loved ones. 

 

There was no panic in the eyes of those he saw but each had varying levels of concern.  Felipe felt everyone would have been safe had they stayed but decided using caution and removing themselves from possible harm was the smart thing to do.  Everyone began moving down the sidewalk away from the wedding venue.  Excited voices filled the street as the crowd moved away.  They told on comers not to continue due to the potential danger ahead. 

 

The next fifteen minutes they waited for emergency vehicles to arrive.  Rumors circulated a worker in the kitchen was injured.  One young lady from the wedding party, instead of evacuating the building, ran upstairs to retrieve her personal belongings.  She told of how she was close to the flames as she went.  Breanna chided her former classmate.  Meanwhile, Breanna walked barefoot on the cold street and sidewalk.  She had removed her shoes while eating.  Her sister swapped shoes with her to help keep her toes warm. 

 

It was about this time, as he walked up and down the street offering his coat to anyone who needed warmth, Felipe saw some of the wait staff and inquired about the kitchen staff.  From the ferocity of the fireball, he feared serious injury to all in the room.  Thankfully, only one worker suffered burns on one arm as she shut the valve from the propane tanks. 

 

The evening ended in a meeting room at the hotel across the street.  As final touches were added to get the party restarted, the father of the bride greeted and thanked those who stuck around.  Then he added, “Now, what was I saying before?”

Note: other than name changes and a few minor embellishments, this story is true