Once upon a time, there was a girl named Heidi Howard. She lived in a very old house with her family in a small town called Millson.

The house was really old, and the stairs were slanted, so someone almost always tripped on their way upstairs.

The house may have been ancient and scary-looking, but Heidi's family found it to be home. 

"Are you okay Heidi?"

"Woah!"

Heidi liked living in Millson because her house was right across the street from the school she went to, and down the street was a coffee shop. 

Heidi and her friends would walk around town together and get coffee in their free time. This was almost a daily ritual after school or before their volleyball practice.

"Do you guys want to get coffee after school?"

hi

"Yeah, definitely!"

Heidi's sister, Arabelle, always wanted to help Heidi and their mother cook dinner, but she was too little and just ended up getting in the way. 

"Can I please help you make dinner?" Arabelle would ask.

Mother would reply, "When you're older, honey."

So Arabelle would stomp up to her room to play with her dolls and teddy bear.

"I want to be like Heidi."

One day, Heidi and Arabelle were at school and heard their names being called on the speaker. It said for them to come down to the main office at the end of the day. 

They did not know why they were being summoned, but saw that their mother had sent a message to both of them that read, "Call me."

They met each other in the hallway and simultaneously said, "What is going on?"

hi

"What is going on?"

Heidi and Arabelle finally reached the main office where Principal Davis and Vice Principal Williams were waiting for them at the door.

Principal Davis greeted them and said, "Heidi and Arabelle, we regret to inform you both that a terrible accident has happened. There was a fire at your house this morning."

Vice Principal Williams sighed, "Everybody is safe, but we are dreadfully sorry for your loss."

The girls began to cry and Vice Principal Williams offered a hug and cried with them.

"We are so sorry, girls."

"There was a terrible accident at your house."

Heidi and Arabelle remembered that their mother had told them to call her.

Their mom answered the phone, "Girls!" She cried, "The fire took everything. I cannot believe this happened to us."

"We are too, Mom. " Heidi whispered. 

"Where are you?" Arabelle wondered

Their mother replied, "Your father and I are at the bus garage next to the school. They have hot chocolate and cookies for you two."

"Mom!"

"Dad!"