Baptism Of Fire Alarms

(After winter break my mom has driven me up to my college campus when dorms open again. We’re driving around a bit before she leaves. I’m complaining about the number of times the fire alarm went off the previous semester.)

Mom: “So, how many times did the fire department show up last semester?”

Me: “Mid twenties? I think. This semester I’m going to keep a running tally, because apparently no one in my dorm knows how to use an oven.”

Mom: “Maybe it will be better this time.”

(Right on cue, three fire trucks drive past us with their sirens blazing, heading along the road that would take them to my dorm.)