Very Clear Smoke Signals

(Police have come through our neighborhood to order an evacuation. I have gone to the back of the house and seen the massive smoke and worrisome orange glow, but my father has been doing other things upstairs. Finally he takes a moment to talk to me.)

Dad: “What’s the danger?”

Me: “I think there’s a fire. There’s a lot of smoke.”

(Dad goes to a place where he can see out the back windows.)

Dad: “Holy smokes! … So to speak.”