0 to 60 in .05

 I couldn't sleep last night so I didn't go to bed til about 4. I typically have insomnia, especially at the firehouse. I finally made it to bed and the last thing I remember is putting my phone on the night stand. Then the frap went off,  The lights kicked on; 'Engine 10. Engine 20 for closest ALS, (Advanced Life Support; more advanced medical personnel)' Medic 20. Damn, another medical call again. Full Arrest. (no pulse or reparations) Short terms. Someone dying. I went from high idle to maxed out. Got dressed and got to the truck. I put on my job shirt and radio, threw my turnouts up in and closed the door. Our full reaction time was probably 30 seconds. Cap got in the rig and we pulled out into the dark, the red and white strobes playing off the trees and houses. I saw cap look at the computer, he read the comments. 'Caller is a 6 year old male at the neighbors house, says his little brother is dead.' We pulled down the street with several cops and when we got on scene the neighbor said both boys were alive and ok, the little brother was asleep. Back to high idle.  We went in and cap talked to the boy as cops filled the house. The boy was in tears, saying sorry. Cap said 'Dont let anyone tell you anything different, you did the right thing. You call us for help.' The driver and I started checking the smoke alarms (both dead, we put in new ones). No parents were home. The cop was on the phone with the mother; 'No ma'am I don't think you understand. You need to come home now.',  He was trying to convince her! It was 5 in the morning and these brothers were home alone, the house was a wreck, and they hadn't eaten in almost a day. The sergeant was making some phone calls. We had to clear back up and go in service. I don't know what will happen , but I'm sure that they will get taken care of. Our engine company isn't in the inner city. We don't deal with shootings, stabbings and overdoses daily. But it still happens, even if your neighborhood requires matching $500 mailboxes.