Fire arrives in many forms. Good and bad. It’s a constant source of heat when needed even if it can’t be seen. We depend on it for our home, work and leisure pursuits. Fire is a colourful ,crazy  and cruel if used in a demonic and devious way. Oh! There you go! What’s worse than a devilish hell  and all consuming fire waiting for us maybe when we shrug off this mortal coil.

I’m sure my Mum, who passed away a few years go went to the Good Place, where fire is not seen but warmth certainly felt. O.K I’m getting carried away by religious nonsense. What I’m trying to say is that fire is not always visible. I have fire in my heart for Elvis but it can’t be seen. So lets get back to Mum. She had dementia and wasn’t herself at the end. She had been living with my brother and sister-in-law in Dublin and that’s where she passed away. Mum’s remains arrived in Andersonstown before my brother and I got there. Courtesy of the undertakers! Mum didn’t make her own way up. It was a very cold February night and we were glad of the heat when we entered the house. Everything had been prepared.  The central heating was turned up to ensure visitors were warm and toasty when they came to pay their respects. And there were a fair amount of visitors. And the heat was kept on. Mum would have had a fit at the expense. As the night drew on everyone settled down. Now in some religions there is a practice of not allowing the remains to be left alone. Not sure of the meaning. Was it because the person might rise up and escape before the Devil with his fires of Hell came and claimed the body. If they arrived first you were doomed. Or was it just a nice gesture to keep your loved one company and prevent this catastrophe.

My brother Joseph and I decided we would keep the vigil, me on the sofa, Joseph on a bedside chair. Now remember the heat was still on. Getting as warm as a fiery furnace in the house. I swear my brother had only just put his head on the pillow when all Hell broke loose. (Fire again!) The most Godawful noises started to emanate from my bro. I really thought the Devil had got in somehow and my Mum was going to be dragged to the flames of the Damned. Now I blame the fiery heat (Fire again!) But according to Angela, his wife, the next day, that was usual for Joseph. How did the poor girl stick it! I pushed him, shoved him, shouted at him, to no avail.

I stayed as long as I could. If I had stayed any longer there would have been two bodies in the living room. I lifted my bed and left. Of course when he woke up the next morning he found himself alone and the heat was still going.

Now I know you’re all thinking what has this got to do with fire. Let me explain. Well, isn’t central heating a type of fire, caused by a spark and a flame igniting  the furnace in the boiler.

So to the best part of the story. My niece Nicole, who had recently given birth to a beautiful baby boy, on my birthday actually, 3^rd Feb. She travelled all the way up from Cork with the new baby, just a few days old, her husband and older son, M.J, who would have been about nine years old, to attend her Nanny’s funeral. Courageous and kind lady. We were all assembled in Mum’s bedroom, Nicole feeding the beautiful new addition, Derek and I lolling on the bed. Young M.J lying down the side of the bed playing away happily.

Suddenly Nicole jumps:

“ Phyllis, is the heating still on. It’s really hot in here.”

“Yes. Just to keep visitors warm.” I replied.

“Hmm! Do you think we should turn it down for a while?”

I looked a bit puzzled by this request until Derek, the hubby states:

“It’s just that we heard that if it’s too warm in a room where a body is situated it could explode.”

“ You think Mum’s going to explode?” I was laughing.

Well, I’ve never seen a child’s wee head pop up so fast in my life.

“What?” M.J exclaimed , looking shocked.

We’d forgotten about young ears picking up everything, no matter how engrossed they are in their play.

We tried reassuring him that all was well, afraid that it might give him nightmares in the future. It wasn’t going to happen, that I was on my way down to lower the heating.

But, you know, a little part of me actually thought the child was a little disappointed. His Nanny exploding! Boy! Wouldn’t that be something to tell his school mates. It would be better than some of the games they play on their electronic gadgets.

Now, I’m not being disrespectful to my Mum because I know she’d be having a good life at this scenario.

This is were I nearly burst into flames. The priest arrived the next day to say prayers and give a blessing.  My body nearly exploded and landed in ashes on the floor. I’m not religious by any means! Well, I am a  Presleyite!  My church Graceland!

I know this is not fire as we know it but it was too good a story about this young child’s reaction.