My Corner. The Hot Corner.

My street corner seems to attract a lot of attention these days, especially this evening.

Just about a month after a coincidental work-from-home-come-crime-witness afternoon, I arrived home today, followed soon after by two ambulances, one of which parked on the sidewalk corner outside of my house.

Like the, um, interested Southie resident that I am (word choice of interested, most certainly not nosey), I surveyed the scene for information. No gurneys. No blood. No noticeable injuries. I was running late for the gym, so I simply went on my way.

Fast forward a few hours to 9:30 pm. Me, having finished dinner, dishwasher unloaded, checking email, sitting on the couch, watching WWE RAW (in other words, a standard Monday night), I notice flashing lights outside and hear sirens.

Great. Now what?

Sure enough, two fire engines come roaring to a halt outside on my building.

At the hot corner.

Rosie and I went out to the back deck for a better view. Firemen were sauntering up the same side street that I saw the criminal run up just a month ago. I couldn't tell what they were looking for, so of course I figured the worst (gun-toting psycho firestarter looking for his next target).

I decided that the deck wasn't yielding enough info, and I needed to put myself into the fray. I brought Rosie inside (against her will - things were far too exciting for a boring kitchen floor), and ran downstairs.

I spoke with the first fireman who I saw. While he seemed less than excited to speak with a civilian like me, he did offer up the information that someone called in an odor of smoke. I was advised to check my building (by my neighbor), which I did. No smoke, no smell.

For a few minutes longer, I waited downstairs in my shorts and t-shirt, apparently ready to pitch in if need be(?!) One fireman concluded that someone in the neighborhood was probably using a meat smoker and the wind was blowing in this direction (uh..sure, OK).

Cops, ambulances, and now fire engines. I'm assuming all that is left is the National Guard.