I went as   36   as I could to Debbie’s. I got to the front door. I could 37 a heavy, thick smoke. I put my hand on the doorknob(门把手), and reached for my key and 38  the door. “Here, Jim. Help!” Her voice was weak.

Several minutes 33 I heard a sound. It was Nan on the 34  . “Jim! Jim!” I heard over the monitor. “The house is 35 ! Help! ”

“Good night, Nan,” I said. I 31  my stick and headed out the door. “See you tomorrow,” Nan called behind me. I locked the door and 32  my way home.

“If you’re okay,” I said, “I think I’ll turn in.” Before I 30, I made sure the baby monitor was working.

Like me, Nan was   28 ―and was also hard of hearing. That evening Nan and I chatted for a bit 29.

I was 26  to help. After all, I’ve been blind since infancy(婴儿期) and out of work for years. In fact, at 54, I’d come to wonder if I had much   27 anymore.

I’d lived next door to Debbie and her 84-year-old  23  , Nan, for about six months, and we’d become fast friends. Debbie always worked at night. She  24  leaving her mom alone, so she asked if it was okay if she rigged (装配) up one of those baby monitors and  25  me a receiver.

   “Not a problem,” I said.

One night last summer, my neighbor Debbie came over and knocked on my door. “I’m leaving for   21, Jim,” she said. “Would you mind dropping by my house in a bit and   22 on my mother?”