It all started when, Frankie Payne, the singer in the club for many years and made a lot of dough, was gettin' ready to perform the Star Spangled Banner. All of a sudden around 10:30 PM, my dear friend Rose screamed, “A FIRE!”
At first I started to chuckle and thought she was nuts because Rose was always known as a jolly joker. But then as I glanced behind her, I saw about 25 people runnin' in our direction. I was dazed and confused. And then I saw it; the blaze was like an orange and red cloth mixed with a thick, black smoke. The fire pranced and viciously spread within the room and consumed all in its path. I shudder just rememberin' it.
I can still hear the din from the people runnin' toward me. But most of all, I cannot forget the look on Rose’s face; the crowds shrieks did not block out her reaction. She broke out into tears that hurriedly rolled down her terrified face. Before thinkin' twice, I grabbed Rose’s arm and headed to an emergency exit. I had been to the Cocoanut clip joint a lot and knew of another door to mooch on out.
It was almost impossible to get through the crowd because everyone was runnin' for their lives. I figured I'd motion as many people as possible to follow me in an effort to lead them to safety. But to my horror, my grasp started to slip off Rose’s small hand. She noticed too an' tried pushin' her way back to me. The smoke filled my lungs and drowned me. I struggled and fought back with all my might. When I finally reached the back door, it was locked. I panicked knowin' that there was no time to make everyone turn around and follow me out another way.
I yelled for someone to help out and two men helped me break down the door. We threw ourselves into the door and finally pounded it open. I remember dark smoke followin' us out of the building as firemen and policemen hurried toward us.
One police officer came to me with a blanket, but I turned away looking for Rose. Where is she? I turned toward the back door of the club but I couldn’t see her. My eyes searched the survivors in hopes of finding her. Where is she?! I asked myself again, and grew more anxious as people ran out of the club. Where is she?!!
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