Fire!
From the fire, I learned what cops are made of. I learned what panic can do. And I learned that cats really do have nine lives.
The building was renovated: a 6 floor walk-up, a bit too fancy to be called a NYC tenement. Our apartment was on the fifth. On each floor, were two railroad flats running from front to back on either side of the staircase. When I smelled the smoke, I went out into the hall to investigate.