Arthur was by all accounts a rather quiet, rather skinny, eight year old boy of average mental ability and,well, nothing special. He always did his homework (almost) and nearly always brushed his teeth and said his prayers and ate all of his food on the plate (except for spinach of course.)

He and spinach would stare at each other for the longest time at dinner until Arthur and the spinach were the last two left in the dining room.

Arthur lived so close to school that he could actually see the school building from his bedroom and so Arthur would walk the short distance to Freedom Elementary each day.

There was a traffic guard, Miss Watson, that watched the walkers and helped the kids that had to cross over to Arthur’s side of the street.

It was a sunny Tuesday spring morning and Arthur had just left for school when he smelled smoke near his next door neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell’s house.

“It’s funny that they should be making breakfast on their outdoor grill.” Arthur thought. But then, the Campbells were older folks and did a lot of things differently than his family did.

Yep. There was smoke rising up from the back of the house where their barbeque grill was.

Arthur was thinking “I wonder how breakfast would taste cooked on a grill.”

Then suddenly he noticed the Campbell’s dog Ruffy barking and jumping at the front window. Arthur and Ruffy were good friends and Arthur just figured that the dog was happy to see him.

But NO!

Ruffy was tearing up the curtains in the window. “I’d better go into the back and tell Mr. Campbell that his dog is ruining their curtains. So Arthur went around to the back of the house.

That’s when he saw it!

Thick dark grey smoke pouring out of the upstairs window of the Campbell’s house. Arthur banged on the door and while he was knocking the second time Ruffy was jumping at that door and barking.

“THE CAMPBELL”S HOUSE IS ON FIRE!” Arthur knew he had to get help and call 911 as soon as possible. He ran back to his own house and yelled for his Mom but picked up the phone and pushed “911”….”What is your emergency?” said the voice on the other end of the line.

“There’s a fire at 3806 Freedom Lane….hurry… people and a dog are trapped inside! I’m Arthur Rogers and I live at 3804 Freedom Lane.”

“OK we’re sending someone…please stay on the line…..”

But Arthur was already running back over to the Campbell’s. Arthur grabbed the pitchfork

that was leaning against Mr. Campbell’s shed and broke the back door glass, reached in and unlocked it and went into the kitchen. Ruffy ran around Arthur in circles as the boy yelled MR. CAMPBELL…MRS. CAMPBELL….” But he heard no answer. Just then Arthur heard the fire engines’ sirens and so he ran to the front door of the house and unlocked it as three firemen ran in.

“Upstairs….they’re upstairs…hurry!” Arthur shouted as the fourth fireman grabbed Arthur and picked him up and carried him outside where Ruffy followed.

Soon Arthur saw Mr. And Mr.s Campbell still in their pajamas and wearing oxygen masks being helped outside by the firemen.

“ARTHUR….are you alright Darling?” It was Arthur’s Mom.

“Sure Mom I’m fine.”

“Oh I was in the shower and didn’t hear anything until the sirens…are you sure you’re OK?”

“Yeah me and Ruffy are great aren’t we boy?”

Ruffy wagged his tail and rubbed up against Arthurs petting hand.

An ambulance took the Campbells off to the hospital and one of the firemen came over to Arthur.

“That was mighty brave of you son but next time just call us …don’t try to go into a house on fire …OK?”

“Sure..OK..Are the Campbells gonna be OK?”

“Yeah… just a little smoke….they’ll be fine…Thanks to you! And… M’aam….your boy there is a real HERO!”

“My well….yes I guess he is. My little HERO!” Arthur’s Mom smiled down at him and hugged him a little too tightly.

“Aw Mom…anybody would have done what I did….I’m nothing special”