My Neighborhood

When my sister, Liz, bought a microwave oven, we were reminded that we’re not supposed to put inside anything made of stainless steel. Luckily, no one have forgotten that reminder so far.

So, when I went home to the province last weekend, I was stunned when I saw something burning inside my aunt’s microwave oven. It seems like my niece, Maki, forgot the reminder and heated soup in a stainless mug with plastic handle. WE panicked. Yes, we certainly did. But the poor girl managed to pull the plug from the socket right away. The fire, however, wasn’t extinguished. So, she opened the microwave and we found that the plastic handle was still burning. Honestly, I was kind of hoping that it would just burn itself out.

Then, my aunt came and really REALLY panicked and screamed that ‘the house was burning!!!’

Before worse damage could occur, I grabbed my aunt’s arm and led her out of the house telling her that everything was going to be all right since the plug was already pulled. My cousin, Josie, Maki’s mom, came and doused the burning handle with a wet rag totally putting the fire out.

Well, aside from the trashing that my niece received from her enraged mom, nothing worse came about and everything got back to normal .