Leonard Pitts: A fire at my house

Maybe it came from that night as a boy when I saw flames towering out of a neighbor's house. Maybe it was something else.

All I know is, I've always had it. It's why I'm punctual about changing smoke alarm batteries, why I have fire extinguishers all over the house, why every bedroom has one of those escape ladders you unfold out of a box and clip to the window ledge. I've always wanted to be ready if ever there was a fire at my house.

I am in my office upstairs when I hear the smoke alarm go off. I wait a second for it to stop. When it doesn't, I go stand at the top of the stairs and yell down. I'm not surprised to hear The Son Whose Cooking Always Sets Off The Smoke Alarm yell back that…