It was an old apartment, in which many parts are made of wood, and there was a huge risk of fire. Fire Department asked the residents (居民) to move out, but none would, because they were poor and had nowhere to go. Singermary and her husband had lived here for some years.
In their sweet dreams, the building was on fire. Wooden staircases (楼梯), wooden windows and wooden floors were burning. The fire became bigger and bigger, the residents ran for their lives. When half of the population had got themselves out, the wooden staircases collapsed (倒塌). The remaining residents rushed to the roof of the third floor, which had not been touched by the flames yet, waiting for the fireman to rescue (解救) them. Firemen did arrive in a short while. But the fire engines (消防车) could not reach the building, as the alley (小巷) was too narrow and it was too dark. The situation was critical, and there was no time to lose. The firemen placed a few cushions (垫子) on the floor and got some quilts from the nearby houses. Then they asked the people on the burning building to jump on the cushions after they had shown how. A man jumped down, buttock (臀部) touching the cushions, uninjured. Another person jumped down, uninjured ...They jumped one after another, all safe.
Finally Singermary became the only one on the roof, hesitating (犹豫) while the fire was soaring and the flames would soon take down the roof. People shouted, "Jump, jump!" Singermary jumped, but she jumped head down with open arms. People were greatly shocked. How could she do such a jump? She would kill herself in that way! Luckily, the cushions were very thick, she did not die, but injured seriously, saying with what strength she got, "Please take me to hospital!" She was having a baby. That was why she had jumped head down. That was mother's love! People were deeply moved.
