A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Time now for StoryCorps. In 2019, Brittany Bouck and her 8-year-old daughter had just moved from a domestic violence shelter into their own apartment. Then a massive fire broke out in their building just outside Chicago. Bouck sat down with Charlie Sharp, a longtime Red Cross volunteer who responded to the fire that day.
CHARLIE SHARP: It was only about a two-minute drive from my house. There was nothing left of that 40-unit apartment building except parts of a couple of walls.
BRITTANY BOUCK: I left with the clothes on my back because everything was lost. Everything was gone. I was just trying to get myself back on our feet. And then that's when the fire happened. It was like, all right, well, we're homeless again.
SHARP: You know, I can't do anything about the fire.
BOUCK: Yeah.
SHARP: But the people that were there, that's where my concern was. And most of the people there had family or friends that they could go and stay with.
BOUCK: I had nobody. I was scared to death. I said, I have to start over again. And I remember being crouched down. And it was you who came up to me. And you're like, it's going to be OK. What do you need? How can I help you?
SHARP: That day that we spent together was so personal and so emotional. But then we didn't see each other for quite a while.
BOUCK: Yea.
SHARP: It was like five years. And there was another large apartment fire. And the Red Cross was involved, like we always are.
BOUCK: I just remember tapping on your shoulder. And I'm like, Charlie, it's Brittany (laughter). I ended up becoming a social worker. And the look on your face, you're like, no way.
(LAUGHTER)
SHARP: What a surprise.
BOUCK: I know.
SHARP: I was so happy to see you again.
BOUCK: (Laughter) Me, too.
SHARP: After that, I realized that I liked having you in my life.
BOUCK: Yes. You're stuck with me, so - (laughter).
SHARP: Well, I'm glad to be. There isn't a whole lot we have in common. My kids are all older than you.
BOUCK: (Laughter) Yeah
SHARP: And when you have spare time, you know where you're going to be, right?
BOUCK: Yes.
SHARP: You're going to be going to fires with me.
BOUCK: Yes, I am. You know, you are someone so important to me and just a friend for life. Thank you.
SHARP: Thank you very much. You've changed my life, too.
(SOUNDBITE OF SAM ALEXANDER MCLOUGHLIN SONG, "END WHEN AGAIN")
MARTÍNEZ: Brittany Bouck and Charlie Sharp in DeKalb, Illinois. Their interview is archived at the Library of Congress. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.