Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Rye and Mac stand with their arms crossed. I put them through the ringer about all of this, knowing that as a new official, all of my safety reviews will be under immense scrutiny.
The Home Fire Department has a half-dozen people in total, and in addition to putting out fires, it’s also our duty to inspect the safety of any new construction in the town.
I volunteered to learn and expand my skills. It’s something I can do if my body ever gives out and I can’t carry people out of burning buildings anymore. Hopefully I’m decades away from that point, but hey, you can never start too early.
The Rough boys recently won a sweet contract to build a new community center in the town, and they’re currently putting on the finishing touches before declaring the project done.
“So that’s it? We’re done? We’ve cleared all your safety hurdles?” Mac says. He’s been slightly annoyed with how much of a stickler I am being about all this.
“Hey, he’s just helping keep people safe,” Reuben chimes in, a brotherly hand over my shoulder. “Don’t be a dick to Hank for just doing his job.”
I nod. “If I was less strict, you should be worried. The previous inspector might have been half-assing it.”
Rye nods. “Old Man Richards did seem to be out of fucks to give about anything. If I didn’t realize we forgot to put smoke detectors in that bungalow outside town, no one would have.”
Mac sighs, and relents. “Yeah, I guess. Sorry, don’t mean to be a dick at ya.”
I shake my head. “No offense taken, I’m not a fan of being a super strict asshole either, but it has to be done.”
“Job’s done now, though,” Rye adds. “We all go out and get plastered in celebration. You’re welcome to get plastered with us, Hank.”
I laugh, but shake my head. “Can’t. Told Fig I’d go and help her do the last touch-ups on her shop. Opening day is very close.”
Reuben slaps me on the back. “Ah, I see my sister has you completely under her control now.”
“Yep. I’m henpecked and I couldn’t be happier.”
Mac lets out a long sigh. “Yeah, guess we shouldn’t get plastered anymore. Maybe a few drinks. Gotta be adults now. I mean, all of us are, or are expecting to become, parents, right?”
Rye nods. “Bit of a pain, but sometimes you give something up to do something better. I’ll pass on getting the hangovers for a happy wife who is very excited to see me come home.”
“Think I need to swing by the store and get Merit some soda. Just remembered I promised that,” Mac says.
“Need some baby formula from the store myself,” Rye adds. “And maybe some of the muffins Prairie really likes.”
“Aw, jeez,” Reuben chimes in. “That’s right, Meadow wanted me to get her some guitar strings. So guess we ain’t celebrating tonight at all.”
“The time will come boys,” I say. “We take care of our loves, and that comes with some responsibility. But next family dinner, I’m sure we’ll all raise a wine glass to a job well done.”
“Can I do whiskey at least?” Mac asks. “If I wanted to drink grape juice I’d just drink grape juice.”
Rye pats his brother on the head. “I’m sure Dad won’t mind, Mac.”
They all laugh, and the four of us head for the door and go our separate ways. I have an errand to run before I go home to my love too, and it isn’t at the grocery or music supply store.
Home’s small enough that you can get through it at a brisk walk, and you see a lot of the same faces everyday, meeting them with a smile. I missed it when I was in Spokane. I was a single face in the sea there, but I really feel like I’m part of a community here.
“Britney, you really shouldn’t dial 911 for this.”
“But Spider is up in a tree!”
And sometimes you run into close friends and family.
Graham is talking to a six-year-old child. He looks somewhat annoyed, but knows the target of his annoyance doesn’t know any better. “911 is for emergencies. I don’t think this is one, Spider seems happy in that tree.”
“But I need him down here! It is an emergency, Officer Rough!”
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“The old cat stuck in the tree problem?” I say as I approach.
“Hank? Aren’t small animals in tall places they shouldn't be a firefighter problem?”
“I mean, we can help with that. We got the equipment.”
“You think you can call in reinforcements? Britney wants her cat back, but my squad car didn’t come equipped with a ladder.”
I look up and down the tree, and the cat casually chills on the branch. “Nah, you don’t need all the firefighters for this.”
“How are we going to get Spider down then?” the kid asks me eagerly.