Conversations of Paramedics
John Gage was working on the undercarriage of their old engine, while Roy his friend and paramedic partner was working under the hood. Yes they had done well restoring their engine the second time.
"Hey Roy," Johnny's muffled voice came through the engine.
Roy knew that voice so well, wondering what get rich scheme his partner was thinking of now.
"Yeah Johnny," DeSoto continued to work on the engine, hopefully to take his mind off whatever came out of his friend's mouth.
"Um, Roy, you know the parade we have coming up," Johnny stopped working on the engine.
"Yeah Johnny, that's why we're here," Roy gently reminded Gage.
"Well I was thinking," Johnny sighed.
Roy rolled his eyes, lucky Gage couldn't see it. Only to be met by silence, usually his friend was bubbling over with whatever plans he had.
"Johnny!"
"Oh yeah, anyway I was thinking, now don't be too quick to say no Roy, but I was thinking for the parade it would be cool if we could have like kids ride on the hose bed. You know like the kids at the last demonstration we did , you know," Johnny hoped his tone was right, and Roy would dismiss it.
"Oh, you mean the special needs kids," Roy stopped working on the engine,remembering the delight he had seen in the kids faces.
"Yeah. Yeah, you know they found Big Red…
"Intimating?" Roy grinned.
"Yeah intimating and man, they swarmed over our little engine and you know I think it would be cool, you know, with the department's approval it would be…
"Incredible," Roy laughed.
"Yeah, Roy, incredible for the kids I mean, not for us and…"
"Johnny I think that's a great idea," Roy went back to working on the engine.
"I know it will be a lot of work getting the permission and stuff and..." Johnny's tools clinked together.
"Johnny," Roy was now getting frustrated.
"I agreed with you." Roy looked down through the engine.
"Yeah, I guess you did," Johnny laughed. "Well that's really incredible Roy.
"Well it won't be incredible if we don't get this hunk of junk working for the parade," Roy sighed, hoping Gage would sense the urgency. "We only have two weeks, you know."
"Yeah, yeah, you're a slave driver Roy, but I like you in spite of it," Johnny laughed again and went back to work.
"Hey Johnny," Roy stopped his work.
"Yeah Roy," Johnny sighed in frustration, how was he supposed to get anything done.
"Want to come over for dinner tonight?" Roy realized his friend hadn't been over in a while.
"Actually Roy I have a date and have to get out of here in a few hours. You mind if I get some work done here pally," Johnny started clanking under the engine.
"No, who is it by the way?" Roy wanted to know the woman's name so when she dumped him he could commiserate with him.
"None of your business," Johnny's clanking got louder a sure indication for Roy to get back to work.
####
A few weeks later, the parade in full swing, with their added passengers made Johnny ring the bell with much vigor.
"Hey Johnny," Roy cautioned his partner.
"What?" Johnny clueless as to the irritation of his friend.
"You ring that bell any harder and it's going to break," Roy's annoying voice came out.
"C'mon Roy," Johnny grinned and pointed to the kids in the back of the rig, "The kids are eating it up."
Roy took a quick glance to see six kids with grins so wide and eyes so large it made his heart melt.
"Well we can't disappoint 'em!"
"Sure pally. Sure pally," Johnny rang the bell louder.