I followed Casey to the Chiefs office in a daze, he was not at all pleased to meet me once he realized his new candidate was in fact a girl. We barged through the doors of Chief Bodens office, Casey pressing both hands forcefully against his desk as the Chief turned around in his chair.

"Why hello Lieutenant, I see you have taken the liberty of escorting our new candidate to my office." He stated, unamused by Casey's attitude.

"You knew about this?" He questioned gesturing to me, "And you didn't think to tell me?" Casey was infuriated.

"What exactly was I supposed to tell you?" Chief Boden replied, beggining to raise his voice, standing up at his desk.

"That Billy's a - she's a-"

"-a girl." I cut Casey off, both men looked at me. I turned to face Casey, both of my hands tightly gripping the chair in front of me, so many words flew through my head, but the words of my father forced themselves to the front,

"Hold your tongue mija." He would say, "You are the show respect to those around you."

Biting my tongue I turned around and began towards the door, but something inside of me forced my legs to stop. All of my life I have tiptoed around others, I have shown respect even when people did not deserve it, I deserve for once to stand up for myself. With that I couldn't help it, I spun around to face the two men and looked Casey straight in the eyes. "Yes lieutenant, I am in fact a 'girl', a girl who worked her ass off her entire duration at the academy. A girl who scored the highest in her section, who ran circles around every boy who told me I would amount to nothing. A girl who worked her ass off to be here , that earned her place, who you should be lucky to have as a candidate." I stated firmly, holding my ground. Casey began to open his mouth but I cut him off once more. "You may look at me and see only a girl, but I know this is where I'm supposed to be and from today moving forward I will do everything in my power to prove to you that I'm not the belittled image of a woman that you see me as, I am a firefighter."

Chief Boden looked to me and nodded his head in silent approval, "Is there anything else you'd like to add Lieutenant?" Casey looked at me and shrugged his shoulders

"Well then, candidate you think that this is where you're meant to be?" Casey smirked, I nodded my head. "Good. The showers need mopping." He seethed, pointing out the door to a custodial closet, walking away from me he turned around once more looking straight through me with those eyes, "Don't screw it up."