Chapter 3

Observations

Over the next two months, Mike would see Alisha form time to time. He even noticed that she was watching him. He would see her watching in her window when he came home. Then later on he noticed that she was in the window watching him when he left for work too. Unfortunately he was also aware of her trying the door knob some times, after he got home. There was also a time or two when he saw her hanging around the apartment complex on his days off. She was always very shy and when ever Mike spoke to her or gave her a smile, she would duck her head or run off. Often when he saw her she was wearing dirty clothing, in need of some mending; and her hair was rarely brushed out leaving it looking like a snarled mess.

One thing that bugged Mike was the fact that he only rarely saw the little girl's mother and when he was aware of the step-father, he was usually yelling at the little girl. Before long, Mike started feeling sorry for the little girl and he would wonder if there was anything he could do to help but then Chet's word would ring in his head and he brushed the idea out of his mind. But there were other times when Roy's advice would be ringing in his head too. He finally decided to watch and see how the other tenants from the complex interacted with Alisha. It didn't take long for him to see that she was ignored most of the time and when they did acknowledge her presents, they were usually scolding her.

Soon the summer was coming to a close and schools started up again, this meant that Alisha was not around as much.

One morning as Mike was leaving to go to work, he noticed Alisha was standing near the road. Mike assumed she was waiting for her school bus. When he drove past her he noticed that her eyes were red and there were tracks on her face indicating she had been crying.

That day at work, Mike's thoughts kept wandering back to the little girl and he often wondered if there was any thing he could do to help ensure the little girl could have a better life. With out getting involved that is. What ever he did it would have to be done in secret. He was worried that if her parents found out he was soft; they would come looking for more assistance from this generous man.

After lunch he made a point of catching Roy alone back in the looker room. "Roy, I was wondering if you could give me some advice?"

"Sure Mike what can I do for you?"

"Do your remember Alisha, the little girl from my apartment complex?" Roy nodded. "Well I've been keeping an eye out for her and I've noticed that she's not cared for very well. I would really like to help in some way but I'm not sure how. Do you have any ideas?"

Roy pondered the question for a moment then asked, "Do you think she needs the services of Health and Welfare?"

Mike didn't even want to consider getting that involved as Chet's words on the subject rang fresh in his mind. "No I don't think so. I was hoping to do something anonymously."

"Well . . . " Mike could see he was thinking on the matter and he waited to see what he would say. However that opportunity was ended with the sound of the tones. Squad fifty-one, possible heart attack victim, twenty-four thirty-two Eagle Heights road, cross street, Panoramic View, time out 14:23.

The squad was kept busy the rest of that day and it wasn't until after lights out that Johnny and Roy where back to the station for any length of time that would have allowed Mike to speak with Roy again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Everyone was wakened by the blaring of the tones and the lights coming on. Station fifty-one, Station one-ten, Engine two-fifteen, structure fire thirty-five ninety-eight Belmont St., Cross Street Buena Vista. Time out 1:06.

All the men flung their blankets off and slipped their feet into their waiting boots and turn out pant and moved towards the bay, while pulling their suspenders over their shoulders. Mike hurried over to the driver's side of Big Red, quickly pulling on his over coat and helmet. Slipping behind the steering wheel, he started the engine. He was rolling forward as Captain Stanley shut the passenger's side door, with the squad in the lead.

As they pulled up to the fire, Mike saw that it was an old abandoned warehouse, with flames visible on the north side of the building. Mike stopped the truck by the nearest hydrant and watched through the side mirrors as Chet and Marco hopped down and ran to the back of the truck. He watched as they pulled the supply line hose around the hydrant and he pulled forward, closer to the fire. Parking the big rig, he hopped out and quickly hooked up the supply line ensuring that there would be a consent supply of water to the pumps on the engine. Then he started priming the lines in preparation of fighting the fire. Once all the hoses where in use and the gages were reporting stable pressure, Mike hurried over to the squad. After laying out one of the yellow blankets, he pulled out the bio-phone, oxygen, and drug box. With that finished he ran back to Big Red and continued to monitor the gages while keeping an eye on Cap for any further instructions that may come up.

A few minutes later Mike saw Roy and Johnny coming out of the burning building. Roy was carrying a young child and Johnny had a woman over his shoulders. Mike quickly checked his gages, seeing that they were stable. He ran over to see if they needed any help. Roy had oxygen on the little girl and was taking her vitals. Johnny, seeing his approach called out, "Get the oxygen off of the engine." Mike quickly returned with the second oxygen tank and knelt by the woman's head. He quickly put the mask over the woman's face and turned it on, while Johnny was working on her vitals. Seeing that he was not needed, Mike returned back to Big Red and checked his gages. Every thing was good. Moments later, he heard Johnny trying to comfort the woman. She had regained consciousness and was worried about her daughter and was fighting to get to her. He ran over and helped hold her still while Johnny assured her that her daughter was getting the best of care. The woman finally relaxed and allowed Johnny to continue caring for her. Mike asked, "Do your need any more help." Johnny took a moment to consider the offer, and then shook his head. Mike returned back to his gages.

As the ambulance was pulling in close, the driver inadvertently drove over one of the hoses causing pressure to build up in the lines. Mike instantly recognized the pressure increase and turned to look around to see what might be the cause. As soon as he was facing away from the truck the hose line from one of the engines pump ruptured, a few feet in front from him. The high water pressure hit Mike, slamming him against the knobs and gages of the fire engine, leaving him breathless and stunned. The remaining end of the hose, still attached to the engine's pumps flipped about continually striking him and dowsing everyone within range.

Captain Stanley saw what was happening and that his engineer was in trouble. Quickly he dashed in to help get the pumps turned off. Working together they turned the pump off and quickly replaced the ruptured hose line and got the pressure back up to working levels.

"Are you okay?" Cap asked, after the excitement was over.

"Yea, just got the wind knocked out of me." He said breathlessly. Cap considered the information for a minute while eyeing him, then nodded his head and turned his attention back to the fire.

It took the rest of the night to get the fire under control and everything loaded back up.