When Times Are Tough

Chapter 7

John was grateful for the busy day at the station. They had gone out on 8 calls after Roy had left, all before supper time. He was also grateful that his temporary partner for the day was Dwyer. Dwyer had an easy way about him and, he let John drive!

As the men were returning from their last call, they were joking about past firehouse pranks they had been discussing during the ride home. Chet Kelly was waiting in the bay when the squad came to a stop and the paramedics stepped out.

"Hey guys, what's so funny?" he asked.

"Your mustache," answered Dwyer.

Chet reached up and stroked his mustache with his right thumb and pointer finger. "What do you mean?" he asked sounding a bit whiny and displaying a slight frown.

"It's crooked, Chester," answered Johnny. "Anybody can see that."

"It is not!" replied Chet, indignantly, following Dwyer and Gage into the dayroom.

"Yes, Chet, it is crooked. Your mustache is fuller and longer on the right, just a smidge. Albeit a little smidge; but it is still noticeable, just the same. Don't you agree Mike?" Johnny invited the engineer into the bit.

"Let me see," replied Mike. "Look this way, Chet."

Chet looked Mike's direction and made sort of a cheesy smile. Mike played it up. He walked over to Chet, grasping the fireman's chin in his large right hand and turning his head first one way then the other. "Oh yeah," he agreed. "It is definitely crooked. And did you see the gray starting to show? He has three, maybe four gray hairs in it!"

"Mike," Captain Stanley interjected. "you could have kept that part to yourself. You're gonna give the man a complex." Turning to Chet he said, "Don't worry pal, it happens to all of us sooner or later. It doesn't look so bad. After supper you can go in and trim it right up."

"How's that gonna help, Cap? I'll still have the gray hairs." Chet whined.

"Let me get a closer look, amigo," said Marco, walking closer. He leaned his head very close to Chet's upper lip. Then without warning, he reached out and plucked a couple of hairs out of Chet's mustache in one fluid motion.

"YYYYYEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!" hollered Chet, with his eyes bulging out of his face. "What'd you have to go and do that for?!" He said gruffly.

"Well, amigo. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it."

The rest of 51's was laughing so hard they were almost crying. Chet was so indignant and the look on his face was absolutely priceless. All of the men were happy to see that the joke was on Chet. Usually he was the one dishing it out. It was great when the tables were turned.

Hank slapped Marco on the back for the perfect ending to a great gag and said, "All right, now that the comic relief has been administered, let's sit down to some serious chow. I don't know about all of you, but I for one am hungry. I made up a big batch of clam chowder, fried oysters, cole slaw and fresh biscuits. Eat up men!"

Forgetting his hurt pride, Chet quickly grabbed plates and bowls out of the cupboard and set them around the table with Johnny's help. Dwyer got the glasses and the milk while Marco got the eating utensils and before long the gang was almost quiet, but for the sounds of utensils and swallowing.

After supper, the usual card game ensued. To Chet's dismay, he lost. Lost? Impossible! I never lose, that's Johnny's job! "Well how did that happen?" he demanded out loud.

"Guess it just isn't your day, Chester B!" John laughed, as he headed to the dorm to make a call and left Chet to clean up the kitchen.

"Walters' residence, hello" said the voice that answered the phone on the third ring.

"Hi, Sharon? Johnny. Johnny Gage," identified the caller, as though Sharon might be expecting a call from some other Johnny.

"Hi Johnny," Sharon greeted, brightly. "How are you?"

"Me? Oh, fine, fine…" answered Johnny. "I was just calling to see you were doing. How was your day?"

"About the same as yours. I think you brought us half of Los Angeles today." She answered.

John chuckled. "Yeah, it was pretty busy," he agreed.

"How's Roy? Is he doing alright or have you talked to him?"

"I haven't called him yet. I thought maybe I would wait until tomorrow."

"Oh, okay. Well, tell him he's in my prayers," said Sharon.

Yeah, yeah. I'll do that, " said Johnny thoughtfully. "Listen, Sharon… Are you working tomorrow?"

"Yes, I work swing shift tomorrow."

"Oh, you do, huh? Well… maybe… maybe I could take you to breakfast then. I get off here at 8. Would you be interested?"

"Oh, I might be persuaded." Sharon answered sweetly.

"Great! Great… I'll pick you up about, say, 8:30 then?"

"It's a date!" Sharon stated.

"Okay then. I'll see you tomorrow." Johnny promised, excitedly.

"See ya, Johnny. Take care… and be careful out there!" she said, and then Sharon hung up the phone leaving Johnny sitting at the desk in the dorm with his crooked smile.

It was nearly 3:30 when Roy awoke from a deep sleep. When he awoke, he didn't remember where he was. He opened his eyes and waited for the room to come into focus. Gradually it did and he realized he was in his own bed. Then he realized there was a slight sound of snoring in his left ear and he looked to see his daughter curled up next to him, on top of the covers and sound asleep. Smiling, he closed his eyes again and let out a gentle sigh. After a minute he reached over with his right arm and pulled Katie closer to hug her. She opened her eyes and smiled back at him.

"Hi Daddy. You were sleeping so I was very quiet," she said.

"Looks like you fell asleep too, Princess." He said back to her.

Katie giggled. "Are you done sleeping now?" she asked. "Cause I think a story would be nice."

"I think we can manage that, my love," he replied. "What story did you want to hear?"

"I wanna hear a hero story, Daddy. Tell me about you and Uncle Johnny when you are heroes."

Roy didn't feel like a hero lately. He didn't know what to say and he thought about it quietly. After a short while he heard Katie's voice again.

"Daddy, you aren't going back to sleep again are you? I wanna hear a hero story. Please……?" she said.

Roy let out a big sigh and said, "One hero story, coming right up." He didn't know what story he was going to tell, but he knew it better be a good one.