Three Strikes You're Out
FF/Paramedic John Gage looked at the flyer and his fellow paramedic partner Roy DeSoto. They were in John's Rover driving towards the meeting.
"Man this is tough Roy," Johnny sighed. "Real tough. We're supposed to save people and buildings, not go on strike." The worried man concentrated on the heavy traffic on the 5 freeway.
"Yeah I know Johnny," Roy also sighed. "But you know it will never happen, never." Traffic seemed to be at a standstill on the freeway, giving them a reprieve what awaited them.
"But Roy," Gage whined. "You can never say never." He had known that, look at the paramedic program along with rescue squads.
"Okay Johnny let me ask you this," Roy tried to calm himself. "In your lifetime have you ever heard of firefighters going on strike?" Not sure if he was trying to reassure him or his friend.
"Well, no, not actually. I mean you hear about the 'blue flu' all the time but know, not that I can ever remember," Gage blew out his breath. "But I'm telling you man, this is scary."
Roy bit his lower lip, thinking of feeding his wife and kids along with the other expenses.
"So Roy," Johnny looked at his worried friend. "Roy!"
"Huh what?" Roy grinned, getting out of his funk.
"Did you ever want to be anything else than a firefighter? I mean what do you think you would be if you weren't a firefighter?" the worried man asked his partner, fearing he had been wrong all these years.
"No, I've always wanted to be a fireman, personally I can't think of anything else I'd rather be." Roy voiced out loud. "But if I had to, I'd do anything to take care of my family. What about you?"
"Me?" Johnny's voice squeaked. "I...I mean you wouldn't believe the things I wanted to be when I grew up Roy."
"That remains to be seen Johnny. I don't think you've grown up yet," Roy smiled and rubbed his nose.
"Hey no remarks from the peanut gallery," Johnny said in an huff. "In that case." Gage concentrated on driving.
"I'm sorry Johnny. I guess this has gotten me bugged. What else did you want to be?" Roy wondered how his friends brain worked.
"Um, I don't know the usual. Chief, medicine man, truck driver. But Roy once I found firefighting I was done and I have you to thank about being a paramedic." Johnny grinned and then laughed.
"Not funny Johnny," Roy grinned.
"Okay...okay. Let's just hope this meeting goes no further than a meeting," Johnny pushed the gas as the traffic started to move.
"Yeah, I heard you there, partner," Roy sighed.
The rest of the drive to the union hall was in silence.
