Title: Rememories – Pt. 10
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Emergency! is owned by Universal and Mark VII Productions. I make no profit from my imagination—only a personal joy and peace.
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It was just late afternoon when Johnny got the tent and sleeping bags all set up. He had set up camp and got the fire going first thing. Jenny got the food out for their supper…ham sandwiches…and, put one on her plate and two on Johnny's. She smiled as she called, "Uncle Johnny, supper's ready." Johnny smiled as he exited the tent and zipped the closure. He shivered slightly as the chill of the evening set in on the two campers.
"Here, Jen, put your jacket on." He said as he tossed it on the ground near her. She quickly shrugged into the pink windbreaker. "Good, girl. It's gonna be a little cool tonight…down in the 50's. I'm hungry, what did you make?" He asked, already knowing the answer for he had been the one to pack the meal preparations.
"Ham sanwiches." Jenny said proudly. "I made two for you Uncle Johnny." Johnny walked over and sat next to the fire and Jenny joined him at his right side, handing him his plate.
"Two for me, huh?" Johnny asked begrudgingly. He wasn't really that hungry, but would eat all she served so as not to disappoint her. She watched with delight as he ate everything on his plate. It was not usually hard for Johnny to eat a big meal, but when he was sad or upset, it seemed his appetite was the first thing to suffer. He sighed deeply as he finished the last bite.
"Want another one?" Jenny squealed.
"NO!...uh, No, I've had enough, Princess." Johnny answered. They cleaned up their dishes and Jenny sat quietly reading by the fire. During dinner, they had heard a few more pops that sounded like fireworks and Johnny thought to himself, "I wonder who's making all that racket." He shrugged it off as he went to gather a few more logs to keep the fire burning until they went to bed. There were yet marshmallows to roast, after all.
When he returned, Johnny dropped the wood near the fire and brushed his hands on his pants. The sun had just begun to set and the woods were becoming darker. They heard the distant bay of a wolf and Jenny shivered a bit. "Nothing to fear, Princess. That's probly Abby's beau calling to her and the pups." Johnny teased as he smiled. "Remember what I told you about wolves, Princess?" Johnny asked.
"Yes, you said that some Indians believe that wolves carry the spirits of dead people with them. And, when they cry like that, they are just trying to tell their loved ones they are okay and that they are watching from the other side." The girl recalled almost word-for-word the story Johnny told her years ago.
"That's right." He proudly encouraged. He allowed a thought to cross his mind and it was Jenny who gave it words.
"Uncle Johnny…you think that those firemen who died are trying to tell you they are okay and they're watching over you?" Jenny quickly thought better of what she said and turned to see her Uncle's face. Johnny feigned cheer.
"Probly, Peanut. You're probly right." Johnny said with a melancholy tone. Jenny tried to change the subject quickly.
"Tell me a story, Uncle Johnny…please tell me a story." She begged as she put her arms around herself and shivered against the evening breeze.
"You cold, Princess?" Johnny moved toward her and took his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders before she had a chance to answer. He moved to sit next to her and said, "You've heard all my stories, Jen…I don't have any that you haven't heard yet." He teased. The girl started to whine a bit and Johnny gave in promptly. "Okay, but after the story…bedtime." Jenny, though she did not feel tired, agreed to the terms.
Johnny told a story that Jenny had indeed heard before, but she was rapt with awe nonetheless. She coaxed him into telling two more stories and it was well into the night. The little girl yawned as the fire had begun to burn lower. "We didn't roast marshmallows." She said as another yawn escaped. She had snuggled close to Johnny for warmth and comfort. He almost hated to move her for he found that he was comforted as well.
"Well, Princess, that'll hafta wait for next time. You need to get to bed." He regretfully nudged Jenny up and she swayed due to her fatigue. He gently put his arm around her torso and lifted her into his arms. "C'mere, Peanut." He said as he walked to the tent. "Won't be long till you're too big for me to do this." He commented.
"Never, Uncle Johnny…I'll never be too big." She sighed as she drifted off to sleep just moments after Johnny put her down. He regarded the child before him as she zipped her into the sleeping bag. He thought for a minute to get his jacket from her, but did not want to wake her. He decided to leave it since he would only be up for a little while longer himself. Once he was sure that Jenny was sleeping peacefully, he moved out of the tent and zipped the closure. He again shivered against the chill of the night air, but moved next to the fire to fight it off.
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JoAnne had settled onto the couch with the daily newspaper in hand. She brewed herself a cup of hot tea and was going to read the paper before going to bed. The house was still and quiet as she took a deep breath and opened to the local news stories.
JoAnne was always amazed at how people treated each other. Roy and Johnny saw the seedier side of life far more than she did. They had become almost numb to the some of the horrible things that people did. She hoped that would never happen to her or her children. She read an article about a man who had beaten his wife and child so severely that the woman would never be able to have any more children. "That's horrible." JoAnne said aloud to the empty room. She read on.
The final story she read was about some random gunfire that had been heard at many homes in the hills surrounding Los Angeles. The authorities investigated and found several dead animal carcasses and some minor property damage, but they did not have any idea who was doing all this. Several farmers and other landowners reported hearing "fireworks" and "pops", but did not realize it was gunfire until they found the dead animals or the bullet holes in their fences and barn walls.
"It seems that this could just be some teenagers out for some thrill seeking." The sheriff was quoted. "We are taking all reports seriously and tracking down all leads. We just hope to find whoever it is before someone gets hurt."
JoAnne felt a moment of unease when she realized some of the reports had been up near where Johnny lived. When the phone rang, she was shaken the thought. "DeSoto residence." She answered.
"JoAnne, I'm sorry to call so late, but this is Joe Early. Is Roy there?" Dr. Early asked.
"No, Dr. Early. He and Chris are on a fishing trip. They will be back tomorrow afternoon. Do you want me to have him call you?"
"Well, I am really trying to reach Johnny. There's no answer at his place and I thought Roy might know where he is." Dr. Early replied.
"Oh, well, I can help you there. Johnny took our daughter, Jenny, camping out on his property. They are due back here the same time Roy and Chris get back…before dinner time tomorrow." JoAnne clarified.
He heard Dr. Early sigh and then he continued. "Can you have Johnny call me as soon as you see him tomorrow? I have some news to share with him."
"I hope it is good news, Dr. Early. Cuz' Johnny sure could use some after all that's happened." She shared.
"I can't tell you much, JoAnne, but I think it will be good news to Johnny…I'm just not sure how he'll react."
"I will have him call as soon as he gets in. I promise." JoAnne said. They bid their good-byes and she hung up the phone. She said a pray for Johnny and Greg Daniels as she turned off the lights and went to the bedroom. When she lay down in bed, she had all but forgotten about the news article she had read.
TBC