Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to HiT Entertainment. All OCs belong to me.
Chapter 21
Within a month, I'd settled into my new routine. I found university a bit overwhelming at first, but I soon made a few friends, so that helped. I was the youngest student in the chemistry faculty, which did raise some concern amongst my tutors, however I soon proved that I was able to keep up with my studies.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of my week was on Wednesday evenings when I would go to the Cardiff Central Fire Station for my cadet training. Since I was new, I spent the first few weeks just studying theory. I quickly learned not to bother the senior officers, and to stay well out of the way whenever the alarms went off. I also learned the correct way to slide down the fireman's pole without blistering my hands. Station Officer Michaels assured me that once my hands calloused, I wouldn't get blisters. However, I preferred to use my arms to control my slide. Some of the firemen at the station were confident enough to slide down using only one arm, but I preferred to use two.
On my fifth week as a Fire Cadet, Granddad dropped me off at the fire station just before six o'clock in the evening. We had a watch changeover at precisely 6pm, and although the Fire Cadets didn't have to join in, it was encouraged.
I hurried upstairs to change into my new station uniform. I'd only received the station uniform the week before, so I was excited to wear it. The uniform consisted of thick navy-blue pants, and a navy cotton shirt with the Cardiff Fire Brigade's logo on the upper left-hand sleeve. There were short sleeved shirts for summer, and long-sleeved shirts for winter. Since it was early autumn, I put on my short-sleeved shirt. Because I was a Cadet, I didn't have to wear the full uniform when presenting for rollcall, unlike the full-time firemen.
An alarm sounded around the station. It wasn't the emergency alarm. This one was quieter and a different tone, but I knew what it meant. It was our signal to fall in downstairs for rollcall.
I joined in the mad scramble as White Watch hurried downstairs. Some of the firemen used the stairs, but most of us decided to use the fireman's poles. I liked to use the poles for practice. As soon as I'd reached the ground floor, I ran over to where the rest of the watch were lining up and I fell into place at the end of the line. I was just in time, because at that moment, Station Officer Michaels and Sub-Officer Smithers emerged from the watch room.
"White watch!" Sub-Officer Smithers shouted. "Atten-shun!"
In perfect unison, we immediately snapped to attention. Sub-Officer Smithers then began to take the roll. Knowing that I was the last name on the list, I stood quietly, staring at the brick wall straight ahead of me.
"…Fire Cadet Jules," Sub-Officer Smithers finally called.
"Here," Simon replied from beside me.
"And Fire Cadet Jones."
"Here," I answered.
"Excellent. All present, sir," Sub-Officer Smithers reported to Station Officer Michaels. "Do you have any announcements you wish to make?"
Station Officer Michaels walked over to one of the firemen standing about halfway down the line. "Fireman Bridges! Where is your torch?"
"I loaned it to Fireman Wilson from Green Watch, sir. He couldn't find his yesterday when he came on duty."
"I don't care!" Station Officer Michaels snapped. "If he's lost a piece of his equipment, then that's his problem! You had no right to loan him any of your equipment! Now you're the one who's going to be disciplined. I'll see you in my office immediately after rollcall. I'm putting you on a charge, and I'll be personally informing Station Officer Harcourt about Fireman Wilson's missing torch. This could seriously affect your probationary period, you know."
"Yes, sir," Fireman Bridges replied. I heard him gulp nervously.
Station Officer Michaels continued down the line, inspecting our uniforms closely. He finally stopped in front of Simon and myself.
"After rollcall is over, I want you two to fetch a couple of training hoses and meet me over near the training tower," he instructed in a much gentler tone.
"Yes, sir," we answered in unison.
Nodding, Station Officer Michaels returned to where Sub-Officer Smithers was standing. I bit my bottom lip to stop myself from smiling. From the sound if it, I hoped that today I'd get to use a full-sized firehose for the very first time. I was really excited about that prospect, but I knew I couldn't show my excitement while I was on parade.
"White Watch!" Sub-Officer Smithers shouted. "To your duties! Dismissed!"
We promptly did a right turn and took a step before we fell out of line. But before we could do anything else, the alarms went off. I saw Sub-Officer Smithers dive inside the watch room to collect the print out from the fax machine. At the same time, the firemen scrambled to get inside the fire appliances.
"Pump-ladder only!" Sub-Officer Smithers shouted as he left the watch room with the print out. "Boy stuck up a tree in Bute Park, Corbett Road entrance."
A collective groan arose from the firemen on the two pumpers.
"Cadet Jones?" Sub-Officer Smither called. "Open the doors for the pump-ladder."
Seeing that I was quite close to the rope, I ran over to it. The ropes opened the garage doors, but you had to pull on them like the ropes used to ring the bells in cathedrals. Yanking hard on the rope, I managed to open the sideway folding doors, and the pump-ladder drove away with the lights flashing. As soon as the pump-ladder had cleared the doorway, the driver turned on the siren. I watched it go, wishing that I could be on it.
Once the appliance was out of sight, I started to close the doors. Unfortunately, the doors weren't as easy to close as they were to open. They had to be manually pulled closed.
"I'll take care of closing the doors, Sam," one of the firemen kindly offered. "You'd better go, or you'll be late for training."
"Thank you!" I gushed, before I hurried over to the cupboard where the training equipment was stored. Simon was already there, trying to pick up one of the training hoses.
"Stop, Simon!" I exclaimed. "You'll hurt yourself trying to pick it up that way."
"And how would you know?" Simon spat. "You've only been here a month."
Shaking my head, I bent down, and I manoeuvred one of the training hoses up onto my left-hand shoulder, exactly as Fireman Steele had taught me. I then placed my left hand around the top of the coiled hose, and I picked up a brass nozzle with my right hand. I knew there were other methods for carrying the hoses, but since I was still growing, this was the safest and easiest method. I could now carry the hose without straining myself.
Leaving Simon straining to carry his hose, I walked across the yard to where the training tower stood. I was yet to go inside the tower, but I hoped that it wouldn't be long before I did.
A few minutes later, Station Officer Michaels joined me. "You may put that hose down now, Sam. Did you figure out how to carry it that way, or did somebody teach you?"
"Fireman Steele taught me," I replied as I set the hose down as gently as I could.
"Fireman Steele?"
"Yes, He's one of the firemen in the Pontypandy brigade. What are we doing today?"
"I'll tell you once Simon gets here. Where is he?"
"I left him struggling with his hose. He didn't want my help."
"I see. Stay here. I'll go and get him."
About five minutes later, Station Officer Michaels returned with Simon, who was now carrying his hose the way I had.
"…And if you'd just let Sam help you, we would have started by now," Station Officer Michaels told Simon.
Simon threw his hose down carelessly at my feet. "Teacher's pet!" he hissed under his breath. I decided to ignore him.
Station Officer Michaels cleared his throat. "Tonight, boys, you are going to learn how to unroll hoses, connect them to an outlet, and add extensions."
"I already know how to do all that," Simon complained.
"But Sam probably doesn't, so you can help teach him," Station Officer Michaels told him firmly.
Simon scowled at me. I smiled slightly. This should be fun!
"Let's start by seeing how well you can both unroll a hose. Don't be upset if you can't get it the first time, Sam. This skill takes many years to master, and…"
While he was still speaking, I bowled my coiled hose as straight as possible. Station Officer Michaels and Simon stared in disbelief as my hose unrolled itself perfectly across the yard. Even I was surprised, because it was the first time I'd managed to unroll a hose perfectly. I wasn't about to tell them that though. Grinning, I turned to face them.
"Any questions?"
Station Officer Michaels swallowed before he spoke. "You've had practice, haven't you?"
I nodded. "Fireman Steele taught me."
"What else did he teach you?"
"Quite a lot. How to roll hoses back up, how to join them together, how to use a fire extinguisher, how to clean the appliances…"
"Too bad he didn't teach you how to put out fires," Simon scoffed.
"I was coming to that."
Station Officer Michaels placed a hand on my shoulder. "I think we can safely say that your trial period is now over, Sam. You'll be staying on here as a Cadet. Off you go now, Simon. Show us what you can do."
Simon couldn't contain his jealously, or his anger. He threw his hose as hard as he could, up into the air instead of along the ground. It came down with a bounce before it fell over onto its side. Only a couple of metres had been unrolled.
"Fire Cadet Simon Jules!" Station Officer Michaels roared. "That is exactly how you break hoses! Go up to my office immediately! I'm phoning your parents to come and pick up. Sam, you may remain in the yard and continue practicing rolling and unrolling the hoses. I'll be back shortly."
"Yes, sir."
By the time Station Officer Michaels returned, I was getting bored unrolling hoses.
"What's going to happen to Simon, sir?" I asked.
"I've banned him from coming here for the next three weeks. He's jealous of you, you know."
"Really? Why?"
'Because he thinks you're better at this than he is."
"If he took the time to learn and practice like I did, maybe he would be as good as me," I replied without thinking.
Station Officer Michaels nodded. "You're right. But your smugness isn't helping the situation either. Now, would you like to learn how to put out a fire with the hose?"
"Yes, please, sir!"
"All right. I'll set up a fire in a crib. You can connect that hose to the hydrant over there."
I immediately unrolled my hose again, and I carried one end over to the hydrant. This is going to be fantastic!
Before long, I'd successfully extinguished the fire inside the crib, using the hose. It was very satisfying, and I couldn't wait to put out more fires.
…
Why do I feel so hot? I wondered as I left the Chemistry School building at university just over a week later.
It was now October, and autumn was in full swing. However, over the past couple of days, I hadn't been feeling quite myself. I'd been lethargic and disinterested in everything, even my Fire Cadet training that had happened the day before. I'd hardly touched my breakfast this morning, prompting Granddad to ask me if I was feeling homesick. I'd said that I was a little, which seemed to satisfy him. But now, after a long day at university, all I wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep.
Thank goodness it's a long weekend because of the Bank Holiday, and I don't have classes on Fridays, so I can spend the next four days sleeping, I thought as I made my way over to granddad's car. He smiled as I climbed in.
"How was university today?" granddad asked.
"It was okay, I guess."
Granddad's smile faded. "Sam, are feeling all right? You look half asleep, and your face is flushed."
"I think I've been overdoing things a little, that's all."
Granddad reached over, and he placed the back of his hand against my forehead. "You're burning up! I wouldn't be at all surprised if you've caught the flu bug that's been going around. I'm taking you straight to the doctor."
Great! Just what I didn't need. "I'll be okay, granddad. Really. I just need to sleep, and I'll be fine."
Granddad shook his head firmly as he started up his car. "Sorry, but that's not going to happen. Your mother will kill me if anything happens to you. It's better to be safe than sorry."
Knowing that nothing I said would change granddad's mind, I sighed heavily in defeat.
All too soon, we arrived at the doctor's surgery that granddad liked to use. It wasn't busy, so we got an appointment right away with granddad's usual doctor, Dr Murphy.
"What can I do for you today, Mr Jones?" Dr Murphy asked once we were alone inside his office.
"I've brought my grandson, Sam, to see you, because I'm sure he's coming down with the flu. He hasn't been himself the past couple of days, and now he has a fever."
"It has been going around," Dr Murphy mused. "Sit up on the table, Sam, so I can take a look at you."
I reluctantly did as I was told. Dr Murphy took a thermometer out of a drawer, and he came over to me. Before he could ask, I opened my mouth, so he could place the end of the thermometer under my tongue. Once it was in place, I closed my mouth.
"Now, have you had any headaches, muscle soreness or any coughing or sneezing?" Dr Murphy asked.
I shook my head.
"Just feeling a bit run down then, right?"
I nodded. Dr Murphy gently felt the glans in my neck for a moment.
"How much sleep have you been getting each night, on average?"
I held up six fingers. Dr Murphy shook his head and he looked at granddad.
"How old is he?"
"Fifteen," granddad replied.
"He should be getting at least eight to ten hours sleep each night. I suppose his schoolwork has been keeping him up late, right?"
"Actually, Sam's at university," granddad explained. "I haven't really been paying attention to what time he's been going to bed."
"Perhaps you should. Teenagers often think they're getting enough sleep, and most of the time, they're not."
Dr Murphy removed the thermometer from my mouth, and he looked at it. "Thirty-eight point eight," he read. "He's definitely got a fever, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he has the flu. I'll just listen to his lungs."
Dr Murphy took his stethoscope from around his neck, and he placed the ends in his ears. I turned sideways on the table, so he could easily place the disk against my back. We were silent for a few minutes while Dr Murphy listened to my lungs.
"Cough for me please, Sam."
I did so. Dr Murphy removed his stethoscope, and he looked at granddad.
"He's a bit congested, but he's not showing any other flu symptoms. He's probably in the earliest stages of it, or he's got an infection somewhere. Have you injured yourself at all recently, Sam?"
"No."
Dr Murphy looked at granddad again. "A blood test will determine whether or not it's the flu, but by the time we get the results back, he'll probably have the flu anyway. What would you like to do?"
I looked at granddad. "I just want to go home and sleep."
Granddad nodded in understanding. "All right, Sam." He turned to Dr Murphy. "Is there anything we can do to lower his fever?"
Dr Murphy shook his head. "Unfortunately, there's not much that we can do for him, except to let him rest. Makes sure he drinks plenty of water, but don't make him eat if he doesn't want to. Give him some paracetamol if the fever goes any higher, and make sure he doesn't do any studying."
"But I have an assignment due next Thursday!" I protested.
"I'll phone the university and tell them that you're sick," granddad said firmly. "I'm sure they'll give you an extension."
"Couldn't I dictate it to you, and you write it down? I really only need to finish the conclusion."
"We'll see. Let's get you home now. Thanks Doctor."