Fireman Sam: Night in the Storm.
"…High winds and heavy rain with claps of thunder are heading to Wales and will affect most parts of the country this evening and through the night." Sam's radio announced one morning, as the red-headed Fireman gulped down the last few spoonfuls of his cornflakes. "Oh dear…" he thought, scratching his head with concern, "Windy days are all well and good for blowing away those pesky cobwebs…But a storm of that severity is bound to cause trouble one way or another…"
At the Fire Station, things were quiet when Sam arrived. Elvis was in the kitchen, cooking up what Sam was sure would be another not-so-delightful concoction, Penny was sipping a cup of tea, David and Jill were playing a game of chess, and Station Officer Steele was in his office, as usual.
"Hello, Sam." Penny smiled as she put down her mug, "Quiet, isn't it?"
"Checkmate!" Jill cheered.
"Daro…" David muttered, "I'll NEVER beat you!"
Jill looked up, "Penny's right, it's quiet…"
"Aye…" Sam nodded, "Bet you all five pounds, we'll get a call any moment, though…After all, it IS the school holidays."
Just then, as if someone had heard them, the alarm rang.
"Get going, Team!" Station Officer Steele commanded as he came out of his office, "Bus stuck in ditch on the Newtown Road." Then, he added, "Briggs, Grantley, you two stay here and man the Station."
Sam and Penny grabbed their helmets and ran to Jupiter, the Fire Engine. They jumped in and buckled up just as Steele jumped in beside them.
"All present and correct, Sir." Sam announced.
"Right…" Steele confirmed, "Let's go!"
Trevor Evans' bus was well and truly stuck in the ditch. "Am I glad you're here…" he sighed with relief as Jupiter pulled up and Sam, Penny and Steele jumped out.
"Right, check the passengers." Steele commanded.
The passengers were Bella Lasange, the Italian café owner, Dilys Price, the General Store owner and her seven-year-old son, Norman.
"Is everyone alright?" Sam asked, "Any injuries?"
"No injuries, Sam…" Trevor replied, "Just a delay, is all…"
Dilys huffed. "You weren't concentrating on the road…" she sniffed, "Don't know what distracted you."
Norman snickered, "Penny wasn't here to distract you this time…" he was referring to Penny's first day joining the Pontypandy Fire Brigade. She had been the first woman Firefighter to join the crew and it had taken everyone, except for Sam, who was happy to welcome any new recruits, no matter what their gender was, by surprise. Trevor had been so amazed to see her in a Fire Tender, he had lost control and driven into the ditch.
Trevor cleared his throat. "Yes, thank you, Norman…" he sighed, "And it was actually a squirrel on the road that made me crash…"
Sam attached the rope to the bus and then to Jupiter. He jumped into the Fire Engine and began to reverse. The bus was pulled free.
"Thanks, everyone." Trevor smiled, "Good thing you got us out before this evening…I really didn't like the sound of the forecast."
"Aye…" Sam agreed seriously, "Let's hope everyone is home and safe by the time the storm hits."
Sarah and James were in their uncle's garden, later that day. Sam had the afternoon off.
"I hope nothing bad happens in the storm…" James said as he munched on a biscuit.
"Me too…" Sarah agreed, "I don't like storms."
Sam smiled and stood up from his lawn chair. "I'm sure we'll be able to handle it." He assured them.
Soon, it was time for the twins to go home.
"We can walk home." James smiled, "It's not far and we'll get there long before this evening."
Sam frowned, "Alright…but be sure to go straight home, understand?"
"Yes, Uncle Sam."
Sam watched his niece and nephew leave. They were good children and knew better than to stay out in risky weather…He just hoped nothing would happen that was beyond their control.
Sarah and James made their way along the road towards home. As they had promised, they were trying not to stop for too long. But then, as they were about to pass a field, Sarah stopped. "Shh…Listen, James…"
James listened. "I can hear…No, it can't be…" He whispered, frowning in confusion, "Can it?"
"It sounds EXACTLY like Norman's toy gun…You know, the one with the sound effects, that he got for Christmas." Sarah replied.
James rolled his eyes. "We'd better tell him to go home. Bet he's forgotten about the storm…" he sighed, "We'll have to be quick, though.
Sarah was confused as they began to walk along the field. "That definitely sounds like Norman's toy gun…but I can't see Nor—"
Sarah was cut off as neither of them noticed the hole in the ground and they both fell. They landed on hard ground and the breath was knocked out of them. After a few moments they sat up, looking scared.
"Ow…" Sarah shuddered and grimaced, "My shoulder feels sore…Are you hurt, James?"
James shook his head, "No, just shocked…But, there's no way to climb out…"
"This is an underground cave…" Sarah pointed to a tunnel.
Just then, they heard Norman's toy…louder this time.
"Let's follow the sound." James suggested.
Sarah nodded and they both made their way through the underground. Around the corner they found Norman. He was sitting on a flat rock, looking miserable. He was very surprised when he saw the twins. "Did you fall down, too?" he asked in a rather croaky voice.
"Yeah…" Sarah grimaced, "I..I need to sit down…I don't feel very well…"
James was worried. "Is it your shoulder?" he asked, "Maybe it's broken…Penny told us when you're in a lot of pain it can make you feel dizzy or poorly…do you feel like that now?"
Sarah nodded and tears began to fall from her eyes. "I..I hit my…head, too."
Norman shuffled along so that Sarah could on the rock with him. "I shouted for ages, but nobody heard me..." he croaked, "That's why my throat is so sore…Then, I tried my toy gun to see if anyone heard that."
"We did…" James smiled, "That's why we came. We wanted to tell you to go home before the storm hits."
Norman looked ashamed. "I didn't mean for you to fall underground, too…" he sighed, "And now, we're all stuck where no-one can see us and when the storm hits…I'll bet you an ice-cream that it gets all flooded down here."
They all shuddered at the thought. What could they do?"
"Perhaps I could try calling?" James suggested, "We might be lucky enough for someone to be passing by the field this time."
Norman handed him the gun, "You can use the sound effects if your throat gets sore."
James went back to the opening where they had fallen in. He began to call as loudly as he could, "HEEEEEELP! CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?! PLEASE HELP!"
The storm hit that evening. Bronwyn, Sarah and James's mother, had fallen asleep after a busy day at the Newtown Café. Every day, she had to go from Pontypandy to Newtown to work. She had hoped for her children to be home by the time she awoke from her rest. But they weren't.
"Perhaps Sam's decided to keep them at his house for the night…" Suggested Charlie. Charlie was Sam's brother and Sarah and James's father. He worked in local Butcher's Shop, but his dream was to be a Fisherman.
Bronwyn went to the phone to check for messages. There were none.
Meanwhile, Dilys was getting very concerned. Norman had not come home and the weather was getting very bad. She phoned the Fire Brigade. "My little treasure is out there, somewhere!" she cried down the phone, "Please find him!"
Station Officer Steele announced the call for help to the Firefighters.
They went to Dilys first. She ushered them into the shop as the wind raged.
"Do you know where Norman may be, Dilys?" Asked Jill.
"He said he was going to play in the fields along Pandy Lane…" Dilys replied, tearfully, "I was SURE he'd come home soon but…"
Just then, there was a frantic knocking. Dilys opened the door to Elvis who had been staying in Jupiter to listen for any other call-outs. "Phew, i-it's HORRID out there!" he gasped as he went inside, "Uh, Sir, another call's come in…Bronwyn says Sarah and James haven't come home yet."
"Oh no…!" Sam groaned, "We must go out and find them!"
"What about my Norman?!" Dilys wailed.
Sam gave her a kind smile as he and the others left the house, "Don't worry, Dil, we'll find him."
Underground, things were getting desperate. The cave was flooding and Sarah was looking more and more in need of attention.
"We're going to drown…!" James sobbed as he tried to support his poorly sister, "The water's up to our waists now
"Why did I come to this stupid field…?!" Norman groaned, jumping as a crack of thunder sounded above them.
"I'm scared…" Sarah whimpered feebly.
James hugged her. "Someone will come…." He shivered, "They've GOT to come…"
Jupiter was racing along the road with Mars close behind. Luckily, the crew was geared up in suits to protect them from the pouring rain and cold.
"Here are the fields." Sam said, bringing the Fire Engine to a stop, "Let's split up so we can cover more area."
"Quite right, Fireman Sam." Station Officer Steele agreed, "Right, team…Let's split up! Fireman Sam and Firefighter Briggs will head east of the field, Fireman Cridlington and Firefighter Morris will head west, and Firemen Evans and Grantley will head north of the field. I shall remain by Jupiter to man things here. You all have your walkie-talkie's a small flare…Right, off you go, team!"
The three groups of two set off in their instructed directions.
Sam and Jill struggled against the wind and rain. After a little while, Sam contacted Elvis on his walkie-talkie. They were special, water-proof ones. "Any sign of them in your direction yet?" he asked.
"No, Sam…" came the reply, "And no luck on David and Trevor's end either."
"Alright…" Sam sighed, "Just keep looking."
"Will do, Sam."
If only we hadn't had to leave Freckles at the Station. Sam thought, He'd sniff the kids out in no time.
James decided to swim to the opening and call again. Sarah and Norman had managed to get onto higher rocks but now, Sarah was more unwell than ever…and the wet and cold wasn't helping at all. He was very glad he and Sarah took a lot of swimming lessons. "HELP…!" he called again, as loudly as he could, "PLEASE HELP!"
The wind seemed to steal his voice and crush it into nothingness. He tried the toy gun again, but, being only a toy, the sound effects could not be heard above the howling wind and rumbling thunder any better than his own voice. It's hopeless…he thought with despair, No-one can hear us…We'll be drowned by the time we're found…I'm going to miss you, Mum…Dad…Uncle Sam…
Little did they know that Sam and Jill were heading in the direction of the hole they had fallen in. It was Jill who saw it first. "Hold it, Sam!" she said abruptly.
"Oh, great fires of London…!" Sam gasped, "I hope they're not down there!" but he was about to find out they were.
Just at that moment, James, who had decided to try calling one more time, suddenly appeared, swimming through the water. He was both very surprised and relieved to see Sam and Jill's worried faces looking down the hole at him. "Uncle Sam…!" he cried, tears pouring from his eyes, "Please help!"
"Hold on as best as you can!" Sam called down to him, "I'm coming down." He turned to Jill, "Use your flare to signal where we are."
These flares were smaller than regular flares so they could fit in a Firefighter's belt. However, they were still very visible when let off. Jill set off her flare and watched as it shot off and lit up the sky in a flash of red. The rain seemed to have stopped so the water wouldn't rise anymore but the wind still howled.
Sam had jumped down the hole and into the water.
"Sarah's hurt, Uncle Sam…" James sobbed, "And Norman is down here, too."
Sam nodded, seriously. "Alright, James…" he said, trying to calm the terrified boy.
Jill called Sam on the walkie-talkie as he made his way through the tunnel. "I've spoken to Station Officer Steele, Sam." she told him, "He's seen the flare and he's bringing Jupiter to help winch you and the kids out."
"Thanks, Jill."
Sam was very concerned when he saw Sarah. She and Norman were safe from the water on the high rocks. Sam gently helped Sarah down. Norman easily edged down on his own. "Are you alright, Sarah, sweetie?" he asked.
"Uncle Sam…" she cried feebly before passing out in Sam's arms.
"It's going to be alright now…" Sam soothed, holding his unconscious niece close, "Help is coming."
Jupiter and Mars arrived quickly with all the crew.
"Are you there, Fireman Sam?" Steele's voice came over the walkie-talkie.
"Yes, Sarah needs medical attention. She's unconscious."
"Right, better get her out first." Came the reply.
Sam turned to Norman and James. "Can you two hold on a few more minutes?" he asked,
The boys nodded and watched Sam carried Sarah through the water, taking care to keep her head above the surface. Above the hole, the rescue harness was already set up. Sam waited while they passed it down before securing Sarah into it. "Okay, you can pull her up now!" he called.
He watched as Sarah was lifted to safety. Penny picked her up. She was still unconscious. "Oh, the poor love…!" Penny gasped.
Sam was back with James and Norman. James wanted to know how Sarah was.
"She's still unconscious." Sam told him as they made their way to the hole, "But we'll get you all to hospital."
"I'm not hurt that badly…" Norman protested.
"Nevertheless, it's better to get you both checked over, just in case. You've both gotten soaked in cold water and you might catch pneumonia."
Everyone was relieved when they were all lifted out of the hole. Sarah had regained consciousness, but she was very groggy. James cuddled her. The children had all been wrapped in blankets to get warm.
"I'll drive them straight to the hospital." Sam said to Station Officer Steele.
Steele agreed. "Yes…" he replied, "Fireman Cridlington and Firefighter Morris can go with you." He then spoke to Jill and David, "You two, and Fireman Evans, go and let Mrs Price and Sarah and James's parents know their children have been rescued and are being taken to the hospital."
"Yes, Sir!" Jill and David said together.
At the hospital in Newtown, the children were checked over and given dry spare clothes to wear. James and Norman had some minor bruises and cuts which were cleaned and covered with plasters. Sarah's shoulder was X-Rayed and was revealed to be fractured. Sam explained to the children that that meant the bone wasn't broken, just cracked. Sarah also had a nasty bump on her head. They put a large plaster on her head and bandaged around her shoulders.
"We'll need to keep her in for a few days." The doctor told Sam, "James and Norman can go home today but please let their parents know that if they show any signs of pneumonia, they're to call us."
Sam nodded, "Alright, thank you, Doctor."
Dilys came, bursting into the room with Bronwyn and Charlie close behind. "Where's my darling?!" she asked desperately.
Norman, who was normally embarrassed by his mother's crooning and pampering in the presence of his friends, ran to her. Dilys hugged him tight and covered him in kisses. James and Sarah didn't laugh, and Norman didn't laugh at them as they got the same treatment from Bronwyn.
Sam told them what the Doctor had told him.
"I'll be sure to call if my Norman starts getting sick, don't you worry." Dilys said firmly, giving her son yet another kiss.
"And I'll do the same for James." Bronwyn added.
Sarah, who was drowsy from her pain-medication, beckoned her uncle over. "Sorry, Uncle Sam…" she said, her voice both sleepy and ashamed.
"What for?" asked Sam.
"We didn't go straight home…" Sarah replied, "You told us to…"
Sam bent down to give his niece a kiss on her cheek. "Oh, love…" he said sympathetically, "You and James only wanted to help Norman. We're not angry with any of you, alright?"
"Very right, Sam…" Dilys agreed, "All just an unfortunate situation with no-one at fault, that's all. At least our children are safe and sound now…" she looked at Sarah, "Well…MOSTLY sound."
"I'll be alright, Mrs Price…" Sarah sighed and went quiet.
"Sarah…?" James looked concerned.
Charlie patted his son's shoulder. "Don't worry…" he assured him, "Sarah's just gone to sleep, that's all. The medicine she took has made her very tired."
Bronwyn turned to her husband. "Why don't you take James home?" she suggested, "I'll stay with Sarah for a bit longer."
Charlie agreed.
James didn't want to leave his sister. "Can't I stay, too?" he begged.
"No…" Sam said firmly, "You go home with your father and have something to eat and a nice warm mug of cocoa."
"Aye…" Charlie said, "And then it's straight to bed. Good thing you're on school holidays. I think you'd better sleep-in tomorrow."
James yawned, suddenly noticing he was tired. "Okay, Dad…" he said.
Penny decided to stay behind with Bronwyn and Sarah while Sam agreed to take Charlie, James, Dilys and Norman back to Pontypandy in Jupiter. "If you make a call to the Fire Station, we can send Trevor to pick you and Penny up later." Sam said to his sister-in-law.
Bronwyn smiled, "Thanks, Sam…Thanks, all of you, for saving my little ones."
"Yes." Dilys chimed in, "And thanks for saving my Norman."
Norman and James nodded heartily. "Thanks, Uncle Sam!" James smiled.
"Yeah, thanks!" Norman said with absolute gratitude.
Norman waved to Sam, James, and Charlie before Dilys ushered him into their shop.
"Right…" Sam said, looking down at his nephew, "Let's get you and your dad home."
James made no argument when he was sent to bed after having a hot cup of cocoa and some supper. He put on his pyjamas and got straight into bed…but not before saying goodbye to his uncle.
"Have a good sleep." Sam smiled, "And don't you worry about your sister…She'll be fine in a week or two."
"Okay, Uncle Sam…" James sighed, drowsily, and was already asleep before Sam left the room.
"Thanks for everything, Sam." Charlie smiled as Sam made his way to the front door.
Sam put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Just doing my duty…" he smiled back.
"Aye…" Charlie chuckled, "Duty as a Fireman and duty to your family."
"I'll check in on things tomorrow." Sam promised before leaving.
It was almost four o'clock in the morning when Sam returned to his house. He had gone to the Fire Station to make all was okay there. It was Elvis and Penny's turn for night duty.
Sam made himself a cup of tea. Despite being late to bed, he knew it would business as usual the next day. As soon as he had gulped down the last of his tea, Sam went to bed.
Sarah's shoulder took just under two weeks to heal. Luckily, the children had been well cared for by their parents and none caught pneumonia.
The twins and Norman were picking strawberries for Bella to make a fruit salad. The kind Italian café owner had been very worried when she heard about the children's ordeal. "If you get-a me some strawberries, I'll-a make a nice-a fruit salad for you all." She had said, "I have everything but-a the strawberries."
Norman often found strawberry picking to be a boring task. One time, he had eaten too many and felt sick. Not wanting to ride on the bus, he had pretended he wanted to practice heading James's football. The ball had ended up in the well bucket and Norman fell right down to the bottom and hurt his foot. Luckily, Sam and the team quickly came to his rescue.
Today, however, since it was for Bella, Norman didn't mind picking strawberries…and he didn't eat any this time.
"Bellissima!" Bella smiled as she put the finishing touch to her fruit salad. She had made cream to go with it. She handed a bowl to Sarah, James, Norman, and Sam, who had the afternoon off.
"This is delicious!" Sarah smiled, gulping down the sweet salad.
"Thanks, Bella!" James grinned.
"Yeah, we got some brill strawberries, didn't we?" Norman said, taking a big piece of chopped up strawberry onto his spoon.
Bella smiled at them. "Si, si, you brought-a some very good strawberries. Well done!"
Just then, Jupiter's sirens made them all look up. "Looks like Penny, Elvis and Station Officer Steele are racing to the rescue." Sam said, wondering what the emergency could be.
Suddenly, there was a loud cracking sound from outside James pointed towards the direction of the park. "Look, Uncle Sam!" he gasped, "Look at that tree…I think it might fall!"
Sam looked at the tree. It certainly did look like it was on the verge of falling over. "Aye, you're right there, James." He said, already heading for the phone box, "We need to deal with that before it gets the chance to fall on somebody."
Norman chuckled when Sam came back from calling the Fire Brigade, "A Firefighter's work is never done, is it Sam?"
Sam smiled and shook his head. "You're right, Norman…Very right."
The End.