Toby walked into the kitchen and turned the stove on. He wanted to eat some
popcorn before he went to bed.
"Toby, it's time for bed," Steve Ziegler told his son as he walked into the kitchen. "What are you doing son?"
"I wanted to make some popcorn," Toby smiled.
"Its time for bed, come on. I'll let you make some popcorn tomorrow night."
"Promise," Toby smiled.
"I promise you little squirt," Steve rubbed Toby head playfully. "Come on. I'll read you any story you want tonight," Steve smiled as he began to walk out. "But you have to be in bed in one minute."
"Okay," Toby started running out the kitchen.
"Don't forget to turn off the stove."
"Okay," Toby ran back in the kitchen. He turned the knob and ran upstairs to his room not knowing that he accidentally turned the knob to high instead of off.
"You turned off the stove?" Steve asked as Toby jumped into bed.
"Yep," Toby smiled.
"Okay, what do you want me to read you?"
"Robin Hood."
"I read that last night," Steve smiled.
"I love that story." Toby squeaked.
"Okay, okay," Steve got up and picked up the book and opened it to read it.
While down stairs, the bagged popcorn was left on the stove and soon started on fire. The fire reached the curtains that were on the window. When they were burned off, they fell to the ground near the trashcan that was full off paper because Steve just cleaned out his desk earlier. Soon, the trashcan started on fire and spread from there.
".And when Robin Hood." Steve stopped when he smelt something burning. Toby was lying on his stomach. "Do you smell that?"
"What?" Toby looked up at his dad.
"Watch out pal," Steve gently moved Toby off his stomach and he started to walk out of the bedroom. Then the fire alarm went off.
"What the." Steve walked out and looked down the stairs and saw the fire. He ran back into the bedroom to get Toby.
"What's wrong dad?" Toby asked as Steve picked him up.
"There's a fire. Don't worry," Steve ran quickly down stairs with Toby over his shoulder.
"Dad, I'm scared."
"It's okay," Steve got them out quickly and put Toby down. He bent down and looked at him. "See, we got out."
"Yeah," Toby looked up. "Dad!" He yelled.
"What?" Steve looked at him.
"My plane, the one you gave me for my birthday. I left it in my room."
"I'll get you another one."
"But when you got it for me, you said it was my good luck charm."
"Toby, I'll get you another one, I promise," Steve said, and then saw Toby start to cry.
"Okay, it's okay," Steve hugged Toby and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll get it for you." Steve smiled at his son.
"Thanks dad," Toby smiled. "But hurry. The fire might hurt you."
"I'll be okay," Steve smiled and began to run back in. He looked into the house and then looked back at his son. "I love you Toby."
"I love you too dad," Toby smiled. Steve smiled at his son one last time and went into the house. Just then, a fire truck and an ambulance came rushing up to the house. Toby watched as they all got out. "Dad, hurry!" Toby yelled at the house.
"Son, is there someone in the house?" A man asked as he got out of the fire truck.
"My dad went back in to get me my plane," Toby smiled. Just then the house collapsed.
"Everyone back!" The man yelled as he grabbed Toby and carried him away from the house.
"Dad!" Toby screamed as the man carried him away from the house.
"The house is down!" Another man yelled as all the firefighters ran with fire hoses to put out the flames. The man holding Toby let go a little and Toby started to run up to the house.
"Dad!" Toby didn't get far; the man caught up with him and stopped him.
"You can't go over there son."
"My dad's in there," Toby screamed as tears fell down his face.
Just then, a firefighter that had gone in the house after it collapsed ran out with a body.
"Dad!" Toby screamed, trying to get closer. The man holding the body laid him down on the ground and started CPR. After a few minutes, he looked up and shook his head.
"Son, why don't you come with me." The man started to take Toby to a police car when Toby kicked the man's shin and ran over to the body they brought out. Toby fell to his knees next to his father and looked at him crying.
"I'm sorry daddy," Toby bent his body over and hugged his father. He's father was drenched with water, so he wasn't that hot. Toby lifted his head up and looked into his fathers face.
"I love you daddy." Toby whispered and then kissed his father for one last time. Toby looked down and saw the melted plastic all over his dad's hands. Toby put his hand in his fathers' hand and then rested his forehead on his fathers' forehead. "I love you so much."
"No! No!" Toby screamed.
"Toby!" Josh started shaking him. "Toby! Wake up!"
"No!" Toby sat up quickly. He was drenched in sweat.
"Are you okay?" Josh asked him and he looked into Toby's eyes.
"I had a bad dream," Toby turned and sat back into the couch. He wiped the sweat from his face. "How did you get here?" Toby asked.
"I came over to see you, but you didn't answer when I knocked. I went over to the window when I heard you screaming," Josh pointed to the broken window. "The door was locked, so I broke the window to get in. Sorry."
"It's okay," Toby said as he patted Josh on the back. "Thanks for waking me."
"Must have been a real bad dream," Josh said.
"Yeah. One I haven't had in a while," Toby said quietly.
"Are you okay?" Josh asked.
"Yeah," Toby said. "Why did you need to see me?"
"I called Sam's mom. She's going to get here tomorrow," Josh looked down.
"I'm sorry you had to call," Toby said.
"It's okay, I felt it was something I had to do." Josh looked up.
"Yeah."
"Not many people know this, but my sister died when I was eight. She was babysitting me and there was a fire," Josh kept looking straight. "She was my best friend then."
"And now Sam," Toby looked over at Josh.
"Yeah," Josh leaned back and looked at Toby. "They were so young Toby." Josh felt tears flow down his face.
"Yes they were," Toby leaned back and joined Josh. "My dad died in a fire when I was a kid," Toby looked down. "I didn't turn off the stove." Toby breathed in.
"I'm sorry," Josh said.
"For some reason, CJ was the only one I trusted to tell that to."
"Then why did you just tell me?"
"Because I just realized that I can trust you too," Toby smiled weakly at Josh.
"Thanks." Josh smiled a little back.
"She tried to help me earlier. I pushed her away," Toby said sadly.
"I did the same thing to Donna," Josh offered.
"You think I should talk to her?" Toby asked Josh.
"I don't know," Josh looked up. "You think I should talk to Donna?"
"Yeah," Toby looked over at him. "I think you should."
"I think you should talk to CJ too."
"Yeah," Toby took a deep breath. "You want a drink or something?"
"Sure."
"Coffee or water," Toby said while getting up. "CJ came in the middle of the night last week and poured all my alcohol out. I haven't found time to go get some more."
"Coffee's good," Josh followed Toby into the kitchen. "Why did she pour all of it out?"
"Because I'm an alcoholic. Not a bad one, but I used to be. I just drink a little now. But sometimes I go overboard."
"Another thing I didn't know about you," Josh looked around and noticed something, but he didn't want to say anything. Toby looked up at him and saw that he was looking around.
"If you're wondering, I don't have a stove," Toby said while getting the coffee ready.
"You have a spot for it," Josh pointed to an empty space between the microwave and the counter.
"When I moved here, it had one. I tried to keep it, but I couldn't sleep. So I took it out. Now I have a hole in my kitchen," Toby said.
"It looks good," Josh tried to be reassuring.
"Liar," Toby said in a joking matter.
"I wanted to thank you," Josh looked down.
"For what?" Toby stopped and looked at him.
"For being a friend right now," Josh said as a tear went down his face.
"I'll always be a friend Josh. Maybe not your best, but I'll be a friend." Toby said and then got the coffee made. He poured both of them a cup and they sat down at the kitchen table and talked about the good times they had with Sam.
TBC
"Toby, it's time for bed," Steve Ziegler told his son as he walked into the kitchen. "What are you doing son?"
"I wanted to make some popcorn," Toby smiled.
"Its time for bed, come on. I'll let you make some popcorn tomorrow night."
"Promise," Toby smiled.
"I promise you little squirt," Steve rubbed Toby head playfully. "Come on. I'll read you any story you want tonight," Steve smiled as he began to walk out. "But you have to be in bed in one minute."
"Okay," Toby started running out the kitchen.
"Don't forget to turn off the stove."
"Okay," Toby ran back in the kitchen. He turned the knob and ran upstairs to his room not knowing that he accidentally turned the knob to high instead of off.
"You turned off the stove?" Steve asked as Toby jumped into bed.
"Yep," Toby smiled.
"Okay, what do you want me to read you?"
"Robin Hood."
"I read that last night," Steve smiled.
"I love that story." Toby squeaked.
"Okay, okay," Steve got up and picked up the book and opened it to read it.
While down stairs, the bagged popcorn was left on the stove and soon started on fire. The fire reached the curtains that were on the window. When they were burned off, they fell to the ground near the trashcan that was full off paper because Steve just cleaned out his desk earlier. Soon, the trashcan started on fire and spread from there.
".And when Robin Hood." Steve stopped when he smelt something burning. Toby was lying on his stomach. "Do you smell that?"
"What?" Toby looked up at his dad.
"Watch out pal," Steve gently moved Toby off his stomach and he started to walk out of the bedroom. Then the fire alarm went off.
"What the." Steve walked out and looked down the stairs and saw the fire. He ran back into the bedroom to get Toby.
"What's wrong dad?" Toby asked as Steve picked him up.
"There's a fire. Don't worry," Steve ran quickly down stairs with Toby over his shoulder.
"Dad, I'm scared."
"It's okay," Steve got them out quickly and put Toby down. He bent down and looked at him. "See, we got out."
"Yeah," Toby looked up. "Dad!" He yelled.
"What?" Steve looked at him.
"My plane, the one you gave me for my birthday. I left it in my room."
"I'll get you another one."
"But when you got it for me, you said it was my good luck charm."
"Toby, I'll get you another one, I promise," Steve said, and then saw Toby start to cry.
"Okay, it's okay," Steve hugged Toby and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll get it for you." Steve smiled at his son.
"Thanks dad," Toby smiled. "But hurry. The fire might hurt you."
"I'll be okay," Steve smiled and began to run back in. He looked into the house and then looked back at his son. "I love you Toby."
"I love you too dad," Toby smiled. Steve smiled at his son one last time and went into the house. Just then, a fire truck and an ambulance came rushing up to the house. Toby watched as they all got out. "Dad, hurry!" Toby yelled at the house.
"Son, is there someone in the house?" A man asked as he got out of the fire truck.
"My dad went back in to get me my plane," Toby smiled. Just then the house collapsed.
"Everyone back!" The man yelled as he grabbed Toby and carried him away from the house.
"Dad!" Toby screamed as the man carried him away from the house.
"The house is down!" Another man yelled as all the firefighters ran with fire hoses to put out the flames. The man holding Toby let go a little and Toby started to run up to the house.
"Dad!" Toby didn't get far; the man caught up with him and stopped him.
"You can't go over there son."
"My dad's in there," Toby screamed as tears fell down his face.
Just then, a firefighter that had gone in the house after it collapsed ran out with a body.
"Dad!" Toby screamed, trying to get closer. The man holding the body laid him down on the ground and started CPR. After a few minutes, he looked up and shook his head.
"Son, why don't you come with me." The man started to take Toby to a police car when Toby kicked the man's shin and ran over to the body they brought out. Toby fell to his knees next to his father and looked at him crying.
"I'm sorry daddy," Toby bent his body over and hugged his father. He's father was drenched with water, so he wasn't that hot. Toby lifted his head up and looked into his fathers face.
"I love you daddy." Toby whispered and then kissed his father for one last time. Toby looked down and saw the melted plastic all over his dad's hands. Toby put his hand in his fathers' hand and then rested his forehead on his fathers' forehead. "I love you so much."
"No! No!" Toby screamed.
"Toby!" Josh started shaking him. "Toby! Wake up!"
"No!" Toby sat up quickly. He was drenched in sweat.
"Are you okay?" Josh asked him and he looked into Toby's eyes.
"I had a bad dream," Toby turned and sat back into the couch. He wiped the sweat from his face. "How did you get here?" Toby asked.
"I came over to see you, but you didn't answer when I knocked. I went over to the window when I heard you screaming," Josh pointed to the broken window. "The door was locked, so I broke the window to get in. Sorry."
"It's okay," Toby said as he patted Josh on the back. "Thanks for waking me."
"Must have been a real bad dream," Josh said.
"Yeah. One I haven't had in a while," Toby said quietly.
"Are you okay?" Josh asked.
"Yeah," Toby said. "Why did you need to see me?"
"I called Sam's mom. She's going to get here tomorrow," Josh looked down.
"I'm sorry you had to call," Toby said.
"It's okay, I felt it was something I had to do." Josh looked up.
"Yeah."
"Not many people know this, but my sister died when I was eight. She was babysitting me and there was a fire," Josh kept looking straight. "She was my best friend then."
"And now Sam," Toby looked over at Josh.
"Yeah," Josh leaned back and looked at Toby. "They were so young Toby." Josh felt tears flow down his face.
"Yes they were," Toby leaned back and joined Josh. "My dad died in a fire when I was a kid," Toby looked down. "I didn't turn off the stove." Toby breathed in.
"I'm sorry," Josh said.
"For some reason, CJ was the only one I trusted to tell that to."
"Then why did you just tell me?"
"Because I just realized that I can trust you too," Toby smiled weakly at Josh.
"Thanks." Josh smiled a little back.
"She tried to help me earlier. I pushed her away," Toby said sadly.
"I did the same thing to Donna," Josh offered.
"You think I should talk to her?" Toby asked Josh.
"I don't know," Josh looked up. "You think I should talk to Donna?"
"Yeah," Toby looked over at him. "I think you should."
"I think you should talk to CJ too."
"Yeah," Toby took a deep breath. "You want a drink or something?"
"Sure."
"Coffee or water," Toby said while getting up. "CJ came in the middle of the night last week and poured all my alcohol out. I haven't found time to go get some more."
"Coffee's good," Josh followed Toby into the kitchen. "Why did she pour all of it out?"
"Because I'm an alcoholic. Not a bad one, but I used to be. I just drink a little now. But sometimes I go overboard."
"Another thing I didn't know about you," Josh looked around and noticed something, but he didn't want to say anything. Toby looked up at him and saw that he was looking around.
"If you're wondering, I don't have a stove," Toby said while getting the coffee ready.
"You have a spot for it," Josh pointed to an empty space between the microwave and the counter.
"When I moved here, it had one. I tried to keep it, but I couldn't sleep. So I took it out. Now I have a hole in my kitchen," Toby said.
"It looks good," Josh tried to be reassuring.
"Liar," Toby said in a joking matter.
"I wanted to thank you," Josh looked down.
"For what?" Toby stopped and looked at him.
"For being a friend right now," Josh said as a tear went down his face.
"I'll always be a friend Josh. Maybe not your best, but I'll be a friend." Toby said and then got the coffee made. He poured both of them a cup and they sat down at the kitchen table and talked about the good times they had with Sam.
TBC