Billy pulled up in front of the academy on Randall Island. It had only been opened 2 years earlier. It was a new state of the art facility that would be the basis and beginning for brilliant young firefighters for years to come. For the next thirteen weeks Billy would report here to train for a new career, a new life. He adjusted his navy blue uniform and grabbed his bag from the trunk of the car. He was now a "Proby" as they were called. But it wouldn't take Billy long to realize that this was a rite-of-passage.

He wasn't exactly prepared for what he was about to enter, but he was determined to graduate in the top of his class. He had slacked off in high school, but he wasn't going to make the same mistake here. He was invited to join and he wasn't going to let the people who believed in him down.

He joined his class for role call before their daily morning PT session. It was a militarist type design, but this style would do the best for them to become the City's Bravest. The first day was grueling and hard. When Billy arrived home he was tired. His aunt had made dinner for the family and they sat around the table and asked him about his day.

"So how was your first day?" His aunt asked

"Long." Billy replied with his trademark smile

From that Ashley could tell that this was truly going to be a great chance for her little brother. And in thirteen weeks it would probably change the moment that she marked as the "proudest" she ever was of her little brother.

"Do you think it's something that you are going to like?" His aunt asks

"I think that this was really the choice for me." Billy responds

"I am glad Billy. I am really happy for you." Ashley adds

They continue to eat their dinner. Billy helps himself to a second helping of mashed potatoes. Once he finishes he helps to clear the table and then do the dishes. Finally he retires himself to his room where he picks up the phone.

"Is Jenny there?" He asks her mother who answered the phone, "Well do you know when she will be home? Okay, well just tell her Billy called. Thank you."

He looks at the window in his bedroom. Jenny had been avoiding his phone calls all week. She had lost interest in him shortly after his trip to the hospital. She missed his medal ceremony, it hurt him deep down inside. It was like he had a knife stuck through him. He laid back on his bed and eventually fell asleep.

"Billy it's time to come in for dinner!" His mom called to him

"Okay mom." He called back as he ran up the street to join his family.

Young Billy was just 4 years old, and on the lazy afternoons of summer he and his friends would play out under the shade trees in front of their stoops. It was a summer time tradition. Ashley finished setting the table. Their father would be home soon from his job at the warehouse. They would sit down as a family and enjoy a meal.

It was June 23, 1962 and it was a typical hot summer day followed by a muggy summer night. There were some thunderstorms moving into the area. The distant thunder could be heard in the distance. It was 6 PM now. The children sat at the table while Mrs. Walsh watched for her husband to come home. At 6:30 she told the children to go ahead and eat- she didn't feel that they should have to wait any longer. Her husband was late, and that worried her because he was never late for anything. Or if he were going to be late, he would call. The thunderstorms made their way into the area and so Billy and Ashley sat in the middle of the living room with their toys spread out before them.

There was a hard rain and sharp lightning. At 8:15 the phone rang. Mrs. Walsh went to the kitchen to answer it. The phone was mounted on the wall in there so she stood by the phone while she talked.

"Hello, James?" She asked but it wasn't. "Yes, I am Mrs. James Walsh." An awkward silence fell before she screamed out, "NOOOOOOOOO!" She cried as she dropped the phone and dropped to her knees and sobbed.

The children sat and looked towards their mother. They play was interrupted by her scream. They didn't dare move. Finally she stood up and entered the living room. Ashley was 10 and so she was better able to understand what their mother was about to tell them.

"What is it mother?" She asked

"Children, I don't know how to tell you this." Her voice cracked as she began to tell them. "There was an accident at your dad's work. Your dad was hurt very badly." It was never easy to explain to a child that someone had died, but it was even harder to tell them that their father would never come home.

As it turned out, James Walsh worked in a cold storage warehouse. He loaded trucks to ship the meat out. They had been loading a truck with skids of meat when the skid shifted. The boxes of meat fell on top of him, crushing him from the weight. They took him to the hospital where he passed away. It was a freak accident that left two children without a father and a family with no source of income.

Billy sat up quickly, he was breathing heavily and sweating. It had been a long time since he had a nightmare, and it had been even longer since he had had one about his father's death. He brushed his hair back with his hand. He looked at the clock. It was now 9 PM. He realized that Jenny wasn't going to call him back yet again. He went to the bathroom and brushed his teeth to get ready for bed. Then he returned to his room, turned out the light and went to sleep.

Friday afternoon at the academy they worked on basic ropes and knots. After all every good fire fighter had to be able to use a rope to haul tools, make rescues, save their own lives. They finished up and hit the showers. Another proby was at his locker which was next to Billy's.

"Hey." He said

"Hey." Billy returned

"My name's Jason." He introduced himself

"Billy."

"You wanna go with me and some of the other guys to get some beers?" Jason asked

"Sure." He figured that it would be a good chance to get to know the men that he would spend the next twelve weeks with. It was Friday afternoon and they had two days off. He hadn't heard from Jenny so he figured that he would go out and have some fun.

They went to a neighborhood bar and started to kick back a few. Someone entering had caught Billy's eye. It was Jenny and she was with another guy. He was furious and she hadn't noticed him.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Jason asked as Billy put his beer on the counter and stood up. He crossed the room and connected his fist with the other man's jaw.

"Billy!" Jenny squealed in shock, "What are you doing? Stop! You're hurting him."

Jason and a couple others pulled Billy away from the other man. Billy took a couple deep breaths and jerked his arms away from the people restraining him.

"Is this why you won't return my phone calls?" He asks angrily, "Is it? Answer me!"

"Billy, I can explain." Jenny cries

"You can explain?" Billy says in anger

"Billy, I love you." She pleads

"Come on! How could you do this to me?" Billy asks in disbelief as he pushes Jason out of the way and walks out the door. Jenny chases him.

"Billy stop and talk to me please." Jenny cries

Billy ignores her and keeps walking, he doesn't want to talk about this. He was done with Jenny Finley.

"Billy I love you!" She screams

Billy stops in his tracks. He is furious. He turns around and faces her.

"How could you?" He cries, "How could you do this to me? I loved you!"

She attempts to hug him and he pulls away.

"I don't want anything to do with you. I don't want to see you ever again!" He yells as he walks away quickly.

Jenny chases after him a few steps screaming behind him "Billy!" She stops and begins to sob. He disappears into the New York night.