The Boot

Chapter Three

By GCS

DISCLAIMER: "Emergency!" and its characters © Mark VII Productions, Inc. and Universal Studios. All rights reserved. No infringement of any copyrights or trademarks is intended or should be inferred. This is a work of fiction. This story is only written for entertainment. No financial gain is being realized from it. The story, itself, is the property of the author.

Johnny and Jeff, along with the others that had been watching the ball game all headed for the fire pole. One by one, they descended to the bay area below.

Sliding down a fire pole was another of the things they trained to do properly at the academy. Although it is seemingly simple to slide down a pole, like everything else a firefighter does while on duty, there is a proper procedure.

While waiting for his turn at the pole Johnny thought back to the man who had led the training that day at the academy.

"Now men it is very important that you follow proper pole technique." Snickers traveled through the group of young recruits. "You may think this is funny, but there have been serious injuries due to improper pole techniques. The Fire Department has lost valuable man-hours and experienced costly medical bills due to these improper techniques. Today I will review with you the only allowable methods of descending the fire pole."

The instructor had been so serious, and no one really paid attention. The recruits, like many before them, thought it was ridiculous to need to be 'trained' to slide down a pole, until it was their turn to make the first trip down.

The 'training' pole was highly polished and the trip down for most of the men was uncontrolled and fast. Some of the men had landed on their feet while others had fallen when they hit bottom and hit hard on their rears with their feet sprawled out in front of them.

Then the trainer had brought out the pictures.

He had several pictures of men in casts, on crutches, and with slings on their arms from dislocated shoulders and sprained wrists. Then he had one very disturbing picture of a very young looking man in a wheel chair. "This was one of the worst pole accidents in the LA County Fire Department. This young man missed his mark at the top of the pole and fell to the concrete bay floor below. He damaged his spinal cord, and as a result, he is paralyzed from the waist down. Gentlemen, this is no joke."

Shocked gasps and mumbling moved through the group as the picture went from man to man.

"Now that I have your undivided attention, let me explain to you the proper method for reaching the bottom safely."

Johnny watched Jeff slide down. He waited to see him step away from the pole. 'It is very important that you make sure your shift mates are clear from the base of the pole before you mount it. If you will remember the photographs, several of those injuries resulted from collisions at the bottom.'

He reached out to grasp the pole at chest height with both hands one above the other. He pulled himself to the pole while simultaneously wrapping his legs around it tightly. 'Wrapping your legs tightly around the pole will control your descent.' He remembered the trainer stressing the proper way to wrap his long lean legs securely around the pole.

'Once you have your legs holding securely you have some options of what to do with your hands. You can either maintain the position that you originally had on the pole loosening your grip to allow them to move down with your body, or you can walk yourself down hand over hand, or you can place your stronger arm around the pole so that it is in the crook of your elbow and place your other arm over that arm at any angle which holds it steady.'

It seemed to Johnny that the whole changing of his grip wasted too much time and he had decided to maintain his original hand placement while loosening his grip. To him that seemed faster. He had tried the arm hook method, but didn't see the need to make that change.

'Next you will release some of your hold on the pole by loosening your legs allowing your upper body to steady your descent to the base. Once at the bottom move quickly away to make room for the next man.'

Johnny's feet hit the ground, and he immediately moved away from the pole and jogged to the Engine. He grabbed his turnout coat and whipping it around his head had it on quickly. Then glancing back to the pole he smiled and climbed up to his seat. The Engine was immediately in motion and Station 10's vehicles once again paraded out of the bay into the street.

'Once you master the proper pole techniques you can adjust your method somewhat to allow for your own comfort. Some of our seasoned men can even descend the pole with a coffee cup in one hand not spilling a drop on the way down. This is not recommended, but it is important for you new recruits to learn to maintain complete control of your pole activities.'

Johnny directed his attention to the calls on the Engine's radio hoping to hear what they were responding to.

Before they made it two miles down the road their call was canceled by dispatch. "Engines 10-A, B, and C cancel response. Ladder truck 10 and Rescue 10 report to Captain Hammer at scene for instructions. LA out."

Captain Jones looked back at his men, "Well boys looks like we'll get dinner after all."

Some time later that evening the Ladder truck and Rescue Squad returned to the station. Gary Cooper gathered everyone out in front of the station. "Captain Jones wants to get a picture of the three new men in front of the station on their first day before the sun goes down. So if the three of you will line up over here in front of the Squad."

Johnny, Cody and Jeff all stood in front of the Squad.

"Gage you're the tallest. You should be in the middle," Bill suggested. Several of the other men from the shift gathered behind Gary to watch them take pictures.

"Okay, I need you to back up a little. There's a glare from the bumper. That's right a little more…"

The three probies moved back a step.

Several of the onlookers also had cameras. Johnny thought this whole picture thing was starting to get a little bit odd. 'How long did it take to get three guys to stand in front of the station for a picture?' Then he heard a noise from the roof. Dust trickled down from above. He glanced up just in time to see water pouring down on the three of them.

He raised his arms and lowered his face trying to block the water.

Laughter rained down on them from above along with very cold water from three five-gallon buckets.

The on looking firefighters stepped back from the splashing water. For the most part they had stayed far enough back to avoid getting wet. Camera flashes seemed to come from every direction.

Jeff and Cody both ran out from the waterfall. Johnny stepped back under the safety of the bay door. All three men were soaked. Everyone including Captain Jones laughed at them.

Johnny thought it felt good to be a part of the stations' initiation when it wasn't just directed at him. He smiled a huge crooked grin and laughed with everyone else.

Dale Scott walked up beside him and patted his shoulder. "You look like a drowned rat."

"Hey Gage what was that move you just made a rain dance?" Jim Graves commented.

The happy mood dissipated quickly for Johnny.

Scotty glared at Jim.

Johnny turned abruptly and went to find a dry uniform. He pushed the locker room door open with great force causing it to bang back against the wall. He stalked over to his locker and jerked open the door; then he paused, breathing hard, he looked down at his wet clothes. His hands balled up into fists. He had promised himself that he would not let them get to him.

He took a deep breath stepped back and lowered himself to the bench.

Scotty stood again watching the young boot battle his own emotions. "Some people are just ignorant John."

He didn't know Scotty had been watching him. He looked up at his new friend. "Yeah." He slowly got up and continued changing his clothes.

"You did look like a drowned rat." Scotty tried to lighten the mood.

Johnny huffed a small laugh. "They really got us good." He finger combed his regulation style hair cut.

"Works every time," Scotty told him.

"You mean you guys do that to everybody?"

"Yep. They did it to me. Captain Jones was the Engineer at the time. He was the one who dumped that cold water on my head."

"You're kidding?" Johnny asked with a shocked expression on his face. His mouth was open and his eyes wide.

"Well he hasn't always been a Captain you know."

Johnny smiled and laughed again. "I guess not."

Bill popped his head in the room, "Hey Scotty it's time for the ABC Movie of the week. We're all heading up to the TV. The popcorn is already made. Ya'll coming?"

"What movie is it this week?" Scotty asked.

"Some football movie called "Brian's Song" about a couple of Chicago Bears running backs. Supposed to be pretty good."

"Okay Bill, we'll be right up. Come on John let's go watch a movie." As they moved to leave the locker room Jeff and Cody came in to change.

The two men were still dripping wet. They were smiling and laughing as they entered the locker room.

"Man Johnny that was funny wasn't it. I mean it was cold but it was classic. We just got initiated into the club." Jeff slapped Johnny on the back. He was beaming with pride at having a five gallon bucket of water dumped on his head. "This is great. Just great."

Cody shot a glare at Johnny. His smile had faded as soon as he had seen Johnny in the room.

Scotty looked down at Johnny's feet, "Your feet are squishing," he said chuckling.

"Well my shoes are wet." Johnny had stopped in his tracks and looked at his feet. He looked up at Scotty and placed his open hand on his chest, "I only have the one pair."

"You'll learn."

"Learn what?"

"First chance you get you'll be getting yourself an extra pair of shoes. In this business, your feet are always getting wet. There's nothing like cold wet feet to make a guy miserable. Mark my words, by next shift all three of you will have an extra pair of shoes." Scotty smiled at the three young men. "And sox. You always need extra sox."

Cody seemed bothered that Johnny had become fast friends with the top Engineer at the station. Jim had told him about Scotty being second in command and it seemed that Gage had already sucked up to him.

Scotty slung his arm around Johnny's shoulder, "Come on Boot, I want some popcorn." Johnny smiled, his upset at the unkind comments about rain dances forgotten, and together they left the locker room.