The Firefighter

        Sirens sound!  He awakes with a start & hastily grabs up clothes, dressing on the run, as they have so many times before. 

                 Thumping of footsteps, motors churning, directions yelled, chaos! Or so it seems... yet, within seconds ~ dispatch... They are on their way, racing down the street, sirens at an ear ~ splitting pitch.  Meanwhile, their mind dashes to other nights ~ days of grueling, heartbreaking, tragedy ~ ridden heat ~ searing work.  And he cries silently to the depth of his soul, "why do I continue?"

                 Loaded with nets, roof cutters, ladders, aces, etc. they don air masks as they masks as they arrive.  It is another bad one.  Flames are shooting everywhere, lighting the darkest of nights with as eerie glow.  Screaming, a man & a woman clutch each other in panic.

                 Nothing but pure Intuition, it seems, takes The Firefighter through collapsing beams, up the stairs, past flaming rooms & into a tiny closet to the side of a smoke ~ filled bedroom.  They quickly gather two squirming bundles into his arms, darts to the nearest window & throws them to the waiting nets.  He leaps. 

                Restrained no longer, the man & the woman bound for the nets.  The Firefighter, weakened, hears sounds that seem so far away, of a little dogs whimper, happy cries & excited voices.  Then as explosion rocks the very ground upon which  he lay.  Through the pain of a broken arm, he feels a little dog licking his face, and as he slowly opens his eyes, the depth of his soul is touched, he will never be the same, he needs no thank yous, he knows why he continues; for within her happy parent's arms.... a child smiles.

                                  ~Carol Fitchett