H
is for Help
By
"Look, If you can't deliver the wood just say so I will go to another
lumber yard." Mikes says into the phone "I need it delivered first
thing tomorrow morning"
After a few more minutes Mike slams down the phone and muttering to himself
about incompetent fools as he goes to the stove to start lunch. "Why
cant they just do what they promise? Incompetent fools, All
I want is for them to deliver the wood, I have been waiting for a week, Man
if I only had a truck this wouldn't be an issue, Now I have to go rent one
and then with all the work I won't be able to finish the deck this weekend,
and I am going to have to put off the delivery of the hot tub.
As Mike is talking to himself Chet walks up to him "Mikey,
Mikey, Mikey talking to
yourself is not a good thing."
"Chet go away."
"Now Mike I am only trying to help you, talking..."
"Chet Now!" Mike says through clenched teeth.
"OK, OK don't get your undies in a knot"
Chet walks toward the bay "Try to help a guy..."
As Chet is complaining, the tones sound.
"Station 51, Station 45, Engine 110 Fire Carson Lumber and Roofing 7536
W Alto - 7-5-3-6 W Alto time out 11:35."
As the Captain acknowledges the call Mike runs to the Engine muttering "great
just great!"
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Three hours later they return to quarters hot and tired.
"We are lucky that fire didn't spread to the Daycare next door"
Johnny says as he grabbed the juice out of the refrigerator.
"Ain't that the truth" Chet says. "It's
also lucky it was contained to the pre-treated decking materials too."
Mike walks in from taking his shower and gets out the makings for sandwiches.
"How about these for a quick lunch and I'll make a big dinner"
Everyone agrees.
After lunch is cleaned up the Marco and Chet go to
clean and hang the hoses they used and Johnny and Roy repack the engine.
Mike is looking in the yellow pages for a new lumber yard since his just burned
down.
Johnny is heading in to the kitchen and he hears Mike on the phone explaining
to someone what has happened. He can't believe Mike
was going to build the deck by himself and as he is thinking this, he hears
him say that he has no one to help and that since the new lumber yard doesn't
deliver he will have to put off delivery of the tub.
Johnny turns and goes to talk to the rest of the guys.
~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~E~
The rest of the shift had been quiet and they all
got a good nights sleep. Mike takes off as soon as his relief arrives. The
rest of the guys hang around and all head out together.
Mike looks up as he hears cars pulling into his drive way "What the...?"
"Hi Mike" Johnny says as he gets out of his truck "Where do
you want us to stack this wood? How about around back that way sowe don't
have to haul it twice? Guys lets get this unloaded and get to work"
"Johnny?, Roy? Cap? What are you all doing here?"
"Well I overheard you on the phone yesterday and after talking to the
guys we decide to give you a hand" Johnny said as he lowered the tail
gate of Roy's truck, "Marco and Chet should be here soon with the tools
and we can get this deck up for you"
"But why?"
"Because you are our friend and you need a little help. After
all that's what friends are for." Cap says.
The End
