The Santa Claus Caper

by

Chetspet

On Tuesday, December 3, 1974 Captain Hank Stanley of Station 51A Company had a very special announcement to make after role call.

“Ok, guys, now that the assignments are out of the way, I do have one announcement to make. This is the annual one-as you all know Christmas is coming and each year the department sends out Santas to visit the children and the homebound elderly and sick. Well, as usual we need a volunteer to be this years Santa from Carson. Any one want to volunteer?”

All five men raised their hands, as none really minded doing this.

The captain smiled and laughed, “So it’s the usual, huh? No takers.” The men all laughed.

“Aw, cap, come on!” Chet groaned, “You know you are going to pick me as usual and you know I really do love doing it. Please just do it and get it over with.”

At this, Johnny Gage said, “Hey, Kelly! We all know you fill the suit out the best, but give someone else a chance. We are tired of playing your elves.”

“Yeah, Gage! I may fill the suit the best, but at least I know I would never be able to wear that little green suit as well as you do.”

Marco laughed and said, “Well, I don’t mind playing an elf. It’s more fun. At least for me. I really get a kick at how the kids’ faces light up, especially the sick and lonely ones.”

Captain Stanley raised his hands and called for quiet. “OK, men, I agree with Chet. He was definitely my first choice.

“Not only does he fill the suit out the best, Gage, but the kids really do seem to think of him as the ‘real’ guy! Don’t you agree?”

Johnny just scowled while Chet said, “HO HO HO! That’s right. And for all you guys may know, maybe I am! HO HO HO!”

As everyone was laughing, the tones sounded:

“Station 51, Engine 110, Station 36 multiple structure fire at 134 W. Nathan Street, cross Street Lane. Time out 09:16”

The squad, followed by the engine raced to the scene where Battalion Chief McConnikee ordered them to the rear of the building while telling Roy and John to make a sweep of the structure as he was told there may be one victim still inside.

The run turned out to be uneventful and after two hours, all the crew of Station 51 were back. As Marco was the cook for the day, he began collecting what he needed for his arroz con pollo.

Chet, as usual, had pulled latrine duty, because of a trick that had backfired on him. Well, not on him, actually on Cap. He had gotten the red dye food coloring intended for Johnny. As punishment, Chet had been given latrine duty until Cap’s hair was back to normal. According to Chet himself, this would be in about two weeks time. Chet was fast gaining the reputation as the Latrine King!

Mike was shining Big Red while Johnny and Roy were mopping and cleaning the dorm room, while Cap was doing some paperwork in his office.

At 11:50, Marco called the guys to lunch. They were actually able to get through this meal without a call. Just as Chet and Marco were preparing to wash dishes, the tones again sounded:

“Station 51, MVA with possible fuel leakage at western onramp to 405, cross Street Hill. Time out 00:39.”

The guys ran to their assigned posts and took off.

Arriving on scene, they found three cars and a tanker had collided, with the tanker carrying milk.

Captain Stanley assigned Chet and Marco to hose down the cars, while John and Roy, after calling in one more squad, went to help the victims.

Johnny arrived at the car that Chet was hosing down, but couldn’t find access. All the doors were locked and jammed. He had tried both sides. As the windows were broken, he could communicate and he attempted to do so.

He saw there were at least three people in this car, all unconscious, he hoped. The nearest one had a strong carotid pulse, but he could not assess any of the others.

Seeing Chet was finished, he said, “Hey, Chet. Give me a hand here. We may need the jaws, but let’s see if we can do it ourselves first, ok?”

Putting down the hose, Chet replied, “Sure, John.”

Together, both men finally wrestled the drivers’ door open.

They brought out the first victim and Johnny again made sure he was alive and breathing before checking the others.

He assessed the girl in the passenger side, while Chet went to check the one in the back.

Suddenly Chet yelled, “HEY, GAGE! We have another victim here, but I can’t get to him. It’s a baby, about five-six months old. He is lying on the floor here wedged under the seat. I don’t know if he is breathing or not, can’t assess him at all.”

John could hear the fear in Chet’s voice. “OK, Chet, be right there, buddy. Just get the third one out first, that may lessen the pressure on the kid.”

“Johnny, but what about the baby? What if my moving this one makes the seat hurt him more? I couldn’t live with myself if I killed a kid.” Chet answered, sounding almost panicked.

Johnny empathized with his crewmate. Chet really did love kids and was the perfect Santa. DAMN! Why did he have to be the one to find the little one, who is probably dead already. DAMN!

Making sure his two victims were stable, he called Roy on the handie-talkie, “Roy, you available?”

“Yeah, John, I am. My victims are all stable, just a fender bender to avoid this crash. Why?”

“Well, I have four victims here, one possible Code F that Chet and I can’t get to and we could use the help.”

“Ten-four, Junior. Marco and I will be right there. Chet ok?”

“Fair, Pally, fair. Hurry please!”

Johnny then called to Chet, “Chet, listen to me. Just stay where you are, Roy and Marco are gonna help us, ok? “

“OK, but how are we gonna extricate the little one. I don’t see a lot of blood, so that means he is ok, right? RIGHT?”

Johnny went over to Chet. “Chet? Calm down, ok? There is nothing either one of us can do until we get this other victim out. Marco and Roy will get the girl out while you stabilize the baby, ok?”

Chet nodded his head, too afraid to talk. He had a horrible feeling that when he touched the baby, he would be ice cold. God, why do you have to hurt little ones?

Marco and Roy arrived within two minutes, but it felt like hours to Chet. “WHAT TOOK YOU GUYS SO LONG?”

Not responding to Chet’s tirade, which all knew was due to nerves, Roy had John update him and Marco.

“Ok, I agree, Johnny. Marco, you get the legs while I get the arms, Chet, you hold the seat away from the baby ok? DON’T hold the baby, but the seat! Ok, Chet?”

Chet, already doing as told, just nodded his head and prayed. Roy’s heart broke when he caught a quick glimpse of the infant whose lips and hands were blue.

Within seconds, the third victim was out and Johnny was removing the baby while making Chet hold the seat up, thus preventing Chet realizing the baby was a Code F, for Johnny knew this to be true. There was no carotid pulse and rigor mortis was setting in already.

Squad 36 had arrived and Brice was helping John and Roy while Bellingham assessed the truck driver, who although uninjured, was deeply distressed.

Suddenly Roy’s victim, a female approximately 29 years old, awakened and started screaming, “MY BABY! WHERE’S LITTLE ROGER?”

“Relax ma’m, we are working on all victims. Roger is out of the car, too.”

Hearing this, she relaxed slightly.

Looking up, Marco said, “Where’s Chet?”

Johnny was too busy doing rescue breathing to answer, but Brice said, “I haven’t seen Kelly at all since I got here. Must be still by the car.”

“Do you need me any more, Roy?”

Quietly, he said, “I placed a blanket on the baby and put him in the ambulance already. Do you mind if I go look for Chet? He is bound to be very upset.”

“Sure, Marco, call if you need us, ok? Let him know there was NOTHING anyone, even him, could have done. I think the child died on impact, ok?”

So getting up, Marco said, “Ok, Roy. I will. But this is gonna be tough on the guy. You know how sensitive he is when it comes to kids.”

Marco walked toward the car and called, “Hey, Chet, buddy, you here? Chet?” but there was no answer and no Chet.

Marco hurried up and looked around and in the car for Chet without luck.

“Chet? Where are you? It’s me, Marco.”

Receiving no answer, Marco continued looking and finally found Chet sitting on the road behind the engine, crying.

Walking gently up to his friend, Marco said, “Chet, mi amigo. You ok? You knew the baby was already dead, didn’t you?”

Chet nodded his head and looked at Marco with tear-filled eyes. “Yeah, I knew. But WHY a baby, Marco? God, he hadn’t even been alive a year!” And he again put his hands to his face. “I will see his face in my dreams and head FOREVER-I just know it. I feel guilty even though there was nothing I could have done.”

Marco suddenly knew the depth of Chet’s feelings and thought he had a way to help his friend deal with them, at least somewhat.

“Chet? I have an idea. We’re both Catholic, right?” Chet nodded his head, “Well, How about this? Why don’t we go to church tomorrow after work and light a candle for him and begin a novena to Saint Nicholas, the patron of children, for him. We can do this for as long as you want, Ok?”

Chet kept his head down and thought about what his best friend just said and offered to do for him. “Marco, thank you.
As usual, you are here for me. Yes, I would very much like to do that. Can we do one to the Sacred Heart of Jesus too? I was just praying for the little one. Maybe we could have a special Mass for him and tell his folks about it, whether they are Catholic or not. What do you think?”

“Yes, Chet, that is a very good idea.” Marco agreed and Captain Stanley who was worried about Chet too, said, “I just heard what you said, Chet, and that is a lovely gesture. I think his parents would appreciate it very much.

“Now do you think you are ok and we can get back to the station?”

Smiling at Captain Stanley and Marco, Chet said, “Yeah, Cap. I am, thanks to both of you. You guys are so very special.”

They arrived back at the station and Mike agreed to join in, even though he and Captain Stanley were not Catholic. They knew John and Roy would agree, once they returned.

Chet felt a bit better, but was still upset. He had seen a lot of death in his job, but this was the first time he had ever witnessed someone so very young. He really was amazed at how John and Roy did this every day of their lives. He knew he could never do it.

When John and Roy returned, they both immediately agreed.

“Hey, Chet? Are you still going to be our Santa? I think that would be helpful to you, you know.”

‘Yeah, Johnny I agree. At first, I was gonna tell Cap I couldn’t do it, but then I realized it would cheer me up, too. Seeing those little ones laughing and enjoying themselves always makes me smile and feel better.”

Everyone smiled and Roy said, “Good to hear, pal. And believe me, this year I don’t think anyone will mind being Santa’s helpers.”

And so on Christmas Eve, Santa and his elves arrived at Rampart General Hospital on Engine 51 and a Merry Christmas was shared by all.

The end

Merry Christmas to all and May 2004 be a year filled with love and peace for us a