December 23, 1996
At home.
“Thought you would be with your parents for Winter and Christmas break?” asked Lusty.
Zofia replied, “Nah I’m not in the mood of dealing with my homophobic mother. Every year at Christmas time she spouts homophobic stuff. So this year I’m not going to go. I almost wanted to punch my mom in the throat with a knife last year. You?”
“My parents are dead,” said Lusty. “But every year they always got the most wonderful tree. They always save up every year from the beginning of every year to buy the most wonderful tree. And that’s what I did this year.”
Zofia replied, “You gotta work tomorrow?”
“I’m still a Probationary firefighter,” said Lusty, “And the only way I don’t work on holidays is if we both get married and one of us has a biological or adopted child.”
Zofia replied, “Ah okay then… How are we supposed to have a biological child if we’re both female?”
Lusty face palmed.
"Either by adoption or if one of us gets In vitro fertilization," said Lusty, "Or through Artificial insemination. The only way I don't have to work on holidays is if we're both married and one of us has a child. But tomorrow I got to cover someone so he can be home with his family so that's why I'm not working today because I was given the day off."
Zofia replied, "Ah okay then. Oh do you know why in different parts of the city the back of firefighters jackets says ‘FIRE DEPARTMENT CITY EMPIRE’ or 'F.D.E' instead of either or?"
Lusty knew what she was talking about but she doesn't know why within the Eighteenth battalion the back of the turnout gear the jackets says F.D.E or F.D.E.B while in the Nineteenth battalion it just says FIRE DEPARTMENT CITY EMPIRE while in the Twenty Fifth battalion it's a mix of the three.
Zofia then gave Lusty a kiss on the cheek and left which she decided to finish her Christmas shopping before everything is sold out and stores close.
"The streets are lit up with bright shining lights,
The snowflakes fall softly, oh what a sight,
The smell of gingerbread fills the air,
Christmas is here, let's all share the cheer." Lusty sung, "It's Christmas time, let's sing along,
A time to rejoice, a time to belong,
Let's light up the tree, and spread some love,
It's Christmas time, sent from above.The children are laughing and playing in the snow,
The adults are busy with presents in tow,
The warmth of the fire, and the smell of the roast,
The love and joy, that's what matters the most.It's Christmas time, let's sing along,
A time to rejoice, a time to belong,
Let's light up the tree, and spread some love,
It's Christmas time, sent from above.
Let's put aside our worries and fears,
And celebrate the joy that Christmas brings,
A time for family, love, and cheers,
Let's all join hands, and dance and sing.
It's Christmas time, let's sing along,
A time to rejoice, a time to belong,
Let's light up the tree, and spread some love,
It's Christmas time, sent from above.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight,
May your hearts be filled with love and light,
Let's remember the reason, and the story it tells,
It's Christmas time, let's all ring the bells."
Lusty started to shed some tears because her parents would always sing that song ever since she was a baby until last year which was the last time they sang it to her. She then made sure all of her gifts were wrapped with the bow on the presents.
While she made sure the house was cleaned and what not the egg timer went off so she went to the oven and got out the tray of gingerbread men that she followed her mother's recipe, all of Lusty's recipes are from her deceased mother.
I miss you mom and dad, Lusty thought, Wish all of you were still here. If you two were still here I would've made a huge feast just for the four of us.
Lusty turned off the oven and went grocery shopping for Christmas dinner even though she and Zofia won't be eating Christmas dinner until December 26th.
She got a ham and turkey with a few side dishes but she kept it uncooked because she'll be cooking it on December 26th.
***
Christmas Eve.
Squad Company 141 and C02 unit firehouse.
"Nice to see we're using a fire engine that’s ," said Lusty, "On loan from the Port Sernia Fire Department from the country and our military ally of Blister Canyon. I'm gonna guess… Year model 1993, a thousand gallon water tank that can discharge five hundred gallons of water per minute. It's a Cab over Engine design. Length: 31', Truck Height: 8' 4", Wheelbase: 230", GVWR: 38,500, Engine: HP Diesel Engine, with automatic transmission, Driver’s Side Discharges: 2 – 2 ½", Driver's Side Suction: 2 – 2 ½", 1 – 6", Officer’s Side Discharges: 2 – 2 ½", Officer's Side Suction: 2 – 2 ½", 1 – 6", Front Suction: 1 – 5", Rear Discharges: 1 – 2 ½" 2 - 1 3/4" Preconnect, Crosslays, 3" Deck Gun, Ladders: 10' Attic, 14' Roof, 24' Extension, Hard Hose Bed Cover."
None of her new teammates were impressed with her knowledge about vehicles but some of them were miserable about working on Christmas. They wanted to be home but they don't have families and to the Fire Department City of Empire only members who have families will get holidays off while members that don't have families have to work to cover for the ones who'll be home for the next two days.
Doesn't help that some fire companies are understaffed with them having three or four members, not seven. But they cannot take their companies out of service due to it'll add a strain on the other companies who are farther away or in different districts. The Fire Department City of Empire conducted a survey back in the 1950s and 1970s that says that any fewer than five firefighters would reduce the effectiveness due to with seven members that’s the Chauffeur/Engineer, officer, two for the nozzle position and two on the backup position, for truck companies it’s the chauffeur, officer, two for the forceable entry, one for the Can position, and two for the Ventilation.
Lusty put on her turnout gear and took a shovel and she scraped snow off of the driveway/apron of the firehouse and put salt down so snow and ice would melt.
Goddamn it’s cold, Lusty thought, A very windy day. Today would be a hard day to fight fires and to pump water from the hydrants. It wouldn't surprise me if all of the hydrants are frozen.
Lusty went back inside but she saw the rest of Squad 141 just gearing up and she was told to hop on but was told it’s an order not a suggestion. She did but asked what they were doing and was told that they’re going to check every hydrant in the southern half of the district of Riverview while Engine and Truck 82 will do the same but on the northern half of the district of Riverview.
It was a very windy and cold day but it was snowing as well. It was because of the high winds blowing snow off of the mountains that surround the city in a one eighty degree from West to East and throughout the year snow will build up and around winter time the winds would blow snow across the city.
They used their portable steam-generating boiler; its high-pressure steam is used to thaw frozen hydrants, connections, hoselines and other equipment like ladders free of ice and prevent them from freezing over.
Back at the firehouse. The door chain for the apparatus bay to close the garage door for Squad 141 got stuck because it was cold so they had to unthaw it and keep the chain warm so it wouldn’t freeze over or get cold to prevent it from locking up again.
Lusty stayed in the watch office just reading a book but she kept her bunker gear on due to the fact that she can still feel the cold from the outside. There was a knock on the watch office door where Lusty looked up it’s Zofia. She decided to visit her girlfriend at work.
“What are you doing here Zofia?” asked Lusty.
Zofia replied, “I can’t check on my girlfriend at work?”
“You can,” Lusty chuckled, “But today is either a very busy day or a very slow day. The company here and every other fire company across the city we’re working a double shift. Also these guys saw some pretty dumb calls. While we were riding around thawing out fire hydrants the Captain told us how when he was on Engine Company Sixty-Nine in the mid 1970s he responded to a call about a grease fire where some dumbass thought he could deep fry a beer can turkey. It destroyed the guy’s house and garage because the guy was using 100% proof alcohol. Don’t know if that guy was high or not but I used to deep fry a turkey with my mom every year. Every year we always baked cookies, gingerbread men, made a gingerbread house and what not. Yeah we were poor but my old neighbors and in my old neighborhood we didn’t see each other as neighbors but we saw and still see each other as family.”
Zofia replied, “So that’s why you’re such a great cook. You got it from your mother,”
“Well I didn’t get it from the Cooking channel,” said Lusty, “Didn’t have TV or a Radio so I couldn’t watch the Cooking channel. Out of everyone in the district of Eastside the population is 58,000 and one out of ten had a black and white TV with 0.5 out of ten having a color TV. Still can’t believe that twelve times when I was a little girl they tried to shut down and relocate Engine Forty Seven and Ladder Forty Seven to other districts.
"At first the city said they were closing down the firehouse due to budget concerns or that the city wanted to save five thousand dollars per month. Each time an insider in city hall revealed that in reality they wanted to build a new firehouse in a wealthier district of the city. Yeah while Uptown has Firehouses 14,19,71 Squad 525, Rescue 17, Downtown has Firehouses 23, Rescue 18, Foam Engine 33, Battalion 19, and the Factory District with Firehouses Eighteen and Sixty Eight with Battalion Eighteen. But their response while Firehouse 47 would’ve responded within five minutes of any emergency but outside of Eastside the fire department response time would be at least doubled because the companies outside of Eastside or Westside would’ve had to look at a map to see where the street is and the number. Only reason why Firehouse Forty-Seven is still open is because of protests where a small group of protesters can just be beaten by police but when 98% of the population protests then it’ll catch government officials.” .
Zofia replied, “Isn’t Mayor Abigail Martenizes.”
“From Wetside?” said Lusty, “Yes she is. Parents owned a pizzeria from the late 1960s until the late 1980s. Funny enough my parents went on dates and always said the pizza was delicious. It was burnt down by an arsonist but the insurance company said it was deliberately set but they rebuilt the pizzeria due to their neighbors who are their friends and family they helped them rebuild with their own hard earned money.
"She joined the military and became a Financial Manager in the LBMC. She then went to college to study more finances and ran in the Emergency Mayoral Election back in 1990 and became mayor and still is because she ran for a second term back in ‘94. Of course when the mayor of Empire back in ‘85 moved Firehouse 17 to a more wealthier neighborhood until ‘90 but it took twenty minutes for another fire company to arrive because they didn’t know where the pizzeria was so they had to look at a map to figure out how to get there. In ‘94 Firehouse 17 was relocated back to their original quarters to provide fire and medical protection to Westside again which once took ten to thirty minutes for a fire company to arrive now was back down to generally less than 5 minutes half the time outside of the district.”
Zofia replied, “I remember hearing on the news how the Rich in Highwood hated it that their fire protection was cut in half because only firehouse 59 is up there.”
“Well excuse me that mansions,” said Lusty, “With high end stores and restaurants have state of the art fire protection and fire suppression. I’ve looked at Firehouse 59’s runsheets dating back to 1950. 98% of Firehouse 59’s calls were to second alarms or higher in other districts with the other 1.9% they go on medical runs and the other 0.1% they go to fires within their district.”
The sound of the dot matrix printer went off with a continuous form paper coming out. She read it and said over the PA system “C02 unit. Reports of high carbon dioxide from an automated carbon dioxide system.” said Lusty, “Location 3423 Heliconia street in the district of Uptown. Time is 11:55.”
“I thought all firehouses have an automated system to tell where an emergency is?” asked Zofia.
Lusty replied, “We all do but if someone is in the watch office or whatever this room is called and flip a switch then it’ll tell the dispatcher that a firefighter is in this room and just to send the emergency though a printer and whoever is in this room would say it as a dispatcher. If I leave this room then I have to flip the switch that says that no one is in this room so they’ll send it through the PA system. Also whoever sits in here does have to say what time it is. It’s 11:55 AM but if it was night then it’ll be 23:55. Like the military and police dept we also use Zulu or military time. If I flip this switch down then the alarm office will just dispatch us over the PA system and have the bell ring when we get an emergency.”
“So I have a question,” asked Zofia, “So how does someone report a fire or emergency?”
Lusty replied, “Telephone alarms are the most common method of contacting the fire department. A telephone alarm is an alarm in which a civilian uses a telephone to dial the police dispatch and any fire or medical related emergency the police dispatcher would transfer it over to the fire dept operator. The second common way is Fire alarm boxes are the second most common method of contacting the fire department. The third is AFA’s or Automatic Fire Alarm systems. The final one is Verbal alarms are the least common means of reporting fires or emergencies, and generally involves civilians verbally making such reports directly to firehouses, or fire personnel or fire companies.”
“Why do all emergency calls go to the police first?” asked Zofia.
Lustry replied, “Don’t know. Feels like we go to more emergencies than the cops. 4% of the calls I’ve been on this year were tenant-landlord disputes. The rest 77% were confined space rescues, trench/excavation rescues, machinery and vehicle extrication/rescues, water rescues and the final 19% were to fire. But that’s the job of the Special Operations of the Fire Department that we go to all structure fires, rope rescues, building collapse rescues, confined space rescues, trench/excavation rescues, machinery and vehicle extrication/rescues, water rescues, gas leaks, and other emergencies. But sometimes we go to emergencies that should go to PD like tenant-landlord disputes, someone being attacked by an animal, a car blocking traffic, a knife attack at the subway, and a vehicle on sidewalk. Okay I can see where the fire dept would respond due to someone being attacked by an animal and knife attack would require medical attention.
"But to me my first someone being attacked by an animal was a dog with rabies. Had to use some kind of medicine to euthanize the dog by giving it an overdose because PD and Animal Control was too far to help. But in my opinion, this is the best job in the world because you can’t predict or do the same thing everyday. Yeah we go to three or four fires per day but each fire is different. Can be a Class A, B,C, D and K. I specialize in Class D fires.”
“Probationary Firefighter Claire ‘Lusty’ Johnson the specialist firefighter,” said Zofia, “My sweet, kind, and cuddly girlfriend. Well I better head home. See you on the Twentieth Sixth.”
The two shared a kiss on the mouth.
"Can I borrow your car for the day?" Asked Zofia.
Lusty replied, "Yeah just don't break it. Maybe I can call that number again and see if they can bring you one but here's the key. Wait, you know how to drive a stick?"
"I know how to drive a stick," said Zofia, "First vehicle I drove was a '47 red pick up truck with a three manual transmission."
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Lusty gave Zofia the key to her car. Zofia didn't know what radio station to listen to which their are
1. "Empire Swing Radio" - This station plays a mix of jazz and blues music from the 1940s, as well as popular doo-wop and rock-and-roll hits from the 1950s. Listeners can tune in to hear classics from artists.
2. "Empire FM" - This station offers a mix of pop and country music, as well as news and talk programming. They cover local and national news stories, and host talk shows on a variety of topics, from politics to entertainment.
3. "The Rock of Empire" - This station caters to fans of rock music, as well as rhythm and blues and jazz. They play a range of classic and modern rock hits, as well as deep cuts and lesser-known tracks from popular artists. In addition to music, they also offer news and talk programming every half an hour, covering topics like sports, lifestyle, and current events.
A few minutes after Zofia left, Squad 141 got a call for a gas leak in a house just down the block.
At the house Lusty was in charge of the combustible gas indicator which the indicator said that the gas is at 80% where the Captain said that they’re going to have two go in and two out. Lusty voiced how that the Upper flammability limit is high and how Lieutenant then turned Battalion Chief Marcus taught them that concentrations higher than UFL or UEL is "too rich" to burn. Operating above the UFL is usually avoided for safety because air leaking in can bring the mixture into combustibility range.
The Captain told her that he isn’t here so he’s going to have two go in and two come out while the rest of the four minus the Captain will be on standby for RIT Rescue. Lusty raised her voice again even though she’s just a Probationary Firefighter which is that for Two in and Two out it’s that two goes in and when those two come out then another two goes in and the cycle repeats until all seven members have done it. Well that’s according to the BOFLBFDNFFEMSNFA or Bureau of Fire Little Bird Fire Department National Firefighter Emergency Medical Service National Fire Association (like NFPA more or less) that’s what they say.
The Captain knew that Lusty was right but he didn’t want to admit he was wrong and that a seventeen year old probationary firefighter was more correct than a twenty two year veteran of the department. But he stood his ground and had two go in and come out anyway and kept the rest on standby as a Rapid Intervention Team/Firefighter Assist and Search Team (FAST).
When the door was opened to allow the same two to come in and out the air went in lowering the flammability limit because oxygen was now mixing into the house making the mixture lower into combustibility range. While Lusty was closing the door the Captain was standing too close to the door and when he used his portable radio to radio for the utility company there was an explosion.
The Captain blamed Lusty for it even though she had her left hand on the combustion gas meter and her right hand was on the door knob ready to open and close the door. Of course Lusty wanted the door opened for too long. To her a second too long is a second that would’ve made the house explode but radio static made it blow. But the captain blamed Lusty due to she was closer to the door but Lusty had her portable radio and walkie talkie turned off.
Now they had to fight the fire as well but soon a technician from Empower Utilities came to close the gas line from a curb valve. Of course some people will be pissed that their gas stoves won’t get any gas to bake or to cook.
***
Back at the firehouse.
“Hey Claire,” said the Captain, “You’re on lunch and dinner duty.”
Lusty replied, “By the tone of your voice you don’t like me. Honestly I don’t care for sexist jackasses like you!”
“You’re nothing but a diversity hire!” said the captain, “So get in the kitchen because that’s where you belong!”
Lusty replied, “Actually I don’t. Also you bully a female firefighter or a firefighter that isn’t white but actually what you said I actually can sue you, the city of Empire, and the Fire Department city of Empire for race discrimination, gender discrimination, and sexual harassment for seeing me as a woman who should just be in the kitchen to cook and clean while everyone else is out. Yeah in the past I’d gladly cooked for the rest of Squad 141 not because I’m a woman but they asked nicely because I’ve earned their respect and they earned my respect. But you? Last sexist I’ve dealt with I’ve kicked the guy’s balls so hard I think I’ve sent his balls to the top of his head. I don’t care what color shirt you are or what rank you are.”
***
At night it’s 7:49 PM. All seven members of Squad 141 and the two members of the C02 unit were watching the news before it went off the air. The fire bell went off for an apartment fire.
They went on their way and responded to the fire.
Someone isn’t going to have a happy Christmas, Lusty thought, Apartment fire and wouldn't surprise me if all the motels or hotels if not both have ‘No Vacancy’ signs up due to the amount of out of towners visiting family for the next few days.
After seven minutes passed they arrived at the apartment building.
Lusty got off of the fire engine and wondered which apartment it was. Soon a little boy came out and went to Lusty because she was the closest and told her that his sister is in the apartment. Lusty immediately masked up and went inside while Squad 141 went to help Engine Sixteen by transferring water out of Squad 141 one thousand gallon water tank and putting it into Engine 16’s one thousand gallon water tank while they thawed out the fire hydrant.
Inside of the building.
Lusty was on her hands and knees crawling on the floor with her helmet flashlight and lantern flashlight on but she has to rely on her sense of touch to see where she’s going. She was able to find the apartment and opened it. It was dark with the only light being the Christmas tree lights but the tree fell onto Lusty but she was able to get it off of her.
She was able to find the teenage girl but soon fire flashed into the apartment and Lusty’s only way out was gone; it was blocked by a wall of fire. She decided to radio in that she’s trapped with her only way out and now gone. She was told that help’s on it’s way
After some time a part of the wall came down where it was Dave holding a fire ax with a wooden handle. He went over to Lusty and told her to grab the girl’s arms while he grabs her legs so they can carry her outside. She did and they were able to successfully carry the teenage girl out and over to a ambulance.
One Paramedic said that the girl suffered from too much carbon dioxide but after a few minutes of CPR after putting an air bag over the girl’s face the teenage girl started to cough when the Paramedic was about to call it in that the teenage girl was DOA.
“Guess it was or is a Christmas miracle,” said Lusty, “Well got a fire to fight.”
Lusty went back in to look for more survivors; there weren’t any that meant they weren’t home or were with family somewhere else. It turns out the fire was caused by a dry Christmas tree due to the lights on the tree getting too hot and the tree wasn’t watered. It was knocked down before the fire could spread to any other apartments but half of the apartment complex was empty due to the people being with their family in other places of the city.
When they went back to the firehouse after doing salvage and overhaul where they all went to sleep. It was a quiet and peaceful night.
***
Christmas Day.
Lusty was sitting on the bumper of Squad 141 watching the snow fall down and just humming a christmas song. She also saw children playing in the snow by building snowmen, making snow angels or having a snowball fight. She remembered her childhood and teenage life during winter time. Of course it wasn’t always snowy but sometimes it was hot or windy. Her parents weren’t always there for Christmas but they always made the most wonderful feast though.
Zofia came by the firehouse but it was still cold as if it was yesterday but she asked Lusty how day one of two was. Lusty told Zofia that the captain who’s Lusty’s boss for the rest of the day and yesterday is a sexist, racist and misogynistic prick.
“You can talk to a lawyer and just sue for what the Captain put you through in the past 24 hours,” said Zofia.
Lusty replied, “Yeah and if I do then every firefighter in the city won’t treat me like a firefighter. They’ll treat me as an outsider and see me as untrustworthy.”
“Forget what they think about you,” said Zofia
Lusty replied, “If I do sue then when I get trapped or pinned where I need assistance to escape the chances of them coming to save me is nada in other terms snitches and those who cry to IA or sue don’t get treated as a brother or sister anymore but as an enemy. It won’t just be this firehouse but with the other thirty three other firehouses as well that’ll see me as an enemy. Last time a firefighter reported to IAD the firehouse froze her out, all against her for making up a lie and she tried to make herself look like she’s an innocent gal of course when it went to trial the firefighters over at firehouse twenty-three when the members of B shift had to go onto the stand they defended their Captain and made her look like she did it for only attention and what not. Don’t know what really happened but to me I don't know what really happened but if something did happen well they buried it or if she really was only seeking attention then I don’t know what i would’ve said to her.”
“So you feel like you're trapped,” said Zofia, “Between a rock and a hard place?”
Lusty replied, “Hell no. I’m going to make him pay anyway. Just not today, I just want to get this day over with and tomorrow I’m going to be busy cooking Christmas dinner which I want it to be tonight but due to work so it’ll be tomorrow.”
“And what are you going to do about the captain?” asked Zofia.
Lusty replied, “Don’t know but I did tell him that I didn’t care what rank he is or what color his shirt is. A white overshirt means he’s Captain if it was blue then it means Lieutenant. Twice I was ready to take a Haligan bar to his mouth but didn’t because not because the asshole is a Captain but if I did then my fourth grade teacher would’ve been right of me being ‘Unpredictable’ and ‘wild’ so that’s why.
"Oh when you do go back to school well back to Arcane University on January Third yesterday I’ve been reading medical run sheets for the past four months which both fire and police responded to college age students partying doing drugs that it takes a serious toll on the user's sanity. And I don’t want to sound like a mother but I want you to be safe and do your studies not do drugs because a lot of them would and will mess with your head and melt your brain. Where I’m from gangs and drug dealers are prohibited and any gang banger or drug dealer shows up they get shot and killed.”
“Ain’t that harsh?” asked Zofia.
Lusty replied, “Where you’re from you have instant entertainment, you want to go somewhere you had to ask your parents for a ride so instant transportation more or less, instant orange juice or apple juice. So people where you’re from think things are hard but don’t know what the meaning of hard is. Every night people like you go to bed full and warm or cool but where I’m from a lot of people go to bed hungry and go to bed cold in the winter or sweltering hot in the summer because where I’m from if people pay their rent they usually don’t have enough money to go grocery shopping and to pay for heat/cooling it was either or.
"Where I’m from the landlords are more like slumlords only collect the 100 dollar rent and leave so if we got a problem we had to deal with it ourselves. So if we had a leaky pipe we had to fix it or well when it was cold and needed to plug in a heater it was better not to because it always caused fires and you’d be lucky if HVAC worked if not threw sparks on how old they are and if you’re going to ask the buildings the tenement buildings were built between 1760 to about 1820–1840 then just before the start of The Great War the tenement buildings gotten electricity so the wires in the tenement buildings are eighty-two years old more or less. Also in Eastside and Westside we had to make our own laws to get by because the Cops are too damn slow, more or less not going to show up.”
“Not even going to argue with you Claire,” said Zofia, “I was born and raised in a middle class family. Every morning I had bacon, eggs, sausage, and pancakes. If I was bored well I had three channels to watch which were Sports/News, Cartoons on Saturday morning, soap operas or regular tv shows or game shows to watch. If I wanted a ride somewhere then one of my parents would have taken me anywhere I wanted to. If we were cold we had well they have electric heating but they don’t use it because it costs too much. Every morning I had OJ or Apple juice bought from the store.”
Lusty replied, “Ew pancakes. For me bacon and eggs with sausage was only for Christmas and Easter for breakfast. My mom always made OJ fresh every morning because she would take her time in the store and buy in bulk everything she bought in bulk and always went on Saturday’s because that’s when things are marked down half price. So something that’s canned instead of buying it for twelve cents it was now five or six cents. Hell, give my mom twenty bucks, maybe some coupons and have her do grocery shopping on a Saturday. She'll have two or three shopping carts worth of stuff. We didn’t have a car so we had to either push the carts to our apartment and return the carts afterwards or carry it all. Of course our neighbors were really kind and friendly to help us bring our groceries in. If one of our neighbors took anything they would’ve gotten shot by an U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1, or a Carbine, Caliber .30, M1. Also no I don’t like pancakes.”
“You’re weird,” chuckled Zofia.
Lusty replied, “Yeah well just speaking the truth though. But I’m ready to get a Haligan bar and hit the Captain right in his mouth right in the center of his mouth! Yesterday he called me ‘Doll’ also ‘Honey’ also ‘Dame’ and ‘Broad’ he also told me to make lunch and dinner because I’m a woman.”
They heard the chauffeur door open on Squad 141 so the two didn’t talk until they heard it close and footsteps heading away from the engine.
“So what are you going to do about the Captain then?” asked Zofia.
Lusty told her that she doesn’t know but she won’t report to IAD or fire a lawsuit because she doesn’t want to get frozen out by the members she earned their trust, respect and friendship. She didn’t want to lose it because if she does well every single firefighter across the city well across the country of Little Bird will call her a narc and won’t treat her as a fellow firefighter. They’ll treat her as an outsider and untrustworthy and won’t ever trust her again and won’t ever give her respect but just keep her frozen out and always give her the cold shoulder.
“Oh is it okay if you show me what tools and stuff all of you have on board this fire truck?” asked Zofia.
“It’s a Fire Engine not a Fire Truck,” said Lusty, “But sure.”
“What’s the difference?” asked Zofia.
Lusty replied, “A fire engine transports firefighters to the scene, carries equipment needed by the firefighters for most firefighting scenarios, and provides a limited supply of water with which to fight the fire. A fire truck is every other fire apparatus from a ladder company to a Rescue Squad or a HAZMAT company."
Zofia was somewhat interested but at the same time she doesn't feel like there's a difference.
Lusty showed Zofia the right side compartments of Squad 141 which the four compartments have ropes, harnesses, all types of saws, Oxy/Acetylene torch, Exothermic torch, cutting torches, cutting rods, cribbing, and hydraulic tools. There’s also one compartment with Star of Life on it which has all of their medkits, and other medical stuff in it all in medical bags. The compartments on the left just have 1 ½ and 2 ¾ inch attack high rise fire hoses, Five fire axes with three with a wooden handle the other two having a harden plastic handle, there are three Halligan bars with two being connected to a fire ax making “The Irons”, a few fire shelters, twenty-on Fire Proximity suits seven of each kind, two Thermal Imaging Cameras, And two fire extinguishers of each kind (Dry Chemical, Foam, Water, Dry Powder, Halons 1211 and 1301 for aviation emergencies). There are also two Hard Suction hoses on the side as well.
“What’s this?” asked Zofia pointing at a box.
Lusty replied, “Command post innocent commander box. It allows whoever is the IC to coordinate between other units and their firefighters and to see who got what and where each one is going and so on.”
Zofia was somewhat informed even though she still wants to be an Empire Police Detective one day. Lusty opened the door on the left side of Squad 141 behind the engineer/chauffeur position. Lusty told Zofia that six out of seven seats have their SCBA’s built into them to make it easier for them to put on instead of arriving at the fire or emergency.
Zofia then decided to go home and Lusty just decided to stay sitting on the bumper of Squad 141 just watching the snow fall through the glass window of the garage door. Lusty then went back to humming.
After a few minutes the fire bell went off. With Lusty being in the apparatus bay she was first to gear up quicker and was already in the fire engine by the time the others got to the fire engine to gear up.
“Ten bucks says that this fire is that someone forgot to water another Christmas tree,” said Lusty, “Or one fell over onto a Candle. I’ve seen that happen before. Or it could be a grease fire because someone tried to deep fry something they shouldn’t.”
“Squad 141 come in,” said a dispatcher over the radio.
The Captain replied, “Squad 141 go ahead dispatch.”
“Squad 141 we received multiple calls on this fire,” said dispatch over the radio, “Sending two engine companies and a truck company responding to the box as well.”
The Captain replied, “10-4 we’re almost to the scene of the fire. Squad 141 over and out.”
They arrived at an apartment building. They went up to the apartment and found out that Lusty is right, it's a grease fire. Lusty ran to Squad 141 and got a Class K fire extinguisher but the Captain didn't care how fast she was to act.
When they got done putting out the grease fire the Captain grabbed Claire by both of her arms and slammed her against the wall to scold her and said a few sexist things to her. Claire/Lusty she wasn’t afraid of the Captain whatever he said to her she heard it before by someone else.
I’m not afraid of him! Lusty thought, Last person who said a sexist remark to me got my fist right in the center of their mouth. I don’t need to prove anything to him or the other five. Of course I have a feeling that he’ll try to have my overtime pay slashed or removed. I damn well know he’ll try and treat me like a servant when we get back to the firehouse.
***
Back at the firehouse.
Lusty was told by the Captain that she’s on lunch and dinner duty again but he said it was more evil but she did as she was told but she followed memory when she used to cook Easter and Christmas dinners with her mom.
***
Outback there was a 1955 limo with mannequins in the back.
When Lusty saw a firefighter take a Haligan bar to open the door she saw how easy it was and to get the door to open she shook her head in disappointment.
Doors of damaged cars can’t be forced off with the twist of a Halligan bar, Lusty thought. Any vehicle whose doors are that easy to pop open would be drastically unsafe and it’ll lead to multiple class action lawsuits against the vehicle maker for how unsafe it is! Also if vehicle doors could pop off easily like that then hydraulic rescue tools wouldn’t be worth the money if vehicle doors could pop off like someone snapping a tree branch in half.
After a couple of minutes the Captain stopped his stopwatch but the Captain said that they stopped too long because of Lusty even though her job was to open the hood to put some foam onto the engine fire. The other five members of Squad 141 started to get annoyed with the Captain’s sexism and sexist remarks to Claire. She did her job which was to put out the engine fire which she opened the hood within twenty seconds and used a Class B Dry Powder fire extinguisher.
Even though the other five have got Lusty’s respect within a day and she got their respect they’re tired of the sexist remarks to her and they decided to piss off the sexist Captain. When lunch was made everyone got a full plate but the Captain didn’t get anything. The Captain called Claire a “Bitch” because he didn’t give him anything to eat.
“I may be a woman,” said Lusty, “But I’m not a team mom. I’m not going to cook, clean, and pick up after everyone else like a maid, butler or housewife. When Marcus was here and with the Lieutenant they didn't act like I’m a slave but when they give me an order they do it as someone telling them to do something, not forcing them to do something. You? You’re lucky I haven’t stuck you with a Halligan bar yet. Like I said I don’t care what color your shirt is or what rank you are. So keep coming after me like you are, I'll strike you.”
The other five including the two who work one the C02 unit told the captain that they back up Claire because the Captain has no right to treat Claire like a second class citizen. She hasn't messed up and he has no right to treat her as if he's better than her. He does have more experience due to he's been on the job for almost two decades but how he treats Claire is uncalled for.
They even told the Captain that if Lusty hits the Captain then they're going to turn the other cheek because the guy more or less asked for it.
The Captain and Lusty both stared at each other where they both stared daggers at each other and if looks could kill then both of them would be dead.
After lunch the Captain sent Lusty on a small errand which is supposed to be an apology gift to her at a tavern. She didn’t like it but as long as she wasn’t under the same roof as the Captain then she’ll do it.
I have a bad feeling about this, Lusty thought, But if I’m not under the same roof as the sexist Captain then I’m alright with that then and is fine.
***
At a Tavern in the district of Emerald Pastors.
The place is somewhat full of people getting drunk or wanting to celebrate Christmas Day by themselves or with strangers.
Two bucks per game for a game of Billiards, Lusty thought, Me and Zofia should come here one day.
Lusty approached a man playing Chess by himself and he’s the guy that the Captain wanted her to get her present from. The man told Lusty that if she wants the present then she has to beat him in a game of Chess.
Lusty sat down and the two played a game of Chess but Lusty was a little bit rusty playing Chess but she was a part of her middle school Chess club and she remembered playing Chess during lunch at Nightingale Middle School with her few friends.
Lusty did win even though she lost all of her Pawns, Rook, Knights, and Queen but she only had one Rook and a King remaining. The guy gave Lusty the gift even though he tried to attack her and she was able to defend herself.
When Lusty exited the tavern two Empire police officers had telescopic batons out and extended but she saw a small thing on the side which she knew that was the battery which it’s a shock baton and from what Lusty heard that shock batons hurt a lot more than a wooden twenty-three inch wooden baton or a twenty-four inch polycarbonate side handle baton or a 30 cm (1 ft) in length to 90-centimeter-long (3 ft) "riot batons" straight stick for horseback cops.
Lusty she never thought about being a cop because the cities and towns across Little Bird their riot control include attack dogs, water cannons, fire hoses, plastic bullets, rubber bullets, pepper spray, live ammo, and Lusty highly disagrees with their stance of immediately to shoot to kill any arsonist or anyone with a Molotov cocktail in their hand, and to shoot to maim or cripple anyone looting. She says their police force is very heavy handed but there’s nothing she or anyone else can do about it.
Lusty successfully defended herself and went back to the firehouse.
***
At the firehouse.
Lusty threw the gift in the trash without opening it or removing the wrapping where she knew that it was a trap from the Captain but he had a look on his face that he didn’t expect her to return and it was his surprise when she showed back up because he never expected her to show up again. She punched him right in the face as hard as she could because she had a feeling it was a trap and it was.
For the rest of the day she just watched the snow fall but as it was rare it was that they didn’t get another call out for the rest of the day. After sometime the Captain threatened to have Lusty’s overtime pay and Christmas bonus cut in half or not given at all but Lusty told him that if he did then he and the Fire Department would be in violation of the Little Bird Wartime Fair Pay Act of 1942 and the Little Bird Fair Pay Act of 1947 in which regardless of gender, race, and religion everyone has to be paid the same amount and a violation would being the Little Bird Government down upon the Fire Department and the Captain and the punishment would be they would have to pay her four times as much not including the hefty fines the Government would give to the Fire Department and to the Sexist captain.
Lusty also told the Captain that men who were disabled or unfit for military service but if they worked in a Little Bird Defense plant they earned $45 a week not counting Holiday bonus and Overtime while women only made $15 a week so the Little Bird Armed Forces and the Little Bird Government made it that a female has to make the same as her male counterpart so from 42 to now they both made $30 a week and in 1947 the same thing but for civilian careers was passed in which both men and women of any race was paid the same and violations would cost a lot more than paying the worker what they’re owed. The same is for the military female Little Birden Soldiers had to be paid $55 a week as their male counterparts whom female soldiers been apart of the Little Bird Military since 1723 when the All Little Birden Female Line Infantry and All Little Birden Line Marines was absorbed into the main Little Bird Army and Little Bird Marine Corps.
“Also I’m not going to hide behind them,” said Lusty, “But my great grandma was a flamethrower operator from 1915-1918, my great grand aunt was… Ever heard of the Little Bird 77th Rifle Division? No well they don’t exist but my great grand aunt was a member of the Seventh Operations Detachment Specialized Troopers from 1914 to 1918 and opened the First Little Birden School for Infiltration and Special Warfare. Three of my grand aunts were a part of the Little Bird Marine Corps one as a Combat Engineer, one was a Shotgunner and the third one was a Platoon officer. One of my cousins once removed was a sniper for the Little Bird Fifth Infantry Division from North Africa to Germany. “
The Captain didn’t know that Lusty had women who once served in the military doing jobs that a long time ago was once called “A man only job” by other countries and only keeping women as nurses or mechanics keeping them away from combat.
***
December 26th.
Lusty spent all day with her girlfriend and opened her gifts even though Lusty told Zofia she didn’t need any presents. Some of her gifts were jewelry with a couple being clothing. Lusty also used her mother’s recipes to make the most wonderful Christmas dinner well the day after Christmas dinner.
***
A few weeks later. It’s 1997.
Lusty was in her fire department service uniform. She and Zofia were in city hall in Downtown, Empire. The room was packed but Lusty had to sit upfront close to the stage well in front of the stage.
The mayor is there and after a few minutes the mayor mentioned that he won’t be giving out the medals but the teenage girl whom Lusty and Dave saved will be. The Mayor called Lusty as “Probationary Firefighter Clare Johnson” over her nickname because she doesn’t know Lusty’s nickname. Lusty got up and went onto the stage and on the stage were the six out of eight Battalion Chief’s, two Division Chief’s, Deputy District Chiefs, District Chiefs, Assistant Fire Commissioner, and Fire Commissioner. There’s also the Assistant Police Commissioner, Police Commissioner, and the City of Empire Public safety advisor.
Lusty went onto the stage and got her medal. Also the teenage girl who she and Dave saved thanked her for saving her and Lusty told her that it’s no problem. When Lusty went to sit back down the Mayor called Dave to the stage to get his medal but he called Dave as “Firefighter David Waterson” not knowing that David Waterson prefers to be called Dave. They both got the Outstanding medal for them going above and beyond to save someone after being cut off by fire.