Mind my pen name and my bio. If you're looking for things that are likely to happen in the real world, then you're in the wrong place. The things that bring together people in my stories are unlikely, at best, but isn't that what fantasy is about? Hope you like it, and please do vote/comment. Another one for the ladies. What can I say? The feedback from that quarter has been inspiring, to say the least.
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Karen nearly panicked when the young man climbed out of his car and leaned back in to retrieve his gear. If her guess was right, he probably wasn't even old enough to drink yet.
Oh no, no, no! Why didn't I ask to talk to who they were sending first!
She glanced back over her shoulder at the gymnasium that would soon be filled with children β including her own son.
What had promised to be a triumph that would unseat Betty, the PTA queen of organization, now teetered in the balance, all hinging upon the young man walking toward her. She stopped just short of bringing a lock of her red hair to her lips, a habit she'd broken years ago β or so she thought.
"Hello," she said, and inwardly winced when some of her trepidation came through in her voice.
"You must be Ms. Hutton. Name's Leo. I'm all ready to go," he greeted her while offering his hand. She couldn't help but notice that he had a moderate Italian accent.
"Karen," she offered. "So how long have you been a firefighter?"
Leo laughed. "Yeah, I could see it in your eyes. I joined up volunteer when I turned eighteen. My pops has been on the force all my life, though. I may as well have been born with a helmet on and a hose in my hand. I know what I'm doing."
What he said might have sounded arrogant, except the tone of his voice completely belied any such consideration. His calm, self-assured manner actually served to settle Karen's nerves. "That's good to hear. The kids are really looking forward to seeing you. Hopefully they'll learn a little something about fire safety in the process."
"Sure would make my life a little easier β a little more boring β but easier. You wouldn't believe how many times we get called out 'cause of kids playing with matches, or screwing around β you know?"
"That's what you're here for," Karen said with a wide smile as she led him into the gym. Now that she'd spoken to him for a minute or two, she thought that he fit the mold perfectly, despite his age. All he needed was a nice, thick mustache to fully look the part. "I need to get things started. It'll be about a half hour. I'll come get you in time to put all your things on."
"I'll be right here," Leo said, and pulled up a chair in the equipment closet where she'd led him.
Everything went perfectly. Leo was animated, and certainly did know what he was talking about. He encouraged the children to interact, and they enthusiastically shouted out correct responses to his questions. As she filmed him, Karen even found that she was reconsidering some of her own plans in the event of a fire.
The blank, defeated look on Betty's face was just icing on the cake.
Leo pulled off his helmet when he returned to the equipment room. "So, did I do all right?"
"Perfect. I can't thank you enough for doing this."
"Hey, no problem," Leo said as he pulled off his coat. "You were taping it β right?"
Still holding her camera, Karen held it up and said, "Yes."
"Think you could make me a copy of that? I got this nephew in Minnesota wants to be a fireman, and I think he'd get a kick out of it. We're going out there tomorrow for his birthday."
Karen smiled and said, "That's the least I can do. I can go home and transfer it to the computer to make you a DVD. I just need a few minutes."
Leo smiled and said, "Thanks. I'll go ahead and put my stuff back in my car and wait out there."
"See you in a few minutes, then."
It occurred to Karen as she finished up a few things and talked to the principal that she didn't really have any idea how she was going to give Leo the DVD once she finished it. The solution was simple enough.
"Why don't you just follow me back to the house? That's probably the easiest way to give you your copy, since you need it tomorrow."
"I could have just mailed it to him, but that will work. Be nice to see him watch it."
"I'll be around in a minute, then," Karen said before walking to her car. She beeped her horn and slowed down as she passed him, giving him time to pull out behind her and follow. A few minutes later, he parked in the driveway behind her.
"Nice place," Leo remarked as he climbed out of his car.
Karen smiled and said, "Thank you. It's small, but it's home." She then unlocked the door and gestured for him to follow as she headed directly to the computer.
Once she sat down and plugged in the camera, Karen explained, "It will take a couple of minutes to download from the camera, and then a few more to burn the DVD."
Leo pulled off his jacket. "Glad you know what you're doing, 'cause I got no clue." He laughed and added, "Everybody keeps telling me I need to learn how to work one of those things, but I like to work with my hands. It just doesn't make any sense to me."
Karen glanced back at him and wondered how she'd possibly failed to notice his muscles straining against his t-shirt. In light of that, his comment about working with his hands conjured up an entirely different image in her head. She could feel her cheeks warming, and quickly turned back to the computer. "They get easier to use all the time. I never hurts to learn."
"Yeah, I know," he admitted with a little chuckle.
Still a little nervous about having noticed just how attractive the young fireman was, Karen kept talking, "My son was talking about this for days. You certainly didn't disappoint him."
"Thought it was just the older kids?"
"It was," Karen answered. "My son is in fifth grade."
"Get outta here," Leo incredulously responded.
Karen turned toward him and asked, with laughter in her voice, "What do you mean?"
"Well... Uh..."
Karen's eyebrows twitched upward. "How old do you think I am?"
Leo held up his hands and waved them in a subtle warding gesture. "Oh no. My pop taught me better than that. Never guess a girl's age," he answered, and then chuckled.