You're On Fire Pt 20

The storm abates, the thunder and lightning moving down river; the guys get the sump working, coming back up into the kitchen reeking of foul water and triggering the women to gather up paper plates and beer cans and say they need to get their suppers started. Debbie Hoyt and Jan Bell talk quietly in the corner, both smoking by an open window that makes the rain smell even sweeter and softer, and they hug, which sets the women to talking in other rooms under their hands, and then Debbie takes Tim home, the both of them bent under a large blue umbrella. You and Jason eat potato chip crumbs out of left-behind bags listening to the firemen talk. You hear about that guy up in Dixon? Yeah, that apartment thing, hope it was quick that’s all I say. They never name firemen in the other towns – it’s just that guy or those guys – and while they will talk fire down to its last detail when a fireman burns they only call it that thing. That thing over in Murphysboro; that thing up in Sandusky.

After a while it’s just your father and Jason’s father sitting at the table while your mother takes the baby and your brother up, saying good night. Everything’s been put away and the boxes and packing bagged up and taken to the alley – people would think you’d lived here for years.

Watch out for that Ray Hoyt, Dan says.

I met him, John Van Meter says. Didn’t like him much.

Who’s that? Jason whispers in your ear; you tell him that it’s Tim’s father, also an LT.

My dad’s gonna be Captain in no time, Jason assures you, and you roll your eyes. Lyle Ahrens has been Captain of the station for twenty years and isn’t going to retire anytime soon; and besides, everyone knew that Dan Bell was going to be Captain someday.