Caution: Contents May Be Hot (closed)

[momoftwins13]

puttingoutfires:
It was a beautiful day when he roused from his bed. His outlook was good, the dogs had let him sleep in and he felt in his bones that something special was going to happen today. It was a crisp clear spring day and his schedule was light only a presentation at the local elementary school this morning on fire safety.
He always enjoyed the ever excited children from the elementary school. They were anxious to hear what the local firemen had to say and knew that they would get to crawl around on the fire truck as he tried to explain the importance of fire safety to them. Bill was going to bring a couple of the guys from the station because they interacted with the kids so well.
After a quick breakfast for both him and his dogs he jumped into the shower for a refreshing wake me up....as he lingered a bit too long under the pulsating showerhead, Bill longed for the days when he would share an early morning quickie with his wife in the shower.....but no time for reminiscing, he didn't want his spirits dampened by those glorious long lost moments.
He entered the station and went looking for Chad and Paul since they were going to accompany him to the school. Chad was putting the finishing touches on the bright red fire truck and Paul was checking to make sure everything was loaded in the appropriate compartments. Bill was humming a tune as he greeted both of them...."Are you guys ready for some fun and excitement"? They both replied in the affirmative and knew a little R and R over at the school was always an adventure. You just never knew what to expect from schoolchildren.....they ask the darndest questions sometimes.

momoftwins13:
Erin woke up with her usual spunk. The alarm barely had time to ring before she popped out of bed and smacked it off. She went straight to the back door and let her bouncing black lab, Smokey, out into her fenced in back yard. As he took care of business, she went into the bathroom to shower and get ready.

Once she had showered and blew her hair dry she headed back downstairs and feed Smokey while eating a bagel with cream cheese. Then she went and dressed casually for the day in a pair of denim jeans and her "stop, drop and roll" shirt. In no time at all she was out the door and headed to the school where she was a pre-k teacher.

Today would be an awesome day. Fire Safety Day always was. The local fire department would bring their gear and trucks and show all of the kids everything and explain safety rules, all while showing the kids that firefighters were people who they should trust. It was a fun day for all, supposedly.

Erin was in get first year of teaching so she had never experienced it first hand but everyone said it was a blast. She Parked in the school lot and walked inside. Within fifteen minutes the halls were flooded with kids and the day started.

The trucks were due there at 9:30 am so she had just a half hour to get her four year old preschoolers ready.

 

[PuttingOutFires]

We arrived promptly at 9:15 ready to share our knowledge and experiences with the kids. As we strode into the main auditorium a big cheer went up when the kids saw us....makes you feel good to be a fireman in this small community.
As we were setting up our placards and readying for the demonstration, I strolled over to the teacher's section to hand out the pamphlets for later distribution. I noticed a green eyed teacher staring languidly at me so I approached her to give her the booklets.
As I got closer, I saw that she was wearing the stop, drop and roll t-shirt and she filled it out quite nicely....but, the attraction that really mesmerized me were her forest green eyes. I thought to myself, "a man could drown in those limpid pools".
As I handed her the pamphlets and introduced myself to her as Bill our hands touched and I felt a slight jolt to my system. She flashed me a wicked smile and said, "Hi, I'm Erin, one of the teacher's here....I mumbled incoherently hello and asked her if she would pass these out after our demonstration....I felt quite tongue tied, an unusal happenstance for me.
She replied, "I'd be glad to Bill", I sauntered back to the front of the auditorium wondering what had just happened......

 

[momoftwins13]

I managed to get my entire class- all 20 four year old -to the auditorium by the alotted time. My class and the other pre-Kindergarten class were up front, followed by kindergarten through fifth grade in ascending order.

All of the teachers were congregated up front and to the front. As the firefighters arrived, the students all broke into applause. I watched with a broad smile as my students- most of whom had never seen firefighters- stared in awe at the large powerful men entering. Hero worship was with all over their young faces.

The firefighters set up their stuff and I watched as one particularity handsome man approached us with pamphlets. When he got to me, His eyes connected with mine and I had to inhale quickly. Lord, he was entrancing.

He handed me his pamphlets and we exchanged a brief if semi awkward conversation. Then he headed back up to start his presentation.

I noted seemed to be the man in charge as they finished getting set up.

He indicated they were ready and the teachers moved to theirnclasses- to run herd on chatty students.

As I sat down, a loving little boy in my class, Nolan, scrambled into my lap and I hugged him close, shh-ing a student and pointing to Bill. It was his turn to speak.

 

[PuttingOutFires]

I introduced Chad and Paul to all of the eager faces sitting in front of us...they actually applauded both of them leaving them a bit embarrassed. I started off by explaining how important it was to always be aware of their surrounding environment....We covered topics such as bedroom fire safety, cooking fire safety, candle fire safety, fire extinguishers and how to use them, smoke alarms and even defensible areas around the outside of their home....these kids were enraptured by the lecture, which surprised me.....I closed the speaking part of our demonstration with a question answer period, and it looked like a hundred hands shot up into the air.
My first pick was a young boy who wanted to know if I had ever rescued a cat from a tree....hahaha, and yes, I actually have. The next question came from a little girl and she wanted to know if I've ever been on fire....'I told her that I do have a couple of burns but nothing serious."
We now moved on to our demonstration part of the presentation and when I asked the teachers for a volunteer, I got my wish and the green eyed beauty named Erin put her hand up. I asked her to come up and she willingly approached the front of the room......

 

[momoftwins13]

I watched with amusement as the children all asked questions after sitting perfectly enraptured by Bill and his coworkers. It was the quietest and stillest I had ever seen the kids. Completely amazing.

Then he asked for volunteers. Nolan elbowed me and I laughed, raising my hand. I was surprised when Bill called on me. Blushing I stand and sit Nolan down. Several of my coworkers cheer and gibe me making me laugh as i walk up.

"Hello again" I say with a sly smile to the handsome firefighter before me.

 

[PuttingOutFires]

Ms. Erin has been so gracious to help us with today's demonstration, would you kids please give her a big hand for her participation.....the kids went wild, apparently they all liked Ms. Erin.
I asked the class if they would like to see me demonstrate the fireman's carry?? Immediate response, while Erin wasn't looking to sure.
I whispered to her..."Don't worry Erin, I'll be gentle with you". She laughed and said, "I'm not fragile Bill, I can handle anything you dish out". That got a laugh from me.
I explained to the children that sometimes we have to carry victims out of a burning house and there's a right way and a wrong way....let me demonstrate the right way.
Erin, would you lay on the floor for me face down....she did as she was told with no protests.
I explained to the kids as I demonstrated that you have to kneel by their head. Stick your arms under their armpits and around their back. Raise the victim to their feet and lift with your legs and not your back. Shift your weight to your right leg and stick it between the victims leg. Grab the victim's right hand with your left and drape it over your shoulder. with your head under the victim's right armpit, squat and lift and then grab the victim's right hand with your right hand.
The kids were applauding this demonstration, I'm not sure if it was because it was how I was treating Ms. Erin or just the entire hilarity of it. I must say Erin was a delight to lift in this manner and I told her so as I let her back down to her feet...She stared up at me and said..."It was my pleasure"....Again, I was getting that uncomfortable feeling in my gut.
To distract myself, I asked the kids if they were ready to go outside and see the firetrucks....The auditorium erupted in cheers and screaming kids....letting me off the hook for the time being....