“Leave ’em alone, Don, he’s still wet behind the ears,” Carter responds. “I’m pretty sure his mama even made him lunch today. Did she cut the crust off your PB&J, too?” he inquires in a mocking voice.
“Enough, enough!” the guy taking roll call says while still chuckling.
“I think that’s it. Car—”
“You missed one.” I finally emerge from behind the man.
He turns to me, eyes widening in surprise. “Shit! Allende, forgot you were starting tonight.”
“That doesn’t bode well for me, does it, Sean?” Sean is one of the lieutenants at Rescue Four.
“Nah, you’re fine. Why don’t you help Don with inspection?”
I nod and head in the same direction as I saw Don walking earlier. I’d already been introduced to most of the Rescue Four squad a few days earlier while at the fire department’s annual firefighter competition. I was fresh off the plane from Mexico and wanted to swing by the Williamsport Park to meet my new squad. It might’ve also had something to do with the fact that I didn’t want to face going directly home to an empty place.
“Hey,” I say to Don as I enter, “Sean sent me out to help with inspection.”
Don’s dark eyes narrow. “I don’t need help.”
I frown at his tone. “I’m here whether you need it or not.”
Grunting, he turns back to rifling through one of the compartments of the truck with the clipboard and pen in his hand.
I know what the cold shoulder feels like, and something tells me this isn’t a part of one of the squad’s practical jokes.
“Did you get this side?” I question.
“I just came out here a minute ago. It look like I did a full side already?”
“What the fuck is your problem?” I retort, my temper getting the better of me.
Again, he’s unresponsive, grunting and going back to counting.
I give him a dismissive glare and head to the side table, picking up another clipboard and pencil. Rounding to the opposite side of the truck, I press open the side compartment door that holds a lot of the equipment that’s taken out on runs.
“Shit!” I yelp when I’m sprayed by freezing cold water, soaking my face and entire front side.
All I hear in the background is bellows of laughter.
I step from around the truck to find nearly all of the squad at the door, bent over in hysterics.
“Hey, Allende, you’re supposed to point the water at the fire. Not yourself!” Sean yells, causing more goofy ass laughing.
I toss them all a middle finger but that only results in more laughter.
“Holy shit!”
“Welcome to Rescue Four,” three of them say in tandem.
“You can believe there’s more where that came from.” Carter winks at me and they all enter back into the station, still falling all over themselves.
I roll my eyes but laugh to myself.I might like it here, I think as I turn and catch Don’s eye.
He’s frowning as he goes back to counting and checking the equipment on his side of the truck. He doesn’t say a word.
****
Janine
