Page 3 of Perfect Enough
“Shaw!”
We both cringed at the anger in our captain’s voice.
“Coming, Cap!” I called out, before I put down the gas can and quickly made my way over to him.
“My office. Now.”
“Yes, sir,” I said as I took one more look at Larry.
Once inside the office, he motioned for me to sit down. I did, then patiently waited for him to speak. I knew from experience that he needed a few moments to collect himself when he was riled. He’d moved to Hamilton from New York City, where he’d been a firefighter for over twenty years. I wasn’t sure why he wasn’t Assistant Chief or Fire Chief. I was pretty sure he had more experience than both of our current ones.
He reached into his desk and pulled out a new phone still in the box. “They had to give you a new number, but it’s been recorded with personnel, and I wrote it down for you here.”
I nodded and took the new phone, as well as the paper with the number on it. All the firefighters who worked for the Hamilton Fire Department were volunteers, except for the lieutenant, captain, fire chief, and assistant chief, who were paid a salary. When needed, they would reach us through pagers or the cells they provided for us. We each took shifts of twenty-four hours on, followed by forty-eight hours off. The days I had off, I worked on our family’s ranch. My father hadn’t been pleased when I’d told him I wanted to be a firefighter, but he was on board once he knew I’d still be part of the family business. I loved the ranch too much not to be a part of it. It was in my blood.
My mother…not so much. She hated that I risked my life doing this job. But I loved everything about it.
I opened the box and took out the phone, turning it on and waiting for it to boot up. While I watched the Apple logo, Captain cleared his throat.
“Josh, you’ve been with the fire department for three years, correct?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“You’ve never missed a shift.”
“No, sir, I’ve never missed a shift.”
“You’re the first to volunteer to help train probational firefighters.”
Tilting my head, I asked, “Are you buttering me up for something, Cap?”
He laughed. “No, son, I’m not. I want you to know that I see your dedication and hard work, and I appreciate it. Even if you do stupid shit like losing your phone.”
I grinned. “I won’t let that happen again.”
“You know most guys just use that phone for everything.”
I nodded.
“That’s my polite way of saying…do the same damn thing, Shaw.”
“Yes, sir.”
He eyed me for a minute and said, “Josh, the city council will be voting next month on hiring a few full-time firefighters. It would be a paid position, and your name has been mentioned numerous times.”
I gaped at him. “Really?”
“Yes. Eyes will be watching you, so I want you to behave and continue working as hard as you already do. Harder, if possible. Your family has a good name here in Hamilton, and they’ve done a lot for the community—not to mention being major donors to the new fire station. If you get this paid position and you fluff off, it’s going to be said you bought the position.”
I nodded.
“I know your father and mother are proud of you, as is your whole family, but if you want this, you need to show the rest of the town that firefighting isn’t just your passion, but you’re the best at it.”
“I understand, sir.”
“Show it to the ones looking in from the outside.”
“And start by not losing my phone?” I asked with a smirk. He didn’t find my joke funny, and I cleared my throat.