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“Are your ex-wives really that bad?”
“YES,” both men said emphatically.
“I’m never getting married,” Kyle muttered openly, scooping up the last of his chili with his spoon.
“No kidding…” Austin agreed. “I don’t need the headache, the heartache, or pants-ache in my trousers. Women are bitter teases and extreme man-haters. There isn’t a girl out there that is worth the trouble or drama she causes.”
“That’s why you date around and live life for yourself,” Andy grinned. “It’s cheaper. You are generally happier. There’s no one to nag you, whine about you having one too many beers, or complaining that you spend too much time at the station…”
“Hear, hear,” Chase muttered.
Attention: MVA – motor vehicle accident…
The announcement carried on, along with a bell ringing in the distance calling them all into motion.
Sure enough, the men were flying into their positions, throwing on their protective clothing. It was almost comical to watch, because shoes were being kicked off onto the floor and flying around them, as they started dressing.
“Grab your bunker gear and packs…”
Kyle ran, grabbed his bunker gear, and threw it down on the ground, kicking off his shoes quickly and leaving them where they lay as he stepped into his boots. He grabbed his pants, hiking them up over his trousers he was wearing, and donned his weighted jacket before making sure everything was fastened appropriately.
Checking his tank and the lights on his mask, he heard Chase start yelling for the ‘round up’…
“Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!” Chase hollered, waving his hand quickly in the air in a circle.
Justin was already climbing into the driver’s seat and the massive rig flared to life as the lights started spinning wildly.
Kyle knew he had seconds to hop on, because Justin would not wait for anyone to dawdle… and you did NOT want Chief Carpenter to find that you were left behind.
“Round it up fellas and let’s get moving…”
Kyle leaped onto the truck and into his seat only seconds before the vehicle started lumbering forward and the siren began wailing in the air around him.
“Rock and Roooooll…” Austin and Andy crowed happily, angling their chins to the air, and howling like a couple of playful mutts as the rest of them laughed.
It was showtime!
* * *
Friday afternoon…
Kyle was sweating buckets – and it had nothing to do with the temperature of this strangely warm, yet beautiful November afternoon. No, he was nervous, and with good reason. They had all loaded up on one of the smaller fire trucks to make sure to make a ‘good show’ for the sake of charity…
Before they left, the captain literally inspected each of them, instantly making him wary. He didn’t,shouldn’t, have anyone to impress – and the fact that he was told to tuck in his t-shirt once again… before they were all told to get their hefty, insulated jackets – to make a good show for the people attending the auction.
Listening in disbelief, he realized that this ‘auction’ was literally going to be an actual meat-market of men for all sorts of women to ogle and bid on. Chase was right! They were going to be ogled like pieces of meat!
He was going to be going on a date with some strange woman, all for the sake of charity.
“I need an adult…” Kyle whispered openly, swallowing nervously.
“Youarethe adult, dipstick…” Chase whispered loudly, grinning nervously, and sweating almost as much as Kyle was.
The temperature was perfect, and the sun was beating down on them, keeping the chill from the air despite the fact it was late in the year.
“God help us all…” Justin muttered, shaking his head and rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
“Seriously, I don’t think I want to do this,” Kyle whispered, looking down the line of firemen standing there in the sun wearing their heavy yellow jackets and helmets… and Austin, his partner, wasn’t helping things in the slightest.
