Finding a Way Out
Chapter Three
Day by Day
The first thing Hank noticed as he tried to hand the coffee to Johnny was that all of the blinds in the room had been raised allowing the sunlight to illuminate the entire space. Johnny was at the front window trying to open it, but not having any luck. "Here John have your coffee. Let me see if I can help you with that window."
"No Cap. I can do it."
Hank noticed the anger that seemed to possess Johnny as he yanked on the window. He was sweating and tears ran down his face. The struggle with the unmoving window clearly caused pain in Johnny's injured muscles. Hank reached a hand over and helped raise it. Johnny slunk down to his
knees and hung his head. "Give yourself time to heal son."
"I …I don't know if I can deal with this. What if I don't make it back?" Johnny looked up at his Captain. "Maybe I should have stayed up there. I mean if I can't be a fireman/paramedic. "
Captain Stanley saw the anguish in Johnny's expressive brown eyes. "No John you should not have stayed up there. You will make it back and the guys and I will help you." He reached down and helped Johnny up. "Now I think we both need some coffee. Do you need to open any
more windows before we have our coffee?"
"No sir we don't have to."
"Well John do you normally open them all?"
"Um y..yes. Upstairs too, but we don't have to. We can just run the air if you want."
"John is that how you keep your utility expenses down?"
"Yes Sir. I like the fresh air."
"Well let's get cracking then, so I can get to that coffee." He proceeded to open every window in the house. Hank was amazed at how cool and light the open windows made the house. As he came back down stairs he was met by Johnny who handed him a freshly poured cup of
coffee.
"It's better hot. I usually have mine out on the deck."
"Lead the way." Hank followed him out the French doors leading to the deck from the spacious kitchen. They sat outside listening to the birds singing and enjoyed the view. That is where they still were when
Mike Stoker came around the house.
"Good Morning. I thought you guys might be hungry," Mike said as he placed a takeout bag on the table. "Any more of that good smelling coffee?"
"Yeah you know where the cups are," Johnny tilted his head towards the kitchen behind him.
"Refill?" Mike asked Johnny as he and Hank made eye contact. Picking up Johnny's cup he disappeared into the French doors.
"I'll give you a hand," Hank said as he followed Mike into the kitchen. Johnny just sat at the table staring at the clouds not even noticing that he was alone.
Inside the kitchen the two men whispered so Johnny would not over hear them. "How's he doing Cap?"
"He's having a hard time right now. You know how hard it is for him to accept help. He really hates feeling vulnerable. He is so depressed. He said that if he can't go back to the job he should
have stayed on the roof. I don't know Mike. I'm really concerned about him."
Mike shook his head in understanding, picked up the two cups of coffee, and the two men joined their friend on the deck again. The three drank their coffee in silence. Captain Stanley ate his breakfast sandwich, but Johnny only nibbled at his and looked off into the distance. "Johnny
did you take your meds this morning?" Johnny didn't answer. "Cap?"
"Gosh Mike I totally forgot about the medicine. I'll get it right now. We've been up for a couple of hours he's probably really hurting. Jesus what was I thinking?"
Mike studied his friend while they waited for Hank to return with the medications. Johnny looked like he was concentrating very hard to control his pain. "Johnny are you hurting?"
"A little."
"I'm thinking a lot. Why didn't you tell Cap?"
"Didn't want to bother him."
"You want to lie down a while? Maybe on the couch or in the recliner so you can watch the tv? I'm gonna see to the horses this morning. Craig put together a list, but I insisted that we start out with me,
Chet and Marco. I didn't think you would be ready for Craig just yet."
Johnny chuckled, "No not ready for him yet. Mike?"
"Yeah?"
"I think I need to lie down. I'm not feeling too good, but I don't know if I can get to the recliner by myself."
Mike could tell that it bothered Johnny to have to admit his weakness. "No problem just wait right here until Cap brings your meds and then I'll help you to the chair."
Johnny's eyes closed and Mike could see the strain on his face.
Hank returned with a glass of cool water and the prescribed amount of medication. "Here you go John. Take these. I also brought some Tylenol." Johnny took all of the meds including the Tylenol. Then he
looked up towards Mike indicating that he was ready for the trip to the recliner. Mike took a firm hold across Johnny's back and together they entered the house. Having gotten Johnny settled into the recliner. Mike went to start tending the animals while Hank went off to shower. Hank wondered how many times Mike had helped Johnny when he was sick or injured. The two men seemed to have an understanding for each other that only comes with deep trust and friendship developed over time. These two were as different as night and day. Mike was quiet, tranquil, and calm, while Johnny was boisterous, always moving, and giddy, and yet they seemed totally comfortable together. Mike could read Johnny almost as well as Roy. Johnny slowly relaxed as the pain medication took hold, and he drifted off to sleep. For a while he slept soundly, but then the nightmare came again.
`He was alone in a place where the darkness consumed him, a sultry dark place. He was on the roof of the office building facing the extreme heat the emanated from the slowly collapsing center of the platform. Suddenly he could see thin bright lines snaking up from the depths of
the structure. The lines became bigger, wider. Then the lines became flames and closed in on him. He was getting hotter and hotter and the flames closer and closer seeming to taunt him; flitting before his face and then pulling back performing a kind of teasing dance. He could see his friends standing around the edge of the crumbling roof. They were watching him fall, but stood motionless. He needed help and no one was offering any. He looked from face to face only the beings had no faces. They stood there mocking him for trying to get out, but they had no faces. Then he ran for the edge of the roof and jumped. He fell into a dark cloud of smoke. The smoke smothered him. He couldn't breathe
the pressure on his lungs unbearable. He gasped for air. He started choking and gagging. He couldn't breathe. He needed help, but no one came.'
Mike came into the house at a run. "Johnny wake up buddy. You have to wake up. You're having a bad dream. Come on Johnny take some deep breaths." Johnny was thrashing in the recliner gasping for air.
"Mike what happened?"
"Bad dream."
"He has one every time he tries to sleep. He's not getting enough rest."
"He'll be okay Cap. This happens almost every time he's injured. He just has to work it out in his head and then he'll be all right."
"You've helped him before after an injury?"
"Yeah, we all have Cap."
Captain Stanley wondered why he had not known that the rest of his crew had helped Johnny after he had come home from the hospital on numerous occasions. Why had he not thought to do the same thing? He knew that Roy usually took care of his best friend. Well from now on Hank decided he
would play a more active role in his crew's down time.
"He's done the same for all of us Cap. Johnny struggles with the dreams though and this time was enough to mess up anyone's sense of security." Turning his attention back to the sleeping man Mike
gently shook him, "come on buddy time to wake up."
Johnny slowly became aware of Mike's gently prodding. "Wha…Mike?"
"Yeah Johnny you were dreaming again."
"Oh man." He looked from Mike to his Captain and saw the disheveled appearance, the still wet uncombed hair, half shaven, shirt unbuttoned and damp, and his bare feet. "Sorry Cap, didn't mean
to interrupt."
Hank patted him on the shoulder, "Don't worry about it John. I'll go finish up then we can see about getting you in the
shower." A short time later both men showered and freshly dressed sat relaxing in the rocking chairs on the front porch. Johnny had opted to leave the sling off of his sprained shoulder. The truth was if he had
been alone he would not have replaced the immobilizer on the other shoulder either. He had dislocated shoulders before and knew the physical therapy exercises and care instructions by heart. As soon as
his friends let him be alone he would start working towards regaining full mobility. But to his disdain that would have to wait until no one was around to stop him.
Rising from his rocker Johnny looked over at his friend. "Roy will be here in a little while. I think I'll put on another pot of coffee."
Hank was beginning to understand that Johnny wanted, no needed to do some simple tasks to keep from going stir crazy. "Okay John. Let me know if you need any help."
Johnny nodded his head in agreement and went into the house to accomplish his task. Just as he disappeared behind the screen Captain Stanley could hear the crunching of tires on the gravel drive. Impressed at how Johnny knew exactly what time his partner would arrive Hank again thought about the closeness of his crew. Mike came strolling out of the barn and walked up to Roy as he got out of the car. The two men joined Hank on the porch. "Afternoon Roy."
"Hey Cap how's it going?"
"Fine, fine. We already got our shower and Mike hear has already handled the chores. We're doing fine."
"Good. He's not trying to keep the immobilizer off yet?"
Hank laughed at his knowing senior paramedic. "No not yet."
"Well that has to be a record. He usually sheds it after the first day home. It is either really bothering him or he is keeping it on for your benefit Cap." Roy smiled at his Captain. "Maybe you should
stay with him more often when he is recovering from an injury." They again shared a laugh.
"Did I miss something?" Johnny said as he came back out on the porch carrying two cups of coffee handing one to Cap. "Uh I could only carry two," he said as he went to hand the other cup to Mike.
"I'll get mine and Roy's," Mike said turning to the door. "Be right back."
The afternoon went by with the four men relaxing on the porch, enjoying a light lunch of chicken salad sandwiches, chips and lemonade. Mike was the first to leave and Hank soon after. Roy planned to stay at least until dinner and through the night if Johnny needed him to. He knew that Johnny was probably ready to be left alone for a while. Chet and Marco were up next on the roster to help with the chores. Roy knew they would
be arriving early, because they were on shift at 9. Roy planned on stopping by too if he didn't stay the night. This had been their routine in the past. The only difference had been that Hank stayed the
first night which was what Roy usually did. "How about I warm up one of those casseroles that the wives left for dinner Junior?" He said not really expecting an answer as he got up and went to start dinner.
Roy hadn't stayed. After dinner they had watched some TV until Johnny had decided to turn in early. So around 9 o'clock with Johnny settled in bed Roy shut all the windows, locked up the house and headed
home.
Chet and Marco arrived early knowing they had a lot to accomplish before heading to the station. Johnny also knew they would be there around 6 so he was up and already had coffee waiting for his friends. "Hey guys come on in."
Looking over at their friend they could tell he had not slept much. He sported dark circles under his eyes and his face looked strained. "Morning," both men responded at the same time. They also noticed that the sling and immobilizer were missing.
"Coffee's already poured in the kitchen," Johnny said with a somewhat forced happy tone. As the group moved from the door into the house another set of wheels could be heard crunching up the drive.
Johnny stepped back to the door to see Roy getting out of his car. He chuckled at the expected arrival of his best friend. Pushing open the screen door he yelled a greeting, "Hey Pally coffee's on."
Roy smiled back at Johnny and shook his head. "I see you seem to have misplaced your immobilizer this morning."
"Uh…I…um j…just haven't put it on yet."
"Yeah I know." Entering the house Roy could hear Chet and Marco talking about the excellent coffee. "Morning guys."
"Hey Roy," they said in unison.
"Anybody home?" The group of men in the kitchen were startled by the arrival of yet another person. Hank Stanley poked his head in the kitchen door smiling. "I have breakfast compliments of my wonderful
wife." He finished entering the room carrying a tray of sticky buns.
"Wow Cap my favorite!" Johnny said as he grabbed one from the tray before it was placed on the table.
"I see your appetite had improved." Hank said as he surveyed the appearance of his youngest crew member. "But you look like you didn't fare as well in the sleep department, and where is your
immobilizer? " The group of men all laughed at Hank's question.
They all knew not to expect Johnny to have it on after a whole day away from the doctors at Rampart.
Just as Johnny was about to respond Mike Stoker came in from the French doors that lead to the deck. "Thought you guys would be out back."
"Haven't gotten that far yet," Johnny informed his friend.
"Why do I think I have been missing these little get togethers before shift when one of you is out?" Hank asked the group.
The men looked at their shoes. They were slightly embarrassed that they had left the man out, but truthfully they knew he usually was first to arrive at the station and didn't want to impose. "Uh Cap we
just…um we didn't…I mean."
"Relax Roy, I'm not upset. I guess it's hard to include your boss on everything, but just know that I'm here for you. Now I guess I had better head in to the station, so I can go over the log books from
the previous shift and get the duty roster done. See you men at the station. John you take care of yourself today son. Call us if you need anything."
"Thanks Cap and uh for yesterday."
"Well Gage we had better get busy on your chores so that we aren't late for work. I don't think Cap would like it if the whole crew came in late." Chet put his cup in the sink and headed
towards the front door. "Come on Marco."
"Right behind you."
Mike and Roy moved towards the great room. "Mike you take the upstairs and I'll get the windows down here."
Johnny smiled at his friends. They knew him well. He started filling the sink with dish water and cleared the table. This he could do without straining his injuries. Like they do battling fires these men worked
well as a team. In short order the chores were done, the windows open, the guest bed stripped and the bedding in the wash. The four helpers were on their way to the station, Johnny relaxed in one of the rockers on the porch. This was going to be a good day. John Gage had decided after the nightmare last night that he would not let the fire beat him. He would get over his doubts and fight back. With the help of his friends he could return to battle the flaming beast. He would work at it day by day until he succeeded.
"No Cap. I can do it."
Hank noticed the anger that seemed to possess Johnny as he yanked on the window. He was sweating and tears ran down his face. The struggle with the unmoving window clearly caused pain in Johnny's injured muscles. Hank reached a hand over and helped raise it. Johnny slunk down to his
knees and hung his head. "Give yourself time to heal son."
"I …I don't know if I can deal with this. What if I don't make it back?" Johnny looked up at his Captain. "Maybe I should have stayed up there. I mean if I can't be a fireman/paramedic. "
Captain Stanley saw the anguish in Johnny's expressive brown eyes. "No John you should not have stayed up there. You will make it back and the guys and I will help you." He reached down and helped Johnny up. "Now I think we both need some coffee. Do you need to open any
more windows before we have our coffee?"
"No sir we don't have to."
"Well John do you normally open them all?"
"Um y..yes. Upstairs too, but we don't have to. We can just run the air if you want."
"John is that how you keep your utility expenses down?"
"Yes Sir. I like the fresh air."
"Well let's get cracking then, so I can get to that coffee." He proceeded to open every window in the house. Hank was amazed at how cool and light the open windows made the house. As he came back down stairs he was met by Johnny who handed him a freshly poured cup of
coffee.
"It's better hot. I usually have mine out on the deck."
"Lead the way." Hank followed him out the French doors leading to the deck from the spacious kitchen. They sat outside listening to the birds singing and enjoyed the view. That is where they still were when
Mike Stoker came around the house.
"Good Morning. I thought you guys might be hungry," Mike said as he placed a takeout bag on the table. "Any more of that good smelling coffee?"
"Yeah you know where the cups are," Johnny tilted his head towards the kitchen behind him.
"Refill?" Mike asked Johnny as he and Hank made eye contact. Picking up Johnny's cup he disappeared into the French doors.
"I'll give you a hand," Hank said as he followed Mike into the kitchen. Johnny just sat at the table staring at the clouds not even noticing that he was alone.
Inside the kitchen the two men whispered so Johnny would not over hear them. "How's he doing Cap?"
"He's having a hard time right now. You know how hard it is for him to accept help. He really hates feeling vulnerable. He is so depressed. He said that if he can't go back to the job he should
have stayed on the roof. I don't know Mike. I'm really concerned about him."
Mike shook his head in understanding, picked up the two cups of coffee, and the two men joined their friend on the deck again. The three drank their coffee in silence. Captain Stanley ate his breakfast sandwich, but Johnny only nibbled at his and looked off into the distance. "Johnny
did you take your meds this morning?" Johnny didn't answer. "Cap?"
"Gosh Mike I totally forgot about the medicine. I'll get it right now. We've been up for a couple of hours he's probably really hurting. Jesus what was I thinking?"
Mike studied his friend while they waited for Hank to return with the medications. Johnny looked like he was concentrating very hard to control his pain. "Johnny are you hurting?"
"A little."
"I'm thinking a lot. Why didn't you tell Cap?"
"Didn't want to bother him."
"You want to lie down a while? Maybe on the couch or in the recliner so you can watch the tv? I'm gonna see to the horses this morning. Craig put together a list, but I insisted that we start out with me,
Chet and Marco. I didn't think you would be ready for Craig just yet."
Johnny chuckled, "No not ready for him yet. Mike?"
"Yeah?"
"I think I need to lie down. I'm not feeling too good, but I don't know if I can get to the recliner by myself."
Mike could tell that it bothered Johnny to have to admit his weakness. "No problem just wait right here until Cap brings your meds and then I'll help you to the chair."
Johnny's eyes closed and Mike could see the strain on his face.
Hank returned with a glass of cool water and the prescribed amount of medication. "Here you go John. Take these. I also brought some Tylenol." Johnny took all of the meds including the Tylenol. Then he
looked up towards Mike indicating that he was ready for the trip to the recliner. Mike took a firm hold across Johnny's back and together they entered the house. Having gotten Johnny settled into the recliner. Mike went to start tending the animals while Hank went off to shower. Hank wondered how many times Mike had helped Johnny when he was sick or injured. The two men seemed to have an understanding for each other that only comes with deep trust and friendship developed over time. These two were as different as night and day. Mike was quiet, tranquil, and calm, while Johnny was boisterous, always moving, and giddy, and yet they seemed totally comfortable together. Mike could read Johnny almost as well as Roy. Johnny slowly relaxed as the pain medication took hold, and he drifted off to sleep. For a while he slept soundly, but then the nightmare came again.
`He was alone in a place where the darkness consumed him, a sultry dark place. He was on the roof of the office building facing the extreme heat the emanated from the slowly collapsing center of the platform. Suddenly he could see thin bright lines snaking up from the depths of
the structure. The lines became bigger, wider. Then the lines became flames and closed in on him. He was getting hotter and hotter and the flames closer and closer seeming to taunt him; flitting before his face and then pulling back performing a kind of teasing dance. He could see his friends standing around the edge of the crumbling roof. They were watching him fall, but stood motionless. He needed help and no one was offering any. He looked from face to face only the beings had no faces. They stood there mocking him for trying to get out, but they had no faces. Then he ran for the edge of the roof and jumped. He fell into a dark cloud of smoke. The smoke smothered him. He couldn't breathe
the pressure on his lungs unbearable. He gasped for air. He started choking and gagging. He couldn't breathe. He needed help, but no one came.'
Mike came into the house at a run. "Johnny wake up buddy. You have to wake up. You're having a bad dream. Come on Johnny take some deep breaths." Johnny was thrashing in the recliner gasping for air.
"Mike what happened?"
"Bad dream."
"He has one every time he tries to sleep. He's not getting enough rest."
"He'll be okay Cap. This happens almost every time he's injured. He just has to work it out in his head and then he'll be all right."
"You've helped him before after an injury?"
"Yeah, we all have Cap."
Captain Stanley wondered why he had not known that the rest of his crew had helped Johnny after he had come home from the hospital on numerous occasions. Why had he not thought to do the same thing? He knew that Roy usually took care of his best friend. Well from now on Hank decided he
would play a more active role in his crew's down time.
"He's done the same for all of us Cap. Johnny struggles with the dreams though and this time was enough to mess up anyone's sense of security." Turning his attention back to the sleeping man Mike
gently shook him, "come on buddy time to wake up."
Johnny slowly became aware of Mike's gently prodding. "Wha…Mike?"
"Yeah Johnny you were dreaming again."
"Oh man." He looked from Mike to his Captain and saw the disheveled appearance, the still wet uncombed hair, half shaven, shirt unbuttoned and damp, and his bare feet. "Sorry Cap, didn't mean
to interrupt."
Hank patted him on the shoulder, "Don't worry about it John. I'll go finish up then we can see about getting you in the
shower." A short time later both men showered and freshly dressed sat relaxing in the rocking chairs on the front porch. Johnny had opted to leave the sling off of his sprained shoulder. The truth was if he had
been alone he would not have replaced the immobilizer on the other shoulder either. He had dislocated shoulders before and knew the physical therapy exercises and care instructions by heart. As soon as
his friends let him be alone he would start working towards regaining full mobility. But to his disdain that would have to wait until no one was around to stop him.
Rising from his rocker Johnny looked over at his friend. "Roy will be here in a little while. I think I'll put on another pot of coffee."
Hank was beginning to understand that Johnny wanted, no needed to do some simple tasks to keep from going stir crazy. "Okay John. Let me know if you need any help."
Johnny nodded his head in agreement and went into the house to accomplish his task. Just as he disappeared behind the screen Captain Stanley could hear the crunching of tires on the gravel drive. Impressed at how Johnny knew exactly what time his partner would arrive Hank again thought about the closeness of his crew. Mike came strolling out of the barn and walked up to Roy as he got out of the car. The two men joined Hank on the porch. "Afternoon Roy."
"Hey Cap how's it going?"
"Fine, fine. We already got our shower and Mike hear has already handled the chores. We're doing fine."
"Good. He's not trying to keep the immobilizer off yet?"
Hank laughed at his knowing senior paramedic. "No not yet."
"Well that has to be a record. He usually sheds it after the first day home. It is either really bothering him or he is keeping it on for your benefit Cap." Roy smiled at his Captain. "Maybe you should
stay with him more often when he is recovering from an injury." They again shared a laugh.
"Did I miss something?" Johnny said as he came back out on the porch carrying two cups of coffee handing one to Cap. "Uh I could only carry two," he said as he went to hand the other cup to Mike.
"I'll get mine and Roy's," Mike said turning to the door. "Be right back."
The afternoon went by with the four men relaxing on the porch, enjoying a light lunch of chicken salad sandwiches, chips and lemonade. Mike was the first to leave and Hank soon after. Roy planned to stay at least until dinner and through the night if Johnny needed him to. He knew that Johnny was probably ready to be left alone for a while. Chet and Marco were up next on the roster to help with the chores. Roy knew they would
be arriving early, because they were on shift at 9. Roy planned on stopping by too if he didn't stay the night. This had been their routine in the past. The only difference had been that Hank stayed the
first night which was what Roy usually did. "How about I warm up one of those casseroles that the wives left for dinner Junior?" He said not really expecting an answer as he got up and went to start dinner.
Roy hadn't stayed. After dinner they had watched some TV until Johnny had decided to turn in early. So around 9 o'clock with Johnny settled in bed Roy shut all the windows, locked up the house and headed
home.
Chet and Marco arrived early knowing they had a lot to accomplish before heading to the station. Johnny also knew they would be there around 6 so he was up and already had coffee waiting for his friends. "Hey guys come on in."
Looking over at their friend they could tell he had not slept much. He sported dark circles under his eyes and his face looked strained. "Morning," both men responded at the same time. They also noticed that the sling and immobilizer were missing.
"Coffee's already poured in the kitchen," Johnny said with a somewhat forced happy tone. As the group moved from the door into the house another set of wheels could be heard crunching up the drive.
Johnny stepped back to the door to see Roy getting out of his car. He chuckled at the expected arrival of his best friend. Pushing open the screen door he yelled a greeting, "Hey Pally coffee's on."
Roy smiled back at Johnny and shook his head. "I see you seem to have misplaced your immobilizer this morning."
"Uh…I…um j…just haven't put it on yet."
"Yeah I know." Entering the house Roy could hear Chet and Marco talking about the excellent coffee. "Morning guys."
"Hey Roy," they said in unison.
"Anybody home?" The group of men in the kitchen were startled by the arrival of yet another person. Hank Stanley poked his head in the kitchen door smiling. "I have breakfast compliments of my wonderful
wife." He finished entering the room carrying a tray of sticky buns.
"Wow Cap my favorite!" Johnny said as he grabbed one from the tray before it was placed on the table.
"I see your appetite had improved." Hank said as he surveyed the appearance of his youngest crew member. "But you look like you didn't fare as well in the sleep department, and where is your
immobilizer? " The group of men all laughed at Hank's question.
They all knew not to expect Johnny to have it on after a whole day away from the doctors at Rampart.
Just as Johnny was about to respond Mike Stoker came in from the French doors that lead to the deck. "Thought you guys would be out back."
"Haven't gotten that far yet," Johnny informed his friend.
"Why do I think I have been missing these little get togethers before shift when one of you is out?" Hank asked the group.
The men looked at their shoes. They were slightly embarrassed that they had left the man out, but truthfully they knew he usually was first to arrive at the station and didn't want to impose. "Uh Cap we
just…um we didn't…I mean."
"Relax Roy, I'm not upset. I guess it's hard to include your boss on everything, but just know that I'm here for you. Now I guess I had better head in to the station, so I can go over the log books from
the previous shift and get the duty roster done. See you men at the station. John you take care of yourself today son. Call us if you need anything."
"Thanks Cap and uh for yesterday."
"Well Gage we had better get busy on your chores so that we aren't late for work. I don't think Cap would like it if the whole crew came in late." Chet put his cup in the sink and headed
towards the front door. "Come on Marco."
"Right behind you."
Mike and Roy moved towards the great room. "Mike you take the upstairs and I'll get the windows down here."
Johnny smiled at his friends. They knew him well. He started filling the sink with dish water and cleared the table. This he could do without straining his injuries. Like they do battling fires these men worked
well as a team. In short order the chores were done, the windows open, the guest bed stripped and the bedding in the wash. The four helpers were on their way to the station, Johnny relaxed in one of the rockers on the porch. This was going to be a good day. John Gage had decided after the nightmare last night that he would not let the fire beat him. He would get over his doubts and fight back. With the help of his friends he could return to battle the flaming beast. He would work at it day by day until he succeeded.