From Rescue Man
to Paramedic
by GCS
This story is a missing scene from "The Wedsworth Townsend Act" when Johnny has decided to go through Paramedic training. This story begins on his last day as a rescue man.
DISCLAIMER: "Emergency!" and its characters © Mark VII Productions, Inc. and Universal Studios. All rights reserved. No infringement of any copyrights or trademarks is intended or should be inferred. This is a work of fiction. This story is only written for entertainment. No financial gain is being realized from it. The story, itself, is the property of the author.
Chapter One
“Shit! Don’t do this!” Johnny said under his breath, as his gaze locked on the unmoving chest of his victim. His words meant mostly for the middle aged man, who he had just extricated from the mud slide. He’d just lost that electrocution victim last shift. The last thing he wanted to see was another broken family staring him down with hope in their eyes as he left the ER after delivering a corpse into the hands of the medical professionals. “Breathe dammit.” He cursed under his breath again. His plea also directed upward to the Wakan Tanka, just in case he was listening. He didn’t expect a response from either his victim or the Great Spirit. He stared at the man’s chest. It refused to rise even with the forced oxygen he was administering. Johnny tossed the mask aside, tilted the man’s head back and ran his finger through his mouth. It came back with globs of mud. He felt the raw edge of fear scrape across his ragged nerves. He’d just signed up for the Paramedic training yesterday. If only he had already been trained. If only. He shook off the fear and wanting and dug in again, trying to get out as much of the mud as he could. He stopped for a second with his hand on the victim’s chest. He thought it had moved. His first instinct was to doubt what he felt, but then he grabbed the mask, placed it back on the man’s face and forced more oxygen into his starved lungs. “Not this time.” He ordered the man. “I won’t let it happen again, not this time.” He said again as he absently fingered the green pen he signed the training agreement with. Maybe this Paramedic stuff would be good after all.
“Whoa there kid,” Scotty grabbed Johnny’s shoulder where he’d just tapped him to get his attention. “Ambulance is here.” Johnny had been concentrating so hard on pumping air into his victim he hadn’t noticed the two men come up beside him with the stretcher. When Scotty tapped him he jerked and faltered on the balls of his feet almost taking a nose dive into the victim. “I’ll let Cap know you rode in.” He made eye contact with Tony Freeman, Johnny’s rescue partner as he turned to go back to the engine. He patted Johnny on the shoulder as he released his grip on him once he was steady. Scotty remembered how upset Johnny had been last shift. He hoped this guy survived. Tony nodded his understanding. Scotty’s look said all that was needed. He knew Scotty was protective of his partner. Hell, everyone was. He was asking him to keep an eye on Johnny at Rampart. A knowing smile spread and he chuckled. He always did.
Johnny glanced up at Tony with his right eye squinted both from the light and from the slight swelling left behind when a tree limb smacked him on the side of the face as he pulled his victim from the onslaught of tree and mud. He’d feel it in his right arm too, but there was no time for a rescuer to slow down long enough to consider what aches they would deal with the day after such a messy scene. “You okay?” Tony pointed to the squinted eye. There was a slight shadow appearing around the edges. “Looks like you got yourself another shiner.”
Johnny reached up with his finger and tested the tenderness around his eye. “Yeah, guess so.” He pushed another breath of oxygen into his victim and rose from his crouched position to let the ambulance attendants move the victim to the stretcher. As soon as they had him strapped in Johnny resumed his efforts to keep the man breathing. “Meet you at the hospital.” He said as he scrambled into the small space beside the stretcher.
Tony watched as the ambulance cleared the scene before turning around to let Cap know he was heading out to meet Johnny at Rampart. The hairs stood up on the back of his neck. Watching the ambulance today was reminiscent of two days ago with that electrical worker. Shaking off the unease, Tony thought about Johnny’s signing up for that new position. He’d miss the kid while he was off learning that new Paramedic stuff. He was a good rescue man, one of the best, especially for such a young guy. Tony smiled as he turned. He remembered when Johnny first saw the squad. The kid’s eyes were all dreamy as he looked it over. Love at first sight, Tony thought, and he’s still in love with her.
***
“Take him in 3,” Dixie instructed the ambulance attendants. Johnny followed along, still administering periodic spurts of oxygen to the comatose man. As he stepped across the threshold, Johnny noticed Dr. Brackett waiting expectantly by the exam table. He had hoped Dr. Early would be the one to treat his victim today, but that was not to be.
“I thought you signed up for the Paramedic training.” Dr. Brackett scowled as he checked the patient’s eyes.
“Huh, uh, y… yeah.” Johnny stumbled.
“I didn’t think the Fire Department had the trainees on regular shifts during training.” Brackett still had a tone of discord in his voice.
“I got called in.” Johnny moved the oxygen from the squad out of the way and stepped back against the wall. More than anything he wanted to leave, but he also wanted to see if the victim was going to survive. “I’m off now. I just have to get this back to Tony.” He hefted the green oxygen case up in response to what he said.
“I need the suction,” Brackett barked and held out his hand expectantly. “You need to have that eye looked at.”
Again Johnny reached up and tenderly rubbed the area around his blackened eye. “It’s nothin’.”
“It’s bruising up.” Brackett continued suctioning the patient’s airway. He stopped and looked Johnny directly in the eye. “If you’re going to learn to practice medical techniques, you need to be able to recognize the symptoms. You have hematoma around your eye. Get it looked at. Dixie, get him outta here.”
“Come on, Johnny, let’s go find Joe.” Dixie pulled Johnny toward the door.
Johnny jerked his arm from her hand. “I can walk on my own, been doing it for a long time now. I have also had many black eyes, and I can see just fine.” He started to shift the oxygen case from his left to his right hand and realized his right hand was a little weak and sore, so he kept it in his left hand which did not go unnoticed by the very aware head nurse. Johnny started for the door, but stopped. “Did we save this one?” He glared at Dr. Brackett.
“If I have anything to do with it, we will.” Brackett glared right back. The tension in the room was palpable.
Johnny nodded, glanced at the man on the table one last time and left the room. It felt good to have made a difference. He hoped to know how to make more of a difference very soon. Dixie followed Johnny out into the hall. Tony was waiting by the nurse’s desk chatting with Betty. Johnny walked over and handed him the green case. “See ya round.” He said before turning on his heel to leave.
“Just a minute, mister.” Dixie once again grabbed Johnny’s right arm. She felt the slight wince. “You have an appointment with an old friend. And don’t even think about making excuses about how you don’t need to have that eye looked at. And while we’re in there, we’ll check this arm too.” She smiled up at the younger man, a blush creeping up his neck.
“Aw, Dixie, not you too.”
“John Gage, I have known you for several years now. I don’t remember you ever winning an argument between us, do you?” She fluttered her long eyelashes up at him in a flirtatious manner making him redden even more.
“No ma’am,” he said softly.
She punched his arm. “When are you going to learn, it’s Dixie. I’m not old enough to be your mother.” At that Johnny giggled. He knew how to tease her too. He relented and followed her into an exam room to let Dr. Early check him over. He was pretty sure the wrist was sprained and needed wrapping. The eye was just another shiner. It wasn’t the first one he’d ever had.
“Whoa there kid,” Scotty grabbed Johnny’s shoulder where he’d just tapped him to get his attention. “Ambulance is here.” Johnny had been concentrating so hard on pumping air into his victim he hadn’t noticed the two men come up beside him with the stretcher. When Scotty tapped him he jerked and faltered on the balls of his feet almost taking a nose dive into the victim. “I’ll let Cap know you rode in.” He made eye contact with Tony Freeman, Johnny’s rescue partner as he turned to go back to the engine. He patted Johnny on the shoulder as he released his grip on him once he was steady. Scotty remembered how upset Johnny had been last shift. He hoped this guy survived. Tony nodded his understanding. Scotty’s look said all that was needed. He knew Scotty was protective of his partner. Hell, everyone was. He was asking him to keep an eye on Johnny at Rampart. A knowing smile spread and he chuckled. He always did.
Johnny glanced up at Tony with his right eye squinted both from the light and from the slight swelling left behind when a tree limb smacked him on the side of the face as he pulled his victim from the onslaught of tree and mud. He’d feel it in his right arm too, but there was no time for a rescuer to slow down long enough to consider what aches they would deal with the day after such a messy scene. “You okay?” Tony pointed to the squinted eye. There was a slight shadow appearing around the edges. “Looks like you got yourself another shiner.”
Johnny reached up with his finger and tested the tenderness around his eye. “Yeah, guess so.” He pushed another breath of oxygen into his victim and rose from his crouched position to let the ambulance attendants move the victim to the stretcher. As soon as they had him strapped in Johnny resumed his efforts to keep the man breathing. “Meet you at the hospital.” He said as he scrambled into the small space beside the stretcher.
Tony watched as the ambulance cleared the scene before turning around to let Cap know he was heading out to meet Johnny at Rampart. The hairs stood up on the back of his neck. Watching the ambulance today was reminiscent of two days ago with that electrical worker. Shaking off the unease, Tony thought about Johnny’s signing up for that new position. He’d miss the kid while he was off learning that new Paramedic stuff. He was a good rescue man, one of the best, especially for such a young guy. Tony smiled as he turned. He remembered when Johnny first saw the squad. The kid’s eyes were all dreamy as he looked it over. Love at first sight, Tony thought, and he’s still in love with her.
***
“Take him in 3,” Dixie instructed the ambulance attendants. Johnny followed along, still administering periodic spurts of oxygen to the comatose man. As he stepped across the threshold, Johnny noticed Dr. Brackett waiting expectantly by the exam table. He had hoped Dr. Early would be the one to treat his victim today, but that was not to be.
“I thought you signed up for the Paramedic training.” Dr. Brackett scowled as he checked the patient’s eyes.
“Huh, uh, y… yeah.” Johnny stumbled.
“I didn’t think the Fire Department had the trainees on regular shifts during training.” Brackett still had a tone of discord in his voice.
“I got called in.” Johnny moved the oxygen from the squad out of the way and stepped back against the wall. More than anything he wanted to leave, but he also wanted to see if the victim was going to survive. “I’m off now. I just have to get this back to Tony.” He hefted the green oxygen case up in response to what he said.
“I need the suction,” Brackett barked and held out his hand expectantly. “You need to have that eye looked at.”
Again Johnny reached up and tenderly rubbed the area around his blackened eye. “It’s nothin’.”
“It’s bruising up.” Brackett continued suctioning the patient’s airway. He stopped and looked Johnny directly in the eye. “If you’re going to learn to practice medical techniques, you need to be able to recognize the symptoms. You have hematoma around your eye. Get it looked at. Dixie, get him outta here.”
“Come on, Johnny, let’s go find Joe.” Dixie pulled Johnny toward the door.
Johnny jerked his arm from her hand. “I can walk on my own, been doing it for a long time now. I have also had many black eyes, and I can see just fine.” He started to shift the oxygen case from his left to his right hand and realized his right hand was a little weak and sore, so he kept it in his left hand which did not go unnoticed by the very aware head nurse. Johnny started for the door, but stopped. “Did we save this one?” He glared at Dr. Brackett.
“If I have anything to do with it, we will.” Brackett glared right back. The tension in the room was palpable.
Johnny nodded, glanced at the man on the table one last time and left the room. It felt good to have made a difference. He hoped to know how to make more of a difference very soon. Dixie followed Johnny out into the hall. Tony was waiting by the nurse’s desk chatting with Betty. Johnny walked over and handed him the green case. “See ya round.” He said before turning on his heel to leave.
“Just a minute, mister.” Dixie once again grabbed Johnny’s right arm. She felt the slight wince. “You have an appointment with an old friend. And don’t even think about making excuses about how you don’t need to have that eye looked at. And while we’re in there, we’ll check this arm too.” She smiled up at the younger man, a blush creeping up his neck.
“Aw, Dixie, not you too.”
“John Gage, I have known you for several years now. I don’t remember you ever winning an argument between us, do you?” She fluttered her long eyelashes up at him in a flirtatious manner making him redden even more.
“No ma’am,” he said softly.
She punched his arm. “When are you going to learn, it’s Dixie. I’m not old enough to be your mother.” At that Johnny giggled. He knew how to tease her too. He relented and followed her into an exam room to let Dr. Early check him over. He was pretty sure the wrist was sprained and needed wrapping. The eye was just another shiner. It wasn’t the first one he’d ever had.
Chapter Two
Roy parked his Porsche in the visitor’s lot and strolled toward the Emergency Room entrance. It was the first day of Paramedic training at Rampart, and he was looking forward to comparing the upcoming six weeks of training to that he’d had at Harbor General. “Mornin’,” he waved at the night shift nurses as they hurried past on the way to their cars. Roy glanced at his watch. He still had forty five minutes until class. Coffee seemed like a good idea. Not wanting to go to the cafeteria in case he was needed before class, Roy headed to the nurses’ desk in the ER. “Good morning, Dixie.”
Dixie glanced up from a chart she was working on, “Well good morning to you too. Looking forward to learning how things are really done in the medical field, Mr. Desoto.” She smiled as she teased him. They had been discussing the techniques he’d learned at Harbor General the past couple of days as he worked as a Fire Department liaison to Rampart assisting in getting the training organized. She glanced at her watch. “You still have a little time. Would you like to buy a lady a cup of coffee?”
“Sure.” He turned and crooked his arm for her to take. “Where’s the nearest coffee stand?”
“How about the lounge, it’s cheaper there.” Dixie steered him toward the lounge.
“Cheaper?” Roy asked.
“Cheaper, as in free.” She smiled again. “Right this way. I have a friend in there that needs some aspirin anyway.” She patted her hip pocket. When they entered the dark lounge Dixie reached over and flipped the light on. Roy noticed someone was stretched out on the sofa. All he could see was the sable hair sticking out from under a blanket on one end and toes of a pair of black socks sticking out the other. A pair of well-polished work boots sat on the floor beside the couch. Dixie reached down and tugged at the blanket, but some long fingers curled around the edge and held it firmly in place. “Come on now, you know it’s almost time to get started. I brought the aspirin I promised you.” She pulled at the blanket. A soft groan came from beneath. “Come on. I’ll get you some coffee after you swallow these.” She slipped the aspirin into the hand. “Let me get you some water.” Some sounds came from beneath the blanket, but Roy couldn’t hear what was said. “Okay,” Dixie giggled. “I’ll just get the coffee. I don’t know how you swallow aspirin with no water. It makes me gag when I don’t have something to drink.
Not sure who was on the couch under that blanket, but thinking it was probably a hospital staff member, Roy moved over to the wall of shelves that held the many varieties of ceramic cups and mugs to get three down. He poured coffee into the three mugs, leaving enough room for cream and sugar. He doctored his the way he liked it with cream and two spoons of sugar, but since he didn’t know how Dixie or the mystery person took theirs, he turned with his cup and moved over to a table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
“Thanks Roy.” Dixie smiled as she added cream and sugar to one cup, leaving the other black. She sat the cup with cream and sugar on the table and carried the other one over to the couch. After standing there for a few minutes with no movement beneath the mound of blanket, she brushed the warm cup against the exposed fingers that still held onto the blanket edge. The heat from the cup got the reaction she’d hoped for when the hand jerked the blanket down exposing a bit more of the mop of black hair and one squinted eye. To Roy’s surprise it was that kid that signed up at the last minute for the paramedic training and the eye that squinted up at Dixie was encircled with a nice shade of blackish blue.
“What happened to you?” Roy asked before he realized he was speaking out loud.
The blanket fell to the floor as the young man turned to sit up and take the coffee from Dixie. “Thanks.” He mumbled as he took the first sip. “Man, I needed that.” Then he glanced over at Roy and waved an arm wrapped in an ace bandage towards him. “Ah nothin’. These guys just thought a little soreness meant something might be wrong. I just had to shovel a lot of dirt and mud to get some guys out of a cave in and my arm got a little sore.”
“I was talking about that shiner.” Roy said as he pointed to his own eye.
“Oh, that. Same rescue. Got hit by somethin’. Tree limb, I think, or somebody’s elbow. I don’t really remember. Things happened fast.” He continued to take large drinks of the coffee between words. Like most fire fighters and medical professionals, Johnny ate and drank fast in case he had to hurry to an emergency.
“Slow down before you burn your tongue.” Dixie admonished him. “You’ve got plenty of time for some more, maybe even enough time to get something from the cafeteria before our first class.”
“Are you going to be in class with us?” Johnny asked with the beginnings of a crooked smile.
“Yes, and I’m also teaching.”
“Far out!” Johnny jumped up from the couch and strode over to the coffee pot to refill his cup. Roy noticed a slight limp as he moved across the room. He wasn’t sure why he was so interested in the wellbeing of the young man, but for some reason, something stirred in him where the kid was concerned.
“You know you weren’t supposed to be working.” Roy said again before he could stop himself. What was it about this kid that got him so stirred up he wondered.
“So, who made that rule? I mean headquarters called me in. They cut my check so…” Johnny shrugged and then sipped some more coffee before continuing, “Pulling six of us out to take this class has put a strain on the department. You know as well as I do that with the rate of injury among rescue guys, keeping the squads staffed is tough even before you take us out of the loop.”
“Yes, I know that, but the point is if you had been seriously injured, you would miss this class. It’s important that you be here. If you miss a class you won’t get certified.” Roy folded his arms across his chest. “It’s important that you tell them no when they call and ask. I had to when I took the class at Harbor General.”
Johnny rolled his eyes. “Sure… ok, I hear ya, but I gotta pay my bills too ya know.” He slammed his cup down on the table sloshing coffee over the edge. Then his anger deflated just as quickly as it had risen. His neck and cheeks flushed red and he look sheepishly at Dixie. “Sorry.” He turned and walked over to get some napkins and clean up his mess. Then he slid down into the chair and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. Roy couldn’t help the smile that spread. Johnny Gage was acting just like his little boy after Joanne had scolded him for spilling milk at the dinner table.
Dixie looked from one man to the other and smiled as well. These two were like night and day, like oil and water, but there was something about the way Roy seemed to want to look out for Johnny’s wellbeing and the fact that the mostly shy young man talked openly, well argued, with him that left a warm feeling in her heart. “Well, gentlemen, I think we had better get a move on if we want a snack before time for class. How about we move this discussion to the cafeteria over some scrambled eggs and toast?”
Johnny was the first to rise. “Sounds like a plan to me. I’m starved.” He rubbed his belly to emphasize how hungry he was. Roy slid his chair back and stood. He nodded his agreement and reached across the table to grab Johnny’s empty coffee cup. Then he looked at Dixie to see if she was finished with hers. She raised her cup and took one more sip before handing it to Roy who then turned and washed the three cups, dried them, and returned them to the shelf. When he turned around to join the others, Johnny was already standing at the door holding it open with an impatient look on his bruised face. “Well, come on. Time’s a wastin’.”
After a quick trip through to cafeteria line, the three found a table at the back of the crowded room. Dixie had chosen a serving of scrambled eggs, one sausage patty and a glass of apple juice. Roy already had breakfast with his family, so he chose a couple of donuts and a milk, but Johnny grabbed a plate full of eggs, four slices of bacon, two sausage patties, two hot cakes, and a serving of fried potatoes smothered in cheese and onions. He also put two milks and a glass of orange juice on his tray. “Wow, you must have missed a couple of meals.” Roy pointed at the overflowing tray of food. Johnny blushed, his mouth dropped open, and he looked at Dixie and Roy’s meager helpings. His gaze lowered to his lap, and he nervously fingered his napkin.
Before he could say anything, Dixie smiled and spoke up, “He’ll probably be hungry again in a couple of hours, too. I’ve never seen anyone eat like he does and never gain an ounce. He must have the highest metabolism I’ve ever seen.” Then she patted the hand, Johnny was fidgeting his napkin with to stop the nervous motions. “But we need to eat before our food gets cold.” He looked up and gave her a half grin and now picked up his silverware and dug in heartily. Roy smiled at the gusto the kid had for the food he was wolfing down. He reached for his donut and ate as well. The three new friends talked a little about what they might do on this first day of Paramedic training. Soon the time slipped by and they made their way toward the room where their training would begin.
Dixie glanced up from a chart she was working on, “Well good morning to you too. Looking forward to learning how things are really done in the medical field, Mr. Desoto.” She smiled as she teased him. They had been discussing the techniques he’d learned at Harbor General the past couple of days as he worked as a Fire Department liaison to Rampart assisting in getting the training organized. She glanced at her watch. “You still have a little time. Would you like to buy a lady a cup of coffee?”
“Sure.” He turned and crooked his arm for her to take. “Where’s the nearest coffee stand?”
“How about the lounge, it’s cheaper there.” Dixie steered him toward the lounge.
“Cheaper?” Roy asked.
“Cheaper, as in free.” She smiled again. “Right this way. I have a friend in there that needs some aspirin anyway.” She patted her hip pocket. When they entered the dark lounge Dixie reached over and flipped the light on. Roy noticed someone was stretched out on the sofa. All he could see was the sable hair sticking out from under a blanket on one end and toes of a pair of black socks sticking out the other. A pair of well-polished work boots sat on the floor beside the couch. Dixie reached down and tugged at the blanket, but some long fingers curled around the edge and held it firmly in place. “Come on now, you know it’s almost time to get started. I brought the aspirin I promised you.” She pulled at the blanket. A soft groan came from beneath. “Come on. I’ll get you some coffee after you swallow these.” She slipped the aspirin into the hand. “Let me get you some water.” Some sounds came from beneath the blanket, but Roy couldn’t hear what was said. “Okay,” Dixie giggled. “I’ll just get the coffee. I don’t know how you swallow aspirin with no water. It makes me gag when I don’t have something to drink.
Not sure who was on the couch under that blanket, but thinking it was probably a hospital staff member, Roy moved over to the wall of shelves that held the many varieties of ceramic cups and mugs to get three down. He poured coffee into the three mugs, leaving enough room for cream and sugar. He doctored his the way he liked it with cream and two spoons of sugar, but since he didn’t know how Dixie or the mystery person took theirs, he turned with his cup and moved over to a table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
“Thanks Roy.” Dixie smiled as she added cream and sugar to one cup, leaving the other black. She sat the cup with cream and sugar on the table and carried the other one over to the couch. After standing there for a few minutes with no movement beneath the mound of blanket, she brushed the warm cup against the exposed fingers that still held onto the blanket edge. The heat from the cup got the reaction she’d hoped for when the hand jerked the blanket down exposing a bit more of the mop of black hair and one squinted eye. To Roy’s surprise it was that kid that signed up at the last minute for the paramedic training and the eye that squinted up at Dixie was encircled with a nice shade of blackish blue.
“What happened to you?” Roy asked before he realized he was speaking out loud.
The blanket fell to the floor as the young man turned to sit up and take the coffee from Dixie. “Thanks.” He mumbled as he took the first sip. “Man, I needed that.” Then he glanced over at Roy and waved an arm wrapped in an ace bandage towards him. “Ah nothin’. These guys just thought a little soreness meant something might be wrong. I just had to shovel a lot of dirt and mud to get some guys out of a cave in and my arm got a little sore.”
“I was talking about that shiner.” Roy said as he pointed to his own eye.
“Oh, that. Same rescue. Got hit by somethin’. Tree limb, I think, or somebody’s elbow. I don’t really remember. Things happened fast.” He continued to take large drinks of the coffee between words. Like most fire fighters and medical professionals, Johnny ate and drank fast in case he had to hurry to an emergency.
“Slow down before you burn your tongue.” Dixie admonished him. “You’ve got plenty of time for some more, maybe even enough time to get something from the cafeteria before our first class.”
“Are you going to be in class with us?” Johnny asked with the beginnings of a crooked smile.
“Yes, and I’m also teaching.”
“Far out!” Johnny jumped up from the couch and strode over to the coffee pot to refill his cup. Roy noticed a slight limp as he moved across the room. He wasn’t sure why he was so interested in the wellbeing of the young man, but for some reason, something stirred in him where the kid was concerned.
“You know you weren’t supposed to be working.” Roy said again before he could stop himself. What was it about this kid that got him so stirred up he wondered.
“So, who made that rule? I mean headquarters called me in. They cut my check so…” Johnny shrugged and then sipped some more coffee before continuing, “Pulling six of us out to take this class has put a strain on the department. You know as well as I do that with the rate of injury among rescue guys, keeping the squads staffed is tough even before you take us out of the loop.”
“Yes, I know that, but the point is if you had been seriously injured, you would miss this class. It’s important that you be here. If you miss a class you won’t get certified.” Roy folded his arms across his chest. “It’s important that you tell them no when they call and ask. I had to when I took the class at Harbor General.”
Johnny rolled his eyes. “Sure… ok, I hear ya, but I gotta pay my bills too ya know.” He slammed his cup down on the table sloshing coffee over the edge. Then his anger deflated just as quickly as it had risen. His neck and cheeks flushed red and he look sheepishly at Dixie. “Sorry.” He turned and walked over to get some napkins and clean up his mess. Then he slid down into the chair and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. Roy couldn’t help the smile that spread. Johnny Gage was acting just like his little boy after Joanne had scolded him for spilling milk at the dinner table.
Dixie looked from one man to the other and smiled as well. These two were like night and day, like oil and water, but there was something about the way Roy seemed to want to look out for Johnny’s wellbeing and the fact that the mostly shy young man talked openly, well argued, with him that left a warm feeling in her heart. “Well, gentlemen, I think we had better get a move on if we want a snack before time for class. How about we move this discussion to the cafeteria over some scrambled eggs and toast?”
Johnny was the first to rise. “Sounds like a plan to me. I’m starved.” He rubbed his belly to emphasize how hungry he was. Roy slid his chair back and stood. He nodded his agreement and reached across the table to grab Johnny’s empty coffee cup. Then he looked at Dixie to see if she was finished with hers. She raised her cup and took one more sip before handing it to Roy who then turned and washed the three cups, dried them, and returned them to the shelf. When he turned around to join the others, Johnny was already standing at the door holding it open with an impatient look on his bruised face. “Well, come on. Time’s a wastin’.”
After a quick trip through to cafeteria line, the three found a table at the back of the crowded room. Dixie had chosen a serving of scrambled eggs, one sausage patty and a glass of apple juice. Roy already had breakfast with his family, so he chose a couple of donuts and a milk, but Johnny grabbed a plate full of eggs, four slices of bacon, two sausage patties, two hot cakes, and a serving of fried potatoes smothered in cheese and onions. He also put two milks and a glass of orange juice on his tray. “Wow, you must have missed a couple of meals.” Roy pointed at the overflowing tray of food. Johnny blushed, his mouth dropped open, and he looked at Dixie and Roy’s meager helpings. His gaze lowered to his lap, and he nervously fingered his napkin.
Before he could say anything, Dixie smiled and spoke up, “He’ll probably be hungry again in a couple of hours, too. I’ve never seen anyone eat like he does and never gain an ounce. He must have the highest metabolism I’ve ever seen.” Then she patted the hand, Johnny was fidgeting his napkin with to stop the nervous motions. “But we need to eat before our food gets cold.” He looked up and gave her a half grin and now picked up his silverware and dug in heartily. Roy smiled at the gusto the kid had for the food he was wolfing down. He reached for his donut and ate as well. The three new friends talked a little about what they might do on this first day of Paramedic training. Soon the time slipped by and they made their way toward the room where their training would begin.
3/1/2019
