The Tail of Saheli by Bobbie "Alright, alright, I'm awake," Johnny said as he reached up blocking the dog from licking his face any more. Glancing at the clock, Johnny noticed the time. 6:05am. "You know something girl," he said scratching the dogs ear as she rested her head on his chest, her big dark eyes gazing at Johnny as he spoke. "You're amazing, you know that? For years I was always rushing to get to work on time. Cap was about to skin my hide if I was late one more time. Half the time I'd forget to set my alarm, still do. The other half the time I slept through it. But no more right girl? Nope, not with my new alarm clock, the one with a name. Saheli, or Sally if you happened to be named Chet. He never will be able to pronounce your name will he girl? Course Cap thinks I should have named you Timex." The last thought made Johnny smile. He recalled the days before Saheli when he was late for work nearly every shift. That all changed when he brought the puppy home. Almost instantly she became an alarm clock, always waking Johnny when it was time for him to get up for work. After months of showing up to work with time to spare, Cap had given the dog credit for Johnny's promptness. He had gone as far as to suggest Johnny change her name from Saheli (since no one could pronounce it anyway) to Timex. Johnny had tried to explain the meaning of the name he bestowed upon the new puppy, that it meant 'friend' or 'companion' but he soon gave up. It didn't matter what the guys thought of the name anyway, Saheli had become a big part of Johnny's life. While mostly a border collie, she had a little of everything else tossed in, with a beautiful black and white coat, shining eyes and (one would swear) a smile on her face. She took to Johnny's ranch almost as much as he did, following him around as he did his chores. Bringing the horses in each night became her job and Johnny enjoyed watching her tackle the job, handling it with ease. When he would go riding, she would run along side enjoying the outdoors and the exercise. At night she would fall asleep beside his bed, only to sneak onto the bed during the night, lying her head on the pillow beside Johnny. ONE YEAR EARLIER… The crews of 51 and 110 had just arrived at the scene of a house fire where smoke was billowing from the second story. "Marco, Chet, two inch and a halves," Cap ordered. Just then a young woman ran from the house, coughing as she tried to catch her breath. "My babies," she sobbed as she continued coughing. Please help me, my babies are still in there." "John! Roy!" Cap called for his rescue men. "We got some children inside." "How many, Cap?" John asked. "Two," Cap repeated the woman's barely audible voice. Cap helped the young woman to sit down, fearing she was about to collapse anyway. "Here you go Cap," Mike said setting down the oxygen from the squad before returning to watch the gauges on the engine. "Thanks Mike," Cap replied as he placed the mask over the woman's face. Mike had checked the gauges. Feeling sure that Marco and Chet were okay for the time being, he brought Cap the rest of the gear from the squad. Inside the home, Marco and Chet, along with the crew from engine 110 fought the flames in the home's kitchen area while Johnny and Roy searched for the two missing children. They had completed the search on the main level and headed upstairs where they searched several bedrooms before spotting the children, huddled together in one room. "Engine 51, Squad 51," Roy spoke into the handy talk, "We found the girls, we're going to need a ladder." "10-4, 51" Cap said turning to request a ladder only to see that one of the crew from 110 was already on it. While Roy radioed for the ladder, Johnny had removed his helmet, smashing the window and clearing any jagged edges of glass. Seeing that, the crew of 110 leaned the ladder against the windowsill, climbing up to bring one child to safety. On the ground, the children's mother was now breathing on her own with no further need for the oxygen. As the first child was brought down, Cap readied the oxygen for the child. Meanwhile, back upstairs, Johnny and Roy had prepared he second child to be brought down after checking her out as best they could considering the conditions and administering oxygen from Johnny's mask and tank. Once again, a member of 110 climbed the ladder to bring the second child down. As Roy handed the child over, he heard his partner talking. "It's okay girl," Johnny said softly, "Let's get you out of here too. I think there's two little girls who are going to be worried about you." "Looks like that might go both ways," Roy replied seeing the look on the dog's face. "Don't worry girl, they're going to be just fine." As Johnny turned to pick up his mask, gloves, and the handy talk, Roy climbed down, carrying the family dog to safety. "Right behind you partner," Johnny said as he turned to follow his partner. Once both had their feet back on the ground, Roy and Johnny moved to the side of the children and their mother. "Everyone's pretty good," Cap explained as both girls were now breathing without the aid of oxygen. ""We got lucky here today." "We sure did," Roy agreed. His thoughts turned for just an instant to his own two children. As Roy set the dog down, she ran to check on her girls. One child hugged her and began crying while the other child turned to her mother. "Mama, what about…." she started to say. "I'm sorry honey," the mother said anticipating the child's question before Johnny caught her attention. Sitting down beside the child, Johnny spoke up. "You wouldn't be looking for these guys would you?" With that the mother, her two children and the crew of 51 watched as Johnny reached inside his turnout coat where he carefully plucked four puppies from his sleeves. "Mama look, the puppies!" the girls yelled in unison while converging upon Johnny. He was met with the puppies' mama as well as she checked out each of her offspring as Johnny set them down. After finding the puppies to be okay, the mama dog thanked Johnny in her own special way with wet doggie kisses. "See Cap, some things never change." Chet quipped as he witnessed the sight. "All the girls love him, even the dogs." "Very funny Chet!" Johnny frowned at his crewmate. An hour later the guys were just about finished cleaning up their gear. "Excuse me" the children's mother said as she caught up with Hank. "I don't suppose you would be in need of a little mascot at your station?" "Oh, well, no thank you," Cap replied. "We have one mascot and I think he's enough for us for now." "Well then, how about you?" she turned her attention to Johnny. "Oh, uh, no thank you," Johnny answered feeling somewhat uncomfortable in the situation. "Besides, the department doesn't allow us to accept gifts." "Oh that's too bad," the mother replied before thinking for a minute before interrupting once more. "I'm sorry but would it be acceptable if the puppies were being given away. We really weren't expecting the puppies and they're not purebreds or anything so we are just looking for good homes for them. It wouldn't really be a gift." Johnny glanced at his captain, getting than 'only you' look in response from Hank. A nod of his head assured Johnny that his next move was okay. "Well," he said," that one with the white paws is kind of cute." "She's all yours," the mother replied pointing north. "We're going to be staying with my sister for a while. She lives right down the block, 21246 Pine Valley Lane. Why don't you stop by after your shift. I'll have her ready for you." "I will, and thank you," Johnny smiled. ONE YEAR LATER "Okay okay, I'm up" Johnny laughed at his furry friend. "Let's go girl. Wouldn't want me to be late for work. We'd both be hearing about it." It only took Johnny an hour to get ready for work and grab a quick bite to eat. Before leaving he had filled Saheli's dish in the barn making sure she had enough water as well. Leaving the barn door open so Saheli would have shelter if a storm came up, he turned to pet her once before leaving. "Take care of things okay girl," he said kneeling as she said goodbye with a lap to his face. "Okay okay, I know. You always take care of things don't you? I'll see you in the morning." |