Where's Johnny? "Um...jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers."      "Color, what color is his shirt?"      "Red, no...his is green."      Green, who dresses their kids in green out in the woods.  Boy, he'll be really easy to find.  "Ok, does he have a jacket?"      "Yeah."      "Did he have it on?"      "No....he tied it on."      "WHAT?"      "It got hot, so we tied them around our waists."      "Ok, what color?"      "The jacket?"      "Yes, what color is his jacket?"      "Green."      Johnny's head dropped to his chest in disbelief.  "Ok...where by the cave was he?"      "On the ground."      "Was he...in front of the cave, to the right of it, to the left?"      "Um, right, no left."      "Ok, pretend you are in front of the cave, looking at it so you can see into the opening."      "ig or little?"      "Say that again David."      "Big or little."      "Big, now, was he left, or right.   Look at your hands, which side."      Cap was very impressed by this time, as were the others.  All listened to the conversation very closely.  Roy started putting together a small emergency pack with flashlights and bandages.  He also dug out his jacket, and went through Johnny's pack, looking for his.      "Left," came the boy's answer.      "Ok, give me back to Mathew."      "John?"      "I think I know where he might be."      "You're kidding."      "No, up at the north end of the lake.  Where are you?"      "South end, which would mean we've been walking the wrong direction this whole time.  MAN!  Are you sure?"      "No, but I think...there are some rocks up there that, well, to a kid, they could look like a bridge.  It's worth a shot."      "Yeah, but it's going to takes us a while to get there."      "I'll head over there.  I'm a whole lot closer than you.  I'll meet you there, ok?"      "Let us know if you have any luck.  I'd call a chopper in, but it will be dark soon, and with the trees....they'd never see him anyway."      "I know, I just hope I'm guessing right."      "Me too.  Keep your radio on, in case we learn anything more."      "Will do.  Out."      "Out."      As Johnny stood, so did the others.  "What?" he asked them.      "We'll help you look," Cap offered.  The others nodded.      "I uh..." Johnny cast his eyes toward the ground.  "I've been out here a while.  I think...I might be able to get there faster if...it's a ways away and...it'll be getting dark by the time..."      "Understood Johnny," Cap replied patting his back.  "Be careful, and good luck."        "Yeah, thanks Cap," Johnny answered automatically, without thinking about Cap not being his Cap anymore.  Cap only smiled.      Johnny reached for the pack he'd seen Roy putting together, only to have Roy sling it over his own shoulder, then hand Johnny his jacket.  Johnny didn't take it.  "What are you doing?"      "Going with you."      "Roy, I just said..."      "Four hands are better than two."      "I need to go fast."      "I know, I'll keep up.....if I can't keep up, I'll just turn back, OK?"      "Roy..."      "Which way?"      Johnny sighed in defeat.  He didn't want to argue with his best friend, so they headed off into the woods, together.      After they left, Cap clapped his hands together once, to get the attention of the rest of his men.  "All right, let's get this camp in order.  Marco, why don't you work on getting enough firewood together for tonight and tomorrow?  Chet, Mike, set up the tents.  I'll..."      "I'm going fishing," Mike replied.      "Yeah Cap, me too," Marco agree.      "You're not Captain out here, your just...Hank," Mike informed him.      "Yeah," Chet happily agreed, "besides, you don't even like to fish.  Setting up camp will give you something to do."      "I see...ok.  You guy's all go on.  I'll set up camp.  Then when I'm finished, if I get bored, I can always work on the duty roster for next shift."      "Blackmail," Marco mumbled as he went off in search of firewood.      "Grab a tent pole," Mike ordered Chet.       Cap grinned to himself.  Ditch ME with all the work, will they.                                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~      At first Johnny moved fast, trying to loose Roy early on, so he'd turn back, while he could still safely make it back on his own.  Roy, however, proved good to his word, and kept up fine.  He watched Johnny's feet, and focused on stepping wherever Johnny stepped.  John automatically avoided roots, fallen tree limbs, and soft shoulders of the ground along steep paths as they moved up, then down the ridge of the mountain.  John eventually slowed to a more reasonable pace.  He knew if he used all of his energy on the way there, he'd have nothing left later.  He started holding branches for Roy, and pointing out cautions along their path.  At one point, Johnny pointed out a fire ant hill, and warned Roy to avoid it.  As Roy looked in the direction Johnny was pointing, he misstepped, and went tumbling, head over heals down an embankment.  He slid to a stop, but felt himself ready to fall again.  He couldn't see, as a great deal of dirt had gotten into his eyes.      "JOHNNY?"     "You're all right Roy, just sit still."      "Johnny, I'm gonna fall."      "No, you're ok Roy, just..,"      "I can't see!  I got...."      "I know, I know, just keep 'em closed, ok?  Don't rub 'em  All you have to do is sit still.  I'll be right back."       Man, I can't believe I did this.  He told me to stay.  Did I listen?  Some kid needs help, then here I go...I'm slippin.  "Johnny?"  Oh man, he left.  Of course he left.  He has to get to that kid.  If I could just see.  He'll be back.  I just wish...gonna FALL.....  "JOHNNY!"      From below him Johnny answered.  "What?"      "I....I'm gonna fall."      "No, you're ok, just slide down to me."      "Johnny, I can't...I.."  Man I hate heights.      "You'll be ok Roy, really, just....slowly....slide down to me."      Roy tried turn his head more toward Johnny's voice, and began to slide, whether he wanted to or not.  "JOHNNY?"      "Keep coming.  All most there.  Ok, I got ya.  Now push away, and just stand up."  Roy did as Johnny told him, and found himself standing on firm ground, next to Johnny.  Despite his secure footing, he kept a hand on Johnny's shoulder, feeling disoriented.  Roy reached for his eyes with his other hand, only to have Johnny swat it down.  "Uh, no rubbing.  You'll have to let them water out.  Do they hurt?"      "They don't feel good."      "Let's get you back up on the path."      With a secure grip on the back of Johnny's shirt, Roy and John slowly made their way back up from whence they came.  At the top, John sat Roy down on the path, then took a quick look at Roy's eyes.      "Wish I could flush 'em," Johnny muttered.      "They'll tear out."      "Roy....I"      "Go."      "You sure?"      "Go."      "I'll try to bring back some water.  If you get to where you can see, just, well if you can make out the path, go ahead and come on down it.  If you can't, stay put, and I'll come back for you as soon as I can.  Just DON'T LEAVE THE PATH."      "Yes sir."      John took the emergency pack from Roy, and dug out one of the flashlights.  "Here," he said, placing it in Roy's hands.       "Johnny," Roy called out as he heard him start to leave.      "What?"      "Be careful."      John smiled, "I will."      Roy strained to hear Johnny's footsteps as long as he could, until they completely faded away.  A real idiot.  That's what I am.  Couldn't just stay put now, could I.  Sure hope that kid comes out ok.  I hope Johnny's right, and he knows where he is, if not...this could be one long night, for everyone.  What kind of parents let their kids go off like that.  When we go camping, I never let Chris or Jen out of my sight, not for a second.  Not unless they're with Johnny anyway.  Wish I could figure out what to say to him.  It's got to be the fire.  He's not afraid to be a paramedic.  It's got to be the fire.  I need to watch him when we get back, around the campfire.  See if it scares him.  Bothers him anyway.  Doesn't matter though.  If he can't do it anymore, he can't do it.  Man I miss working with him.  Poor Thomas.  He must hate my guts.  Johnny this and Johnny that.  He probably thinks I'm loony toons.  I've got to remember to be nicer to him.  I just wish Johnny'd...no.  That's not fair.  I can't think like that.  He's a fishing guide now.  My best friend is a fishing guide.  Not a fireman.  I don't have a problem with that.  He is still my best friend.  Now I have to get that through his thick, over sensitive skull.  He never ceases to amaze me.  The funniest things get to him.  Chet can pick on him day and night.  He's the most forgiving guy I've ever met.  Then out of the blue, at the most insignificant, off hand comment, he genuinely gets his feelings hurt.  I guess it was because I said it to Chet, not to him.  He took it too seriously, but that was a long time ago.  Wish my eyes would clean out.  They sure burn.  How long has it been?  It's dark now, I can tell.  Hope he's ok.  Wish I could call Joanne.  Miss my bed.       Roy slowly drifted off to sleep.                                                             ~*~*~*~*~*~*~      The dark didn't bother John Gage.  He hurried along, confident of his route.  Shortly after dark, he arrived in a clearing that surrounded one of several bare rock formations in the area; the one he hoped looked like a railroad bridge to a little kid.      "SIMON?" he called out.  What if he moved?  What if he left, trying to walk back?  Would he even know which way to go?  His older brother didn't.  What if he's unconscious?  I wish there was a brighter moon tonight.  A green jacket...if he even has it on over his green T-shirt.  "SIMON?"  Come on kid, answer me.  "SIMON?"  I got it wrong, I must have got it wrong.  Where else could he be talking about?  He didn't even take them in this direction.  What if his direction was right, and I'm wrong.  Now they're all heading this way by my say so.  Ok, now wait, gotta look...carefully.  Ok...cave opening...left side.  "SIMON?  SIMON?"  Maybe he's scared.  Kid's won't answer if they're scared.  How am I ever going to find him?  "SIMON, ARE YOU OUT HERE.  YOUR MAMA'S LOOKING FOR YOU."  Yeah right, they're not even sure where the mother is yet.  Wonder if she's looking for them.  She must be by now.  "SIMON?  IT'S OK.  I'M A FIRE...I'M ah...I'M HERE TO HELP YOU.  ARE YOU OUT HERE?"       John swept his eyes back and forth through the grass as he made his way to the cave opening, on the left-hand side.       Green jacket.  Green jacket.  MAN...how am I supposed to see a green jacket in green grass in the dark?  Please kid, just...     "MOM?"      "Simon?"      "Mom?  Where's my mom?"      "Where are you?"      "I want my mom!"      "I know, I know," John soothed as he tried to pinpoint the direction on the child.  "I'll help you find her.  I promise.  Are you hurt?"      "I WANT MY MOM!"      There.  There he is.  "I know.  It's ok.  We'll go find her.  Is your name Simon?" he asked, just to try to calm the boy down.  Simon did not answer.  "You're brother is looking for you."      "I hate him."      Well...anger is better than crying.  "You do?"      "Yes."      "Why?"      "Because..."      "I'm just gonna look at your ankle, ok?  Which one's hurt?"      "Both of them."      "Both huh, ok, I'll just check them out.  So why are you mad at your brother?"      "HE JUST LEFT ME!"      "He did?"      "Yeah-ooowwww."      "I know, I know it hurts.  I just have to get your shoes off ok?  I'll go really easy."      "NO!"      "Now come on, I have to."      "NO!"      "Yeah, that's what your brother said."      "WHAT?"      "He said you weren't as tough as he was."      "I AM TOO!"      "Ok, I'm just going to ease your shoe off.  I've got all the laces out of it, so it's as loose as I can get it, ok?"      "Um...ok."      "So David just left you out here, huh?" John asked a split second before he removed the boy's sneaker.      "YES HE DID!"      Worked like a charm.  John hid a small smile as he prepared the other foot for the same treatment.  "That wasn't very nice...or smart," he added as he removed the other shoe.      "NO IT WASN'T!  HE IS GONNA BE IN BIG TROUBLE!"      Kid...if you only knew the kind of trouble you could have been in.  "He did try to find you again you know.  I think he's really worried about you.  Speaking of which..."  John pushed the button down on his radio.  "Big Bear, this IS the Mountain Man.  I found him!"      "You little dog," came a clear answer from the radio.  "Is he all right?"  In the background, John could hear the muffled cries of a woman's relief.      "Yeah, seems to be.  Both of his ankles are swollen.  I don't think they're broken, but I'll splint him up good, just in case.  Is that the mother I heard?"      "Yeah, we just found the parents.  You still at the North end?"      "Yeah, I'll start piggybacking him your direction as soon as I get him fixed up.  He'll have to go to the hospital for x-rays, to be safe."      "Ok, I'll call for an ambulance to meet us at the fire road north of here.  Do you know where it is?"      "I've been out here so long...I think I know where everything is."      "Guess you proved that.  A legend in these here mountains.  Look, I lost a watch once by a tree that looked like a big black snake.  Could you find it for me?"      "Sure I can.  It's at the bottom of the lake.  Why don't you go get it?"      "All right, all right, just kidding.  Look, we'll head your way, and meet up with you."      "Nah, don't hike the parents all the way out here.  If we missed each other...it's not worth the risk.  Just meet me at the fire road."      "You sure?  You have to have been hiking most of the day as it is."      "Yeah, he doesn't look too heavy.  I can make it.  If I need help, I'll call ya."      "Well keep your radio on so we can get you if we want.  Hold on.  The mother wants to talk to the boy."      "Simon?"      "Mommy!"      John held the button down, and placed the handy talkie in front of Simon's mouth.  "Say that again," John told him.      "Mommy?"      "Simon, are you ok sweetie?"      "Yeah, David ditched me."      "I know sweetie, we'll talk about that later.  You do what the nice man says, ok?"      "Yes mam.  Where are you," he whined.      "I'll take you to her, ok?" John whispered.      "Honey, the man is going to bring you to mommy.  I'll see you soon."      "I want you now," Simon cried grabbing the talkie from Johnny's hand.      "Simon, now you be a big boy.  You'll get here in a little bit.  If you're good, mommy'll get you a present later."      "We'll be there in no time," John assured the boy as he started to splint his feet.      "Mommy, he's taping sticks to me."      "WHAT?"      John grabbed the handy talkie back from the boy.  "Mam, this John Gage, I'm a...fishing guide out here.  I have...extensive first aid training.  I am putting splints on Simon's feet, just as a precaution.  I think he sprained both of them, but just in case there are any fractures, you'll have to take him to the hospital for some x-rays."      "I...is he done?  Oh, ok.  Um...yes, they already told me that.  It ah...just sounded funny, you know...taping sticks to his feet.  I...ah...I really, really want to thank you for finding him.  What...button?  Oh!"      John smiled at the talkie.  "You're welcome mam.  It's my pleasure.  The sooner we get going, the sooner you will have him back, so we're going off radio, and heading in your direction now.  We will see you soon, ok?"      "Oh, uh...yeah, I got it now.  Uh, how long?  How long will it take you to get here?"      John waited till he heard the click, which told him she had let go of the button.  "It will take about, forty-five minutes, maybe an hour.  Can I have Mathew back?"      "Um, yes, thank you."      "What's up Mountain Man?"      "Cute, out."      "Will radio if we want ya John, out."      "I want to hold it," Simon proclaimed, reaching for the radio.      "No, Simon, it needs to rest, and we need to get going."  Man Roy, I'm sorry.  He's sitting there in the dark, and I don't even know if he can see yet.  I hope he stayed put.  Last thing I need is to have to go looking for Him.  By the time I get him to the ambulance, then hike back to Roy, it will be another four hours at least.  I hope he'll be all right.       Johnny picked Simon up, and placed him on his shoulders.  "You ready to go find your Mama?"      Simon held on to Johnny by gripping him under his chin.  "Yes," he replied, "but it's Ma-Mee."      "Got it."  Johnny adjusted Simon's hands to keep from being strangled, then headed off for the fire road.                                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~      After setting up camp, the boys had been allowed by their Captain, to go fishing.  Cap relaxed with a book by the fireside, quite happily.  Until...      "CAP, CHECK THIS OUT!  HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ONE SO BIG?"      Cap looked like a mother who had just discovered a garden snake in her son's pocket while picking up his laundry.      "Uh, yeah, that's really nice Chet," Cap answered as he jumped up and backed away from the dripping, slimy thing, dangling from the end of Chet's pole.      "That's nothing Cap," Marco spoke from behind him.  "Check mine out."      Cap spun around, causing Marco's creature to slap him slightly on the back of the head.  Cap ducked, shuddered, and tried to wipe of the slime with his hand, only to shudder again, and try to wipe his slimy hand off on his jeans.  As he stood again, Mike produced his catch for inspection, only centimeters from Caps face.      "I caught the biggest one," he announced proudly.      Cap pushed Mike and the fish away.  "I HATE you guys," he sputtered as he left to change, and scrub thoroughly.  The other three men hunkered down by the fire to again compare their catches.      "We're going to pay for that you know," Marco laughed.      "Yeah," Chet agreed, "but it was worth it."     "Definitely worth it," Mike added.                                                             ~*~*~*~*~*~      In the woods, Roy rested fitfully.  His eyes were sore, and he could not get comfortable.  His inactivity left him feeling cold, despite his jacket.  The path was littered with tree roots, which dug into his back.  Small animals quietly scurried around him, as if being careful not to wake him.  A lonely owl hooted in the tree above him, and the wind produced rustling noises through the leaves.  But is was no matter, Roy slept on.                                                              ~*~*~*~*~*~*~      A tired Johnny had arrived at the fire road, and delivered his precious cargo.  He was given a ride to Big Bear, only a mile from the road.  There he requested a couple of canteens of water, one for drinking, and one for Roy's eyes.  Mathew's wife filled the canteens.      "You look tired Mountain Man," Mathew informed.  Johnny smiled back.  "Sit down and eat something."  He pushed forward a plate piled high with sandwiches his wife had made for him and the men who had volunteered to help Mat look for the boy.  All but Johnny had dug in, and started munching, as soon as they had come through the door.      "Can't, gotta get going."  Johnny stood and smiled gratefully as Mat's wife handed him the canteens.      "You gonna need help finding that boy?"      "Nah, so long as he stayed where I left him."      "Why don't you take one of my canoe's across the lake.  I'll send Derek after it tomorrow."      "Well THANKS ALOT," Derek jokingly declared at his services being volunteered by his friend.      "You could use the exercise," Mat replied with a smile      "I could use the exercise?" Derek laughed giving Mat's slightly plump tummy a pat.      "Thanks a lot Mat," Johnny interrupted.  "I'll do that."      "Boy Johnny, at least take some with you," Mat's wife exclaimed as she wrapped up several sandwiches in waxed paper.  Johnny was starving, so he didn't argue.         "Thank you," he told her, giving her a peck on the cheek.  The men at the table hooted and hollered, and told Mat to "watch out for that one."  Mat only smiled.  Johnny turned red, and quickly ducked out the door.      "Shame on you all for embarrassing him like that," Mat's wife scolded, trying to hide the flush of her own cheeks.  "I could be his mother."                                                              ~*~*~*~*~*~     Johnny expertly paddled his way across the lake, cutting the time it would have taken him to get that far in half.  Still, he had a long way to go to get back to Roy, and even longer to get back to camp.  He hurried along as quickly as he could, ignoring the pain in his feet, and fighting the urge to dig into the sandwiches before he had reached his friend.  He did, however, allow himself to drink from the first canteen from time to time.  An hour and a half later, his pace having only slowed a bit on the way, Johnny started to look out for Roy.  He was just about to call out his name, when his flashlight landed on Roy's body, sprawled out sideways across the faint path.  Johnny hurried to his side, and dropped to his knees.  "Roy?" he whispered shakily.  Roy took in a sharp breath, and began to stretch as he woke.      "Johnny?  You back already?"      "ALREADY!  Where have YOU been?"  Roy yawned and stretched some more.  "Never mind," John laughed as he brushed some twigs out of Roy's hair.  "Let me see your eyes."  Roy rubbed at the inside corners of his eyes where most the dirt had washed out to in his sleep.  Johnny pushed his hands down and grabbed the canteen.      "They feel a lot better now."      "They're not going to if you push all the dirt back in.  Lay back."      Roy reluctantly lay down again, and allowed Johnny to rinse out his eyes.  Without telling Roy he was finished, he grabbed the sandwiches next, dropped two of them on Roy's chest, and dug into one of his own.     "What's this?"      "Food," Johnny answered, mouth full.      Roy sat up and dug in, just as hungrily as Johnny had.  They passed the canteen back and forth as they polished off every sandwich.      "Boy I needed that," John exclaimed happily, patting his tummy.      "Me too."      "YOU!  What did you do?"      "Look, I hadn't eaten since breakfast!"      "Well I hadn't eaten since...lunch," Johnny added quietly, feeling he had just lost his point.      "Yeah, but you earned it," Roy told him, giving him the win he so justly deserved.      "Yeah," John answered, more to himself.      "You found the boy I take it."      "Yeah."      "He ok?"      "Yeah."      "You ok?"      "Sure I'm ok."      "Yeah," Roy replied quietly.  He knew the question was only meant for being able to make it back to camp, and that is how Johnny had taken it; but it was not all he really wanted to know.      As they walked back to camp, a silence developed between them that was anything but comfortable.      After forty-five minutes, Johnny had had enough.  "Roy, just do it already, I can't take it anymore!"      Roy was stunned, having been lost in his own thoughts, ranging from Johnny to what his kids were doing at the moment at home.  "Do what?"      "You know what!  Just let me have it already, I can't take it anymore."      "Johnny," Roy said calmly, not wanting the conversation to be an argument.      "Just do it Roy, I know you're mad."      "I'm not mad at you."      "Not at all..."      "ALRIGHT, Yeah, I'm mad."      "I KNOW I let you down...and I'm SORRY."      "Let me down...Johnny!  You didn't let me down!"      "I went and quit, after all you did..."      "Johnny, I don't care that you...that you're not a fireman anymore!"      "You don't."      "All right, I do...but I can handle that...ya know."      "But you're still mad about it."      "NO!  I'm mad because....I'm mad because you didn't talk to me about it...I'm mad because you just left...I'm mad because you didn't even...YOU DIDN'T EVEN SAY GOODBYE!  I'm mad because you never gave me a chance to..."      "What, talk me out of it?  That's exactly why I..."      "You what?"      "Look, I meant to quite.  I didn't just..."      "I know you meant to quite, and I don't blame you.  Anybody could have lost their nerve after all of that.  I just think that maybe if you'd have talked it out with me, you'd..."      "So which is it in your mind?  I quite because I turned chicken, or I quite because it's just the typical nutty thing I do?"      "Johnny...."      "I'll tell you what Roy.  I'm NOT some doofes who can't think for himself and who needs your constant guidance...and I'm NOT a coward."      "JOHNNY!"      "Just leave me alone Roy!"      Johnny stormed ahead into the clearing that was their camp.  No one there could fail to over hear his last outburst.  All eyes stared at Roy, questioningly, some, accusingly.  Roy's blood rose into his cheeks.  Johnny ignored the others, grabbed his pack, threw it to the opposite side of the fire from the tents, kicked it farther, so the firelight barely showed on it, then plopped down, staring into the woods.  Roy stood where he was for several moments, not knowing what to do.  He wanted to continue the conversation, but there was no way he was going to do it with an audience.  He chose to sit down next to Cap, the last thing he wanted at the moment, was to have to talk to Chet.  It didn't matter.  As soon as he sat down, Chet got up and moved to sit next to him.      "What'd you do to him?" Chet asked.      "I didn't do anything Chet.  Mind your own business."      "Chet, why don't you turn in?" Cap offered, trying to prevent the brewing argument.      "All I know is, when he left here, he was fine, now he's ready to spit nails."      "Chet," Cap warned.      "Just don't do anything else, huh.  I didn't come all this way, or blow all that money, to hang out with a grumpy Gage."  Chet got up, and began to walk toward Johnny.  A few feet from him, he thought better of it, and returned to the fire.  He glanced at Roy and Cap, poured a cup of coffee, then returned to Johnny.  "Thought you might like some," he whispered to him as he set it down by his side.      "Thanks," John whispered back without looking to see what had been brought.      Chet smiled.  It's not us, just Roy.  Tomorrow will be fun if I have to put a barricade between them.  Maybe I'll even pretend to fall in the lake.  That'll get a laugh.  Chet went to the tent he was to share with Marco and Mike to turn in, and to contemplate what all they could do on the following day.        "What happened out there?" Cap asked Roy back at the fire.      "Nothing," Roy replied, reluctant to start a conversation, even with Cap.      "Is the kid ok, did you guys find him?"      "Huh?  Yeah, well, Johnny found him.  He was right where he thought he might be."      "Was he ok?"      "Yeah, he got him to an ambulance.  Sprained ankles I guess.  Maybe broken, but, that's for the doctors to fix."      "Well, that's good news, that he'll be all right I mean.  You guys must be starving.  I wish I could offer you some nice fish, but Marco kind off..." he trailed off, gesturing to some rather black leftover fish.  "There's some..."      "No, it's ok.  We ate."      "Oh...good.  Well.....I guess I'll turn in.  Night."      "Yeah, night Cap."      As soon as Cap rose, so did Marco.      "Night Roy," Marco offered as he followed Cap to the tents.      "Night."      "NIGHT JOHNNY," Marco called out more loudly to be sure he would hear.      "Yeah, Night Johnny," Cap joined in.      "Good Night Cap...Good Night Macro," Johnny responded politely.      "GOOD NIGHT JOHN-BOY!" Chet shouted out from his tent.      "GOOD NIGHT MARY ELLEN," Johnny answered in singsong.       At first every other man was stunned, but they soon started to giggle.  Ten minutes ago, he had been livid, now he didn't even sound angry...but that was Johnny.  He could no more hold a grudge than a sieve could hold water.  They all ducked into their tents with much lighter hearts, and hopes that the next day would be as fun as they wanted it to be.  Roy listened to the banter between the men as they argued about exactly which Walton each of them would be.  Cap was given Grandpa, though he insisted on being the pa.  Roy was dubbed Jason, for his red hair, but he was soon bumped down to Ben, as Mike refused to be a younger brother than he had to be.  Then all voted Marco to be Elizabeth, due to his height; though he begged off it, and dubbed himself Jim Bob.  After much laughter and more teasing, the noise finally quieted down to dull snores.  Roy debated over whether or not to put out the fire.  He decided against it, as it was apparent Johnny would not be sharing the tent with him and Cap.  John now lay sprawled out across the top of his sleeping bag and an air mattress, arm laying across his eyes.  The wind had picked up, and the temperature had cooled, but it was still a beautiful night.  Roy walked over to his obviously exhausted friend.       "Night Johnny," he whispered.      "hmmm?" came an unexpected, sleepy reply.      "I uh...said good night."      "Good night Roy."      ".....Johnny?"      No answer came.  Never mind.  Go ahead and sleep.  I'm ready to fall over myself.  How you do this all the time...I'll never know.  Roy crept to his tent, and fell fast asleep in minutes. Roy woke to find Cap heating up some coffee by the fireside.  Johnny still lay sleeping, but the others were no where to be found.       "Where is everybody?" he asked Cap.      "Where do you think," he answered, waving his hand toward the lake.      "Already?"      "They're obsessed.  Want some coffee?"      "Yeah, smells great," Roy said as he accepted a cup and sank down beside Cap.  "Still asleep," he added, nodding toward Johnny.      "Yeah."      "Good, he needs it."      "Yeah, somehow I don't think he usually gets to do much sleeping on these trips he does."      "Nope.  I think they keep him jumping."      "Yeah, we're a good break for him."      "Yeah...well, I think I'll join the others.  I can't let them all show me up now can I?"      "Sure you could.  You could leave all them poor little fish in the lake, where they belong."      "Come on Cap," Roy grinned as he gathered his gear, "you knew this was a fishing trip."      "Yep, and that's exactly why I brought a ton of granola."      "Catch you later Cap."      "The fish Roy, you catch the fish."      "Good one Cap."      "I thought so," Cap said to himself, as Roy was already a good distance to the lake.      "Catch anything?" Roy asked when he arrived.      Mike smiled big, and held up his catch so far.  Two large trout danced on a string.      "I'll take that as a yes," Roy laughed as he threw out his own line.      The sun rose higher in the sky.  The breeze blew warmly.  Bugs began to move about, and the sun grew hot.  The fisherman moved into the shade.  They were no longer catching anything.  Still, they enjoyed themselves, casting out their lines from time to time, nonetheless.  Around eleven, John appeared, kiddy-corner across from them, by the lakeside.  He waved as he slipped into the water, wearing only a pair of cutoff jeans.  They waved back, and decided to pack it in.  It would take a while to prepare lunch, and they were growing hungry.  Roy let the others stroll on ahead.  He stripped to his boxers, and plunged into the water, then swam toward the middle of the lake, trying to spot Johnny again.  When he did, he swam his way.      "Feels good," Roy said to John about the water.      "Yeah, sure does," Johnny, agreed, dunking under.  Roy dunked as well, then the two sat treading for a couple of minutes.      "About last night," Roy decided to begin.      "Don't want to talk about it," Johnny said, pushing himself up, then falling backward into the water.      Roy swam after him.  "Well I do.  First off, I don't think you're a coward, never did, and never will."      "Roy..." John protested.      "Second, I know you can think for yourself, and I never said that you couldn't.  All I meant was...well...you usually talk to me about things, you know, to hash it out...just like I do with you."      "When do you hash things out with me?"      "Oh come on Johnny,  how about the time I was thinking about growing a mustache."      "Roy, that was just plain silly."      "Maybe it was silly to you, but it wasn't to me.  Ok, you want something serious?  How about the time I stopped to put an airway in that guy when I lost contact with the hospital?"      "You did the right thing, and you know it."      "Yeah, but I didn't come to that conclusion all by myself now, did I."      Johnny sighed and blew some bubbles in the water.  He wanted to get this conversation over with.  "Next," he prompted.     "Next?  Ok...you want to know what makes me angrier than anything else?"      "What?" John asked evenly, not really wanting the answer.      "The fact that you think I'm SO SHALLOW, that I wouldn't want to be your friend anymore unless you stayed a fireman."      "Roy, I never said that."      "You showed it."      "Showed what?"      "Why are you avoiding me?"      "I'm not avoiding you."      "JOHNNY...you didn't call...you didn't write...you..."      "I wrote."      "YOU WROTE THE STATION!  THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN..."      "I wrote you too.... I just didn't.... every time I tried to mail something...what I wrote just sounded so...I don't know.  I even tried to call...but every time the phone started to ring...I'd freeze or something...then I'd hang up before anyone could answer.  I know it sounds dumb."      Roy smiled to himself.  The hang up phone calls.  And I thought it was some girls playing a game with Chris.  Should have known it was him.  "No Johnny, it doesn't sound dumb at all."      "I still have your postcards, if you want them.  I can't say they make much sense."      "Of course I want 'em.  It'll give me something to read on the way back."      "Yeah," Johnny said quietly, not wanting to think about Roy's impending departure.      "Soooo, are we still friends?" Roy asked after several moments.      "I don't know...I'll have to think about it," Johnny replied mischievously.      Roy pushed himself up in the water, and came down on top of John, pushing him under.  He released his victim after a moment, allowing him to sputter to the surface.  "You want to try answering that again?" Roy dared.      Johnny shook his head.  "Still thinking."  Roy dove after him again.  "All right, all right, I guess that's ok with me."  Johnny dunked under, trying to avoid Roy's tackle, but he ducked too late.  The two wrestled and splashed each other for several minutes, Roy now getting the worst of it as Johnny was very slippery and agile.      "Ok, uncle!" Roy cried, choking on a little water.      "Uncle?!  So now you want to call uncle."      "YES, UNCLE....uncle, uncle UNCLE."      Johnny laughed.  "Ok, fine...I call uncle too."      They swam to the shore, and crawled up on the bank to catch their breath.      "Roy?"      "Yeah?"      "What happened to your shorts?" Roy look down in a panic, but found his boxers were still safely in tact.  "You jerk!"      "Made you Look," Johnny giggled.      Roy pushed his wet hair back on his head with both hands.  "I'm gettin HUNGRY."      "Me too."  Johnny got up and helped his older friend to his feet, by offering him a hand and a tug.      Roy, hating to be wet for long, turned away from John, slipped off his boxers, and pulled on his dry jeans.  "I'll put some dry ones on when we get back," he blushed as they headed back to camp.      "I didn't say a word."      Roy threw him a skeptical look.  "What about your clothes?" he asked, motioning his head at Johnny who still wore only cut-off jeans.      "I'm wearing them."      "Not even shoes?" Roy asked, despite the fact that he had not bothered to put his own on, and carried them instead.      Johnny shook his head. continue