Uncommon Common

Cherry

By ice rivers

Sun, 04 Jun 2017
  • 917 reads
2 comments
 

Once upon a time, we were playing Bingo in a Fire Hall. Suddenly, an amazing fire burst out across the street. I had never seen anything so powerful and scary. Everybody started running away from the Bingo parlor and the house across the street.

Everybody except my father that is. 

He ran toward the fire and before anybody could realize what happened, he was across the street and into that inferno. He pulled a kid out of that blaze before the volunteers of the Fire Hall had even heard the siren.

My father was a firefighter by profession as was my uncle, my mother’s brother. My mother’s sister’s husband was a cop as was the son of my mother’s brother who drove a fire engine.

By instinct and training they ran toward the fire.

My uncle was a cop who walked a beat in the most dangerous parts of town where he was known, respected and even loved. Everybody called him Big George.

I understand the principal at the New Town school ran towards the gunmen rather than away.

Instinct and training, along with courage and humanity.

Teachers are becoming the firefighters of 9/11 as schools become more and more vulnerable

None of them or us are heroes other than working class heroes as Lennon captured the idea.

We’re just effing peasants doing our jobs.

Firefighters absorb more injuries each year than police officers.

Nobody gets more criticism than cops.

No profession is assaulted more than teachers.

All of them stand on the thin line between good and evil.

None of them/us are making serious money compared to the kings and queens of the universe whom we teach and protect with our lives.

It’s not about the money. It’s not about being heroic.

It’s about running towards the fire rather than away from it.

Walking towards the need instead of ignoring it.

Standing in front of the children rather than behind them.

Uncommon common people dedicated to and convinced of the common good.

Certificate 15
Story
Aardvark Art Park
Biography

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I have so much respect for fire fighters, to walk in to a flaming building and save lives takes so much courage. They have to think quickly, with no time for hesitation. 

I'm glad you put this piece on. Thank you.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by PoppyS on

Into day's shallow world were the world 'hero' is handed out like candy, this struck a chord. I lived with a  fire fighter and I can say with all honesty that he put the welfare of others first even before his own family.
Not sure if that is good or bad, but I do know if you needed help you would want him and his colleagues in your quarter.

Strange how society seems to condemn the rescue services until they are in need of them.

Good piece of factual writing telling it, how it is.

Pops ~xx~

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