Family Is Forever ~ A One Chicago Story

Chapter 10 - No distractions

I had a couple of days to get used to online learning before mum and dad's next shift so I knew what I was doing. I wasn't overly thrilled woth the fact we had to have our cameras on all the time. I'm pretty sure my classmates didn't want to see me in my pyjamas.

I also wasn't used to getting up at 5am for an early shift. Officially shift didn't start till 7 we all had to get up and ready and walk Ellie before we left.

At 6:30 mum was shouting at me to hurry up it only took 15 minutes to drive to the Firehouse so I had no idea why they wanted to leave early. I shoved my laptop and charger in my bag grabbed my sketchbook and headed downstairs.

__________

I was sat at the table in the common room fiddling around with my computer while everyone else was in morning briefing.

Dad had been lecturing me about not getting distracted and paying full attention to my lessons the whole car ride over to the Firehouse. I knew it was only because he wanted me to do well but I was a bit fed up with the lectures.

My phone buzzes on the table and I look to see a text from Brooke

B: I hate online school and its only been a week 😑 what lessons you got today????

J: I've got a pretty decent day double Art, food tech, Spanish biology and maths

B: lucky I have double Drama, history then Spanish biology and maths

J: idk how much work I'm actually going to get done I'm at the Firehouse

B:cool at least you get to see people other than your parents, my brother is such a little shit

Brookes brother was only 10 and was really annoying. She was also at home with her stepdad while her mum worked. Brooke didn't really get on with her step dad very well and I knew that them being such at home together 24/7 would end in arguments.

J: you've never met Squad 3 the most annoying company ever, damn good Firefighters but not necessarily the most intelligent people ever

B: 😂😂 TTYL

J: yeah xxx

I put my phone back on the table and looked up, it looked like briefing had just ended as the team were all heading out of the briefing room.

I immediately started opening random school associated files on my laptop so it looked like i was doing work.

I checked my watch. Crap I had lost track of time and was almost late for registration so I plugged my eraphones into my laptop and joined the Google meet session. Camera on mic off. Luckily Mr Lewis didn't notice I was pushing my luck with the  timing.

He was just running through the notices and things we should be aware of when I hear my name called from across the common room.

I look up and smile Kelly had just walked in I wave at him and I'm about to start a conversation when I hear my Mr Lewis' voice in my ear

"Jessica can you please repeat what I just said."

I fumble with my mouse to turn on my mic

"I....umm..er.."

"You weren't paying attention were you" he pauses for a second "Who is that behind you"

I turn around and unsurprisingly Kelly is there holding a bowel of cereal.

I unplug my headphones from the computer so Kelly can hear what we're saying. Before trying to explain what is going on

"Sorry about him,I'm at the Firehouse today and he feels the need to make an appearance"

Then brookes voice comes through
"Hi kelly"

Kelly smiles and waves at her "Hi brooke"

Capp then walks in obviously looking for Severide

"Lieutenant have you seen......what are you doing"

He walks over and sees my form "I thought Captain Casey said no disruptions"

I roll my eyes of course dad made an announcement telling them to leave me alone

"Yeah exactly no disruptions so please go away before you embarrass me" I say pushing him away

Just then the bells go off

Squad 3 person trapped Ambo 72 requesting assistance....

And both Kelly and Capp run out of the room to the apparatus floor.

"Sorry about the noise" I say plugging my earphones in again and waving at Stella as she walked in to grab some coffee

"Is that another fit fireman" comes poppy's voice

I chose not to comment on this but instead pick up on something else

"Firefighters" I say simply

"What" she replies sounding confused

Mum and Brett have now walked in and them and Stella are listening to what I'm saying

"Firefighters not firemen" I'm really not in the mood for a fight so I'm keeping my answers short. I also unplug my headphones aging so the others can here what's being said

"As if there's such a thing as a Lady Firefighter" says someone else who I don't know

Really how could you get to the age of 17 and still think that I think to myself

"Now now Ben of course there's such thing as female Firefighters, in fact I saw a flyer last week advising a programme where girls your age could come and learn to be Firefighters it looked quite interesting"

I smile I kow exactly what programme he's on about

"Was it girls on fire by any chance?" I ask my teacher glancing up at Stella who had a big smile on her face

"As a matter of fact yes I think it was" he replies.

He then relises the time
"Well folks enjoy your lessons today and I'll see you later"

I sign out of the meeting and sigh. Its going to be a long day if all people want to talk about is why I'm at a Firehouse oh well, I've grown up in the CFD it was all I knew and I would do anything to make sure people knew what it was like and how much the people at 51 really ment to me.