A Hero Emerges

Word of the Day:

in·teg·ri·ty    [in-teg-ri-tee] 

noun

1.

adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness ofmoral character; honesty.

2.

the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preservethe integrity of the empire.

3.

a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of aship's hull.

Dictionary.com

A HERO IMMERGES

They call it the Rats Nest.  It is the part of town where everybody you don't want to know lives.  Druggies and criminals, the undesirables of society existing in their own circle of life, passing on their addictions and weaknesses from one generation to another.  

Life outside the Rats Nest carried on happily without much more than a disgusted glance or a snide comment in its direction.  The two worlds didn't mix and neither of the worlds cared to, the 'rats' were fine with being left alone, the less attention the better…until it started to burn.  It was only a matter of time before it did, too many people doing drugs, too many flammable materials, it was bound to happen and it came as no surprise.

The only surprise was the speed at which the firefighters arrived.  Captain James Richards made sure that his crew knew that every life is valuable; it doesn’t matter where you are raised.  “Without my integrity I wouldn’t fit my uniform, I’d be much too small a man.”, was one of the Captains favorite lines.

The firemen were fast; the fire was faster.  It had already consumed one home and was hungrily eating through the second, if there was anybody inside there wasn’t much hope for them.

“My son!  My son is in there!” said a woman with sunken eyes who’d been sobered up enough by the fire to get out, but not sober enough to take her son with her. 

“Cap, it’s too late, we can’t get in there.” Said one of the firemen, “it’s too late.” more somber than before at his realization at what he’d just said.

“As far as I’m concerned that’s my son in there, I’m going in.” resolved the Captain…every life is valuable…

Richards ran in, seemingly without fear, but if you had seen his eyes you could have seen he was terrified.    

Heat.

Smoke.

Can barely see.

An eternity in an instant.

Outside everyone waited impatiently, hope ticking away.

A crash.

A man immerges.  No.  A HERO emerges…carrying a child.

Clear of the danger, Richards sets the boy down.

“What is your name son?”

coughing…

“Brian.  Brian Crawford.”

“You’re tough kid, Brian.  I’m Captain James Richards, you’re going to be just fine.”

Everyone outside his crew thought he was a fool for going into that house.  The world wouldn’t have missed that boy, not even his own mother would stay sober enough to miss him.

…every life is valuable

25 years later…

Another fire.  Not the Rats Nest this time.

A house engulfed in flames…no hope.

One man enters the house against all odds then emerges with a child, then goes back in… three times he faces the flames.  He emerges the third time with a young boy.

“What is your name son?”

“Peter.  Peter Williams.”

“You’re a tough kid, Peter.  I’m Captain Brian Crawford, you’re going to be just fine.”

…every life is valuable.