Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. – Joshua J. MarineTy had been with the fire department for just over ten years. He loved it. As a hellion in his youth, he ended up doing community service with the fire department. It was an agreement made between the chief, Ty and his parents. He had been seventeen when his friends dared him to spray paint the garage door at the fire house. Being young, dumb and thinking he was cool, he did it. And got caught almost as soon as he started. By the chief, no less. Twelve thirty at night and his parents had to pick him up. Chief Konuk gave him a choice. Call the police. Or community service over summer. He chose community service.Even when his time had been completed, he still hung around. Saturdays and school holidays, you could find him at station three. The crews presented him with an official department polo with his name and trainee on it.When he graduated high school, he received the
What you do makes a difference. And you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. – Jane GoodallJD had talked his mom into playing a game with him. It had been a long time since they had sat down across from each other. Helen grinned and when he looked back at the board, he saw his mistake. “King me.” She said after her move and collecting the four pieces she had jumped. “Ugh. Now I remember why I quit playing with you.” He teased as he kinged her piece.“Really?” she said pointing at his large collection of her pieces and his two kings.“You still have pieces!” he pointed out with a grin. “Five pieces does not make a checkers game.” She replied.“You just got four of my pieces and kinged. I’d say it does.” He got a look of deep thought for just a moment. “Would I be making you a king? Or a queen?”“Fine. Queen me.” Helen laughed as she stood up to go refill her water. “Mom, I don’t know if I told you, I’m really proud of you.” She stopped and leaned against the c
If you are going through hell, keep going. Why would you stop in hell? – Steve HarveyA few minutes later, JD pulled into the parking lot and found a spot. He got out of the car and started to walk towards the building. When he didn’t hear his mom’s door he went back and opened it.“Sorry. I guess I got in the habit of Reese getting the door for me.” Helen said sheepishly.JD put his arm around her shoulders and walked with her into the building. They walked up to the reception desk where a blonde sat looking bored.“I’m looking for Tyrus Johnson.” Helen said with a smile.“One moment.” She picked up the phone and spoke into the receiver.A few minutes later, a nurse opened the door and looked towards the woman with long braids and dark skin. “For Tyrus Johnson?”“That’s me.” Helen said stepping towards
If you want something different, you have to stop accepting what you are used to. – Samantha King HolmesTy was released the following day after the pulmonary specialist was able to assess him. The family dinner was moved to their house to accommodate him. His voice was still a bit raspy but he sounded more like himself.Bunny kept apologizing for the meal. She had pulled out two frozen packages of chili for the slow cookers. And attempted cornbread. The bottoms were burned and the centers were gooey.“You, go sit down.” Helen told the younger woman.Tears threatened to fall as she laid her head on Helen’s shoulder. “I just can’t do anything in the kitchen.”“That’s OK. You can do other things.” Helen assured her. “Come on, let’s go talk up here. JD can you make some cornbread?”“You trust him to cook?” Jaxon teased
Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared. – TupacBunny came back downstairs and grabbed Jaxon by the hand. She pulled him over and sat him down next to Ty.“We did something.” She said handing over a test to each of them.It took a second for it to register and then both men stood up and hugged her. There were hugs and kisses between the three of them.It wasn’t until Jaxon looked over at his mom who was kissing Reese that he realized his secret was out. Ty reached up and turned Jaxon’s face to his own. He kissed the other man.“She knows.”Bunny kissed both of them. “She just wants you to be happy.”Jaxon kissed Bunny and Ty before laying his head on the other man’s shoulder and pulling Bunny into a tight hug between them. “I am happy.”“I’m happy too.” Ty sa
You can’t hesitate about who you are. – Viola DavisHank was tracking her and Jolene did not know how he was doing it. She had stopped on the way home from work to check on Ty. When Hank got home early Saturday morning, he had gone stupid crazy.The new neighbors had called the cops again. Again, he told the men that he worked with that nothing was going on.And again, they believed him.After they had left, Hank gagged her and finished her punishment. As always, he was careful not to leave any bruises. At least, not where you could see them.Saturday, while he slept, Jolene studied and worked on her latest paper. This time it was for history. She was very careful not to make too much noise. Hank had become so irrational and unpredictable lately.The sergeant test was only a few weeks away. Once that was done and, hopefully, he passed, he would go back to being his
Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light. – Brené BrownHelen pulled up to the Queen Anne style house and noticed the other cars in the lot. Somehow, she doubted that all five belonged to employees. When she told Bunny about the appointment, she insisted on doing Helen’s hair and makeup.She felt so weird walking into the house. She had never done pictures of just her before. Sure, there were family pictures and candid shots that the kids had done. But never anything like this.“Helen?” a woman asked as Helen came through the door.“Yes.”“Oh, good. I need a second set of eyes.” The woman with rainbow colored hair said handing her a picture. “Do they match?”Helen took the picture and looked at the adults recreating a childhood picture. Seven were lined up in age or
A hero is someone who understands that responsibility comes with his freedom. – Bob DylanJD had mentioned that he had a school assignment to write a paper about the American elections process. One of the requirements was to interview someone involved in an election. Reese told him that he knew the undersheriff who was running for sheriff.After a quick phone call, the whole family was invited to the election night watch party.JD walked into the hotel ballroom with Helen, both unsure of what to expect. They were immediately stopped by a young woman with a clipboard who after checking their names off the list, put name badges on them.“Awesome!” Dean said rushing over to them. “Uncle Owen said that you were coming.”Helen hugged the girl and noticed that she hugged JD also. JD was not a hugger. But he hugged her back and then kept his arm around her shoulders.“Where i