Chapter 26
The school day had drug by. Peering at the wall clock, Jason could have sworn the hands weren’t budging. Finally, the last bell rang.
At home, Sue met them with a smile and a snack. Although his nerves were wound up like a clock, his metabolism was typical for a teenage boy. Wolf like. Inhaling four blueberry muffins, still warm from the oven and dripping with melted butter, he raised his glass as Sue offered more milk.
“Coming up for air?” she teased as he drank the last sip and wiped his mouth.
He grinned and pointed at the white mustache on Felix’s mouth. “Ha!”
Sue handed Felix a napkin and motioned for him to wipe his mouth.
“Jeff is going to take you over to the air attack base.” She gave Jason a head-to-toe look. “Put on a fresh button-down shirt, your corduroy pants, and a jacket. And change your shoes to the dressier ones we got you.”
Jason looked down at his fairly new jeans, tee shirt, and tennis shoes. “What’s wrong with these?”
Sue placed her hand on Jason’s shoulder. “This is a professional interview. You want to put your best foot forward.” She patted his shoulder. “Dressing up shows you care about the job interview. That it’s important to you.”
Jason looked up at her kind and caring face.
So different from what he was used to. He excused himself and went to his room, changed, and looked in the bathroom mirror.
He swept his shaggy hair into a ponytail, then twisted the ponytail into a neat bun.
Better. He brushed his teeth and went out to the living room, where Jeff was waiting.
“Nice, Jason. You clean up well.” Putting his arm over Jason’s shoulder, he drew him in for a side hug. “Let’s go.”
“Good luck,” Sue called out with a wave of her hand.
Jason turned and smiled. “Thanks. I really, really want this job.”
They pulled into the parking lot at the air attack base at five minutes to 4:00.
Jeff took out his iPad and wished Jason good luck.
Jason exited the car and wiped the perspiration from his palms on his cords.
He followed the signs to the front office and was ushered into a long corridor with several doors and a row of uncomfortable looking chairs positioned against the wall.
As he sat waiting, he peered into the window across from him, which was the main hub of the Aircraft Dispatch Center. Floor-to-ceiling thick glass looked out onto the tarmac, where two air tankers and one helicopter sat ready on their pads.
There was a map covering the back wall of the room.
An adjoining wall held a gigantic TV screen, showing what looked like a map of the state of California with slow-moving dots of color.
A large desk dominated the room, which was stacked with computer screens, a boom microphone, and a console with lots of knobs, switches, and meters.
Two blue-uniformed firefighters were seated at the desk—one speaking intently on the phone, another typing on the keyboard.
In the background, he heard busy but intelligible radio traffic.
Jason settled back into his chair. He had never seen anything like this. He was awestruck. Could he really be a part of this? He was jolted by the tones of the PA system followed by three consecutive beeps. Two seconds later, a voice came over the air.
“Copter 506. Out of unit dispatch for a wildland fire in Mendocino Unit. Time out, 1604 hours.
He turned at the noise of thundering boots charging down the highly waxed linoleum hallway.
Several men and women in yellow firefighter suits swept past him.
They were followed by an older gentleman, distinguished looking with a hint of gray on his temples.
He wore a blue flight suit with a name tag indicating he was a Fire Captain.
He carried himself with confidence gained from years of experience.
The man stopped briefly in the Aircraft Dispatch Center, where he was handed a half sheet of paper with lots of typing on it. He pushed open the door and followed the crew out to the waiting helicopter.
Jason rose and walked over to the door. He peered through the window onto the tarmac.
The rising whine of the turbine engine combined with the beating of rotor blades drowned out the voices of the crew members.
The last one hopped in the open side door and rolled it shut.
Then the sounds intensified as the craft lifted off.
Jason’s eyes widened as the helicopter rose about twenty feet, then whooshed into the distance.
Crackling radio traffic emitted from the speakers. “Dispatch, Copter 506 airborne, ETA 1638.”
“Dispatch copies. You are on request Alpha Seven.”
“Copter 506.”
Noah entered the room. “What do you think about that?”
Jason’s eyes lit with excitement. He looked at Noah’s crisp, blue uniform with its shiny golden crossed bugles on the collar and large gold shield badge.
His nerves took over, and he felt overwhelmed.
This was the person he had almost killed and left for dead.
Now, he was standing in front of him, possibly being offered a job. His mind spun, and his heart pounded.
Noah turned toward his office and motioned for him to follow. Jason’s mouth went dry. He wanted this. Bad.
Noah picked up a sheet of paper from his desk and handed it to Jason. “This is the job application that you need to fill out and return.”
He took the application in shaking hands and laid it on his lap. His hands folded over his knees in an effort to hide the trembling. Trying to appear calm and collected, he leaned forward and listened intently as Noah sat across from him.
“Jason, I want to discuss the position and expectations with you. You and I have become friends over the past few months, and I’ve enjoyed being your mentor.
However, if you’re hired for this position, you’ll be my employee and I will be your supervisor.
That changes the dynamics. Do you understand? ”
At Jason’s nod, he continued. “This is a serious job with no margin for error. There are many moving parts with active aircraft and propellers. The retardant hose is handled by two people and is like a writhing anaconda. Proper mixing and handling of fire retardant is a very important and exhausting part of the job. It’s hot, dangerous, stressful work. ”
Noah straightened in his chair and made direct eye contact. “I do not… and will not… allow any behavior that would compromise the safety of my men. That’s the bottom line.”
“Yes, sir,” Jason replied. “Understood.”
“Fully staffed, we’ll have four fire retardant operators. You’ll work long hours, and it’s highly probable that days off could be canceled due to fire activity. Do you think you can work in these conditions?”
There was no hesitation in Jason’s answer. “Yes, sir.”
Noah stood and extended his hand. “Get your completed application back to me ASAP. Once received, you’ll be scheduled for an interview.”
Standing, he shook the extended hand. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate the opportunity, and I promise I’ll do my best.”
Aweek later, Jason sat before an interview panel staffed by the Cal Fire engineer in charge of retardant operations, the personnel specialist from Unit Headquarters, and Noah.
Starting with the engineer, questions were asked in regard to his abilities and willingness to learn the functions of the position, with safety being top priority.
Jason handled the questions honestly and to the best of his ability.
He was more than willing to learn. The long hours and workload were actually something he looked forward to, with a long summer of otherwise empty hours facing him.
His other option was going back to bagging groceries.
But this was an entry level position in something that could actually provide a future for him.
Last night, before bed, he had even closed his eyes and whispered a prayer. “God. It’s Jason Peterson. I haven’t prayed to You before, but I was wondering, if it’s okay with You, could I have the retardant operator job at the air base? Amen.”
At the completion of the interview, Noah stood and ushered him to the door. “Nice job, Jason. I think you have a solid chance of getting the position. I’ll be in touch when the interviews are over.”
Jason smiled as he left the building. “God. It’s me again. Jason Peterson. Thank you.”