The State Of The ARTT

by Michael Reagan

  Jesse unlatches the D-ring off her belt. The girl starts yelling at Jesse, and she lands a left hook on Jesse’s jaw. The police are there quickly and take her into custody. Police Detective Walden approaches Jesse.

  Detective Walden says, “I guess you do have a cape and can fly. Sorry, you took one on the chin from her. We think she is high on meth.” Jesse smiles then looks down at his repel glove. It’s smoking, but his hand is fine.

  Jesse replies, “I guess I have a way with the ladies.”

  Detective Walden smiles. “Hell of a repel catch. Our SWAT team could use a man with your skills. What is your name?”

  “Jesse Cole. Thanks but no thanks, Detective. My trigger finger is retired.”

  “Well, if there is anything you ever need, just ask me.”

  “If you have an extra set of handcuffs, I might have some use for them.”

  “Sure, as long as they are not going to be used for sexual purposes.”

  “No, Detective.”

  Detective Walden throws Jesse an extra set of cuffs. “Again, thanks for the help, Jesse.”

  Jesse gives a nod and walks back to the fire engine parked on the side of the building. He puts the gear back in a compartment of the fire engine and jumps back in the driver’s seat.

  Chow says, “It’s about time. So do they need our help?”

  Jesse replies, “No, they got it under control now.”

  Later that night, at Fire Station 7, Captain McMenn is in his office and slams the phone down. He sees Lieutenant Kendrick passing by and motions him to come in the office. Lieutenant Kendrick walks in.

  Lieutenant Kendrick asks, “What’s up, Captain?”

  Captain McMenn answers, “Did you go on that lunch trip with the crew earlier?”

  Lieutenant Kendrick replies, “No. Why?”

  “Well, you should from now on. I just got a message from a detective Walden thanking our department for our help with the suicide jumper.”

  “Station 7 never got dispatched for that. Who the hell would get involved in police matters without getting proper protocol from dispatch?”

  With a smirk, Captain McMenn sarcastically replies, “You will never guess.”

  Lieutenant Kendrick pauses then replies, “Jesse?”

  “Yes, Jesse. Warn him never to do that again without going through proper protocol.”

  “Will do.”

  At a sports bar, a TV broadcasts the local news.

  Anchor woman Janet Avalos reports, saying, “This is the dramatic footage, shot from a cell phone, of a woman on a ledge threatening to jump.”

  A frequent patron of the bar, Bill Derose, asks the bartender, “Why are they showing this? Nobody wants to see a suicide. Turn it to a sports cast.”

  The crowded sports bar gets quieter hearing the word suicide, and some move toward the TV. They see the woman jump, and a few despairing moans from the sports bar crowd are heard. Then Jesse is seen jumping after her. They see Jesse reach out for her then catch her and land safely. Bill and the sports bar erupted with cheers and disbelief and a few emotional faces. It was like their favorite team had just won the Super Bowl. The half drunk and depressed were suddenly happy and buzzing with hope that someone cares.

  News anchor Janet Avalos reports, saying, “We learned from the police that the hero was not affiliated with the police department and they would not disclose his name.”

  Bill Derose says, “Whoever he is, I still can’t believe he caught her.”

  The bartender Max Finley asks Bill, “Do you still want me to turn it to the sports cast?”

  Bill Derose replies, “Hell no! Leave it here. I want to see it again.”

  The next day, back at Fire Station 7, Captain McMenn wants suggestions for a department party.

  Lieutenant Kendrick says, “What about a football game and cookout at a local park.”

  Captain McMenn replies, “Sounds like a good idea as long as it is two-hand touch.”

  Lieutenant Kendrick, who played college football at Notre Dame, agrees to two-hand touch, but since Captain McMenn will not be attending, he intends to make it a game of tackle football.

  Everyone but Captain McMenn arrives at the park. Everyone playing is divided into two teams. The game is shirts versus skins. With the smell of ribs and burgers on the grill and the song “Give It All Your Lovin’” by ZZ Top playing on a radio, the game is on. Most of the game has gone by, and it remains close. Jesse, playing as a running back, is itching to score the winning touchdown. It is late in the game Jesse’s team is close to the goal line. Lieutenant Kendrick, a linebacker on the opposing team, is dug in for a goal line stand. Lean, sweaty, muscular bodies line up. Stewart snaps the ball. Jesse gets the handoff and runs right up a hole in the middle of the line. Lieutenant Kendrick quickly closes on the gap and tackles Jesse on the one-yard line. It’s a goal line stand. Lieutenant Kendrick puts his hands in the air.

  Lieutenant Kendrick says, “That is how it is done in the big leagues, jarhead.”

  Jesse replies, “Hell of a hit, Lieutenant.”

  Jesse, being one the team that was skins, starts putting back on his crimson University of Alabama jersey.

  Lieutenant Kendrick says, “You got some nerve wearing that jersey in opposition to my Notre Dame game jersey. Who was the coach that once said the price of winning is high?”

  Jesse smiles and says, “You know who. Thanks for the lesson though.”

  Lieutenant Kendrick says, “Anytime, jarhead, now let’s get some ribs, Jesse.” Suddenly, Lieutenant Kendrick’s teammates mob him and lift him on their shoulders.

  With good music playing and good food, it is a good time for the crew, but Jesse wonders if he will be able to return to duty.

  Jesse walks over to Chuck, kicked back enjoying the day. “What’s up, Chuck?”

  Chuck replies, “Just enjoying a beautiful day next to our firehouse dog, Reggie. You know K-9 cop dogs can only sniff out drugs. Our firehouse dog can fetch beers.” Chuck whistles at Reggie lying next to him. Reggie gets up and goes to the open beer cooler. Reggie picks up a beer bottle with his teeth and brings it to Chuck. Chuck takes the bottle and uses Reggie’s dog chain beer cap opener to open the bottle.

  Chuck says, “That a boy.” Chuck smiles at Jesse before he takes a drink of the beer.

  Jesse says, “Amazing. Enjoy yourself.”

  Chuck replies, “Always.”

  As Jesse is eating, he sees Lieutenant Kendrick getting angry at his wife and grabbing her by the arm forcefully before leaving the party. Just then Stewart comes over to Jesse.

  Stewart says, “Hey, Jesse. I want to introduce you to my wife, Falisha.”

  Jesse says, “Hi, Falisha, it is nice to meet you.” He shakes Falisha’s hand.

  “We are about to head out for some nightlife.”

  “Well, you two have fun. Be careful.”

  “You know it.” Stewart and Jesse bump fists as Stewart and his wife leave.

  Jesse walks toward the restroom. Firefighter Jose Rodrigez is in the public restroom by the sink. He is about to shoot up with some morphine. Jose hears a voice.

  Jesse says, “We all deal with pain in different ways.”

  Jose is startled and puts the needle down. He says, “You caught me. I’m a morphine addict. I got injured on the job over a year ago. They gave me morphine to deal with the pain, and I got hooked. I have been trying to break the addiction for a while now. Being bipolar does not help the situation. I get down on myself and stay down for days.”

  Jesse walks toward the urinal. While Jose is using it, Jesse says,
“Yeah, I caught you, Jose, but I’m not a snitch. I’m your friend and know how powerful that drug can be. You can overcome anything if you really want to.”

  Jose replies, “My mom and dad were drug addicts. I hated them for it and promised myself I would never do drugs. I always feared becoming like them.”

  “Hate over time can turn you into who you hate. If a memory of someone causes you to hate, then erase that memory. No matter who or what it is.”

  Jesse walks out of the restroom. Jose is motivated and puts the needle down and his hands on the sides of his head. He then picks up the needle, walks to the trash, and puts it in the can. Then he walks out the door.

  5.

  The next day, in a secluded area, Frankie Pipps is preparing his men on how to burn down a building the mayor picked out for arson.

  Frankie says, “We will go at midnight and set the flammables. This has to look like an accident, so find an electric outlet and pull the wire out. The buildings must burn to the ground, so leave big obstructions in the entrances to keep the firefighters out. There is a lot of money in this for me, and I’m not going back to prison. Let’s do this right so there will be more opportunities.”

  Later that day, at Fire Station 7, Jose is looking at his morphine shot in his locker. He starts reaching for it to go shoot up, and something stops him. He finds Jesse who is working out in the station gym.

  Jose asks, “Why didn’t you tell the captain I’m an addict?”

  Jesse replies, “I believe you have a lot to offer. I believe I can trust you with my life. Individually, we all have flaws, but together, with the right motivation, we are a very effective squad. This city needs that more than ever.”

  Jesse is alone taking a shower at the station after a workout around midnight. Firefighter Maggie Miller comes in the shower room and hangs up her towel. Jesse doesn’t notice her until she turns on her shower. Jesse looks then immediately looks down, wondering if he is in the wrong shower room.

  Maggie says, “You can give up that pipe dream now. I am lesbian. I have never liked men because they are all dogs. I will be treated like everyone else in this department.”

  Jesse, still looking down, replies, “Um, okay.”

  Maggie turns away from shower and faces Jesse. Jesse keeps his eyes down on the floor.

  Intrigued, Maggie says, “Well, you are nothing like Chuck. By the way, nice tattoo on your arm. What does it represent?” She turns back toward her shower and starts using soap.

  Refusing to look at Maggie, Jesse replies, “Thanks. It’s a Marine Force Recon symbol. It’s a skull wearing scuba apparatus over some jump wings, crossed with a zodiac paddle and a Ka-Bar knife.”

  Maggie says, “So you were trained in scuba and parachuting?”

  Jesse replies, “Yes, among other things like advanced repelling.”

  Maggie faces Jesse. “I always wanted to do stuff like that, just never got around to it.”

  Looking at his showerhead, Jesse says, “I use all those skills for firefighting now. We could take a day, and I could teach you.”

  “Teach me what?”

  “Parachuting, scuba, advanced repelling—whatever you would like to learn.”

  Looking at Jesse, Maggie says, “Are you serious? Absolutely! When can we start?”

  Looking away from Maggie, Jesse replies, “Well, we could start going over some stuff now.”

  Maggie says, “That sounds awesome.”

  Just then the fire bell rings. Jesse and Maggie grab their towels and get suited up. The crew boards the fire engine. The fire engine leaves the station and arrives quickly to the site of the fire. The team jumps out into action.

  As Jesse and Maggie are getting their gear situated, Jesse looks at Maggie and asks, “How long can you hold your breath?”

  Maggie replies, “I can hold it about a minute.”

  “Not bad. Being able to hold your breath a long time comes in handy when sharing your oxygen with a victim you are rescuing. If one of the victims you are trying to rescue dies because of smoke inhalation and you could have prevented it, it might haunt you. My philosophy is to save people at all costs. You sleep better that way.”

  “We were taught never to take the mask off in a burning structure at the fire academy.”

  “That was the classroom and is fine advice if you want to live with the regret of losing a victim you could have saved. When lives are at stake, you have to do what is necessary. That is the job.”

  Jesse and Maggie are preparing to enter the burning building. They proceed into the burning building. Within minutes, a few beams fall, and the fire progresses around Maggie and Jesse. Maggie gets a little disoriented. Smoke and fire are all around.

  Maggie begins to panic and says, “Jesse we’re trapped! Which way is out?”

  Jesse walks over to Maggie and puts his hand over her visor. He says, “Relax. Don’t focus on the chaos around you, focus on the chaos inside of you, and get rid of it. You will see the way when you are calm.” He takes his hand off Maggie’s visor and points at the smoke venting out on their left. “You see it now?”

  Maggie replies, “Yes.” She follows Jesse through a wall of fire, and they come out of the fire by the front entrance. The entrance is blocked off by debris. She says, “Entrance is blocked! Looks like a barrier. Why would it be there?”

  Jesse looks at Maggie and smiles. Then he takes off his oxygen tank and places it on some debris perpendicular to the front entrance. He takes his ax and busts off the valve. The tank shoots like a rocket at the entrance and through it. It makes just enough of a hole to crawl through. Jesse and Maggie walk to the fire engine.

  Jesse says, “Your choice to get emotional rather than stay calm dictates your capability under stressful situations. A heart full of chaos can do nothing. When lives are on the line, there is always a way.”

  Maggie nods yes with her head down in disappointment.

  Jesse says, “You will get used to it. You did well today.”

  Later, Jesse and Stewart go out to the nightclub. They get a table.

  Stewart says, “I’m married, but I still look and mess around a little.”

  Jesse smiles and says, “Well, at least you are honest about it.”

  “I want to be faithful to my wife, but I know I can’t resist in certain situations. It’s hard for a player to change.”

  “We all fail, but if you don’t trust yourself, it will be hard for you to trust others. No matter how many times you fail, keep trusting yourself to succeed.”

  “In a place like this, that is wishful thinking, but thanks for the advice.”

  “Your faithfulness to your wife can’t grow until you can be in a place like this and not be tempted.”

  “You got a point there, but that’s easier said than done. So you’re telling me you can be in this den of heathens with all these sexy-dressed ladies around you and not be tempted by them?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t believe it.” Stewart shakes his head and takes a drink of his beer.

  Jesse says, “I will prove it to you.”

  Jesse walks out onto the dance floor. A song just ended, and most people have left the dance floor. “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk begins playing, and Jesse starts dancing. Jesse starts off in the middle of the dance floor with an attention getter—the “slide glide” dance move. Then Jesse transitions into the “Dougie” dance move. Some people, inspired by Jesse’s dance moves, jump onto the dance floor. Three women progress toward him as they dance. The three women begin dancing around Jesse, competing for his attention. Two of the women try to grind on him. Jesse doesn’t look at or face the women, and
he transitions into the “circle slide” dance move.

  He looks at Stewart at a table beside the dance floor and smiles every time he spins around. Then he walks off the dance to Stewart’s table and sits down.

  Stewart says, “Point made.” He smiles. He then asks, “Where did you learn to ‘slide glide?’”

  Jesse replies, “I was a marine once. You pick up a few moves clubbing and barhopping. I gave up drinking. Saving lives is my drug of choice now.”

  “You have given me something to think about.”

  “Consider it. I got to get some sleep. I got an early date with our female firefighter tomorrow, so I better get going.”

  “You got a date with Maggie? You’re kidding, right?”

  “She wanted me to give her parachute lessons. How could I refuse?”

  “You broke the ice with her and got a date. Now that’s some temptation, my friend. Take it easy, my friend.” Stewart raises his beer to Jesse.

  Jesse replies, “You too.” He gets up and bumps fists with Stewart then leaves.

  Stewart looks at his drink, pondering what Jesse said.

  The next morning, Jesse and Maggie arrive at a local airport in Jesse’s jeep. With their parachuting gear, they are walking together toward the plane. Jesse is carrying three parachute packs. He sets them down by the plane.

  Jesse says, “The pilot said he would be here in fifteen minutes.”

  Maggie replies, “Wait, don’t I need some training to skydive?”