Fire Call

Marcus Flag, Jr was weaving his bicycle in and out of traffic at a fast pace trying to hurry to the firehouse his family worked at. He peddled into the open garage portion with his arms up in the air and yelled a triumphant, “Yes!”. His dark curly hair was laden with sweat and his breathing was coming out in pants as he removed his medium height frame from the bike.

“Son, do I need to suspend your riding priveledges and make you watch the saftey videos again?” asked an older gentleman with the dark gray hairand wearing a firefighter uniform. Luther VonDrakun was a formidable man under any circumstanses but as the Chief to Firehouse 55, his bearing and manurisms demands respect. He was tall, slim, and very fit for a man of 64 years of age. His smooth face held a stern look as he waited for an answer.

“Sorry, Grandpa,” Marcus said sheapishly. He locked his bike up and walked over to Luther. Luther put his arm around Marcus’ shoulder and kissed the top of his head. Marcus walked with his grandfather into the firehouse and they went to the kitchen. He said hello to five people sitting at the table eating dinner.

“Young, Marcus!” Gerry Green yelled, “it’s good to see you. Come sit down.” Gerry Green was a jubulent charming person who always had kind words to say about people. It helps that he is also a handsome man with flowing dark brown hair and brown eyes. His tan skin is in stark contrast to the white t-shirt he is wearing. He patted the empty seat to the left of him. Marcus sat down in the empty seat at the round table and looked at the other people sitting there.

His uncle, Arthur VanDrakun was to his immediate left and Arthur wrapped an arm around his neck and started knuckle rubbing his head. “Hey, stop that.” Marcus laughed. Arthur was a good looking man with blond hair and golden tan skin. His blue eyes can pierce into your soul and tell if you are lying. The crooked smile came from his slightly crooked teeth. Arthur’s front teeth were knocked loose a couple of years ago due to an unfortunate accident with an exercise dummy.

Sitting at Arthur’s left and a bit further away than the other chairs were, was Peter Knightly. Peter was a mountain of a man who easily stood six foot six inches. His blond curly hair was cropped to his head and it showed off his oval face and brought out his green eyes. Peter’s arms were exposed because his bicepts were bigger than most men’s thighs and shirt sleeves were always a little to uncomfortably tight. He looked up up from a book he was reading and gave a smile grin and a wave hello to Marcus. Peter turned slightly to lhis left and stuck his tongue out to his step-brother Luke.

Luke Knightly wrinkled his nose at his brother’s childish action and turned back to Marcus and gave him a bright smile. Luke had thick black curly hair and a dark skin complection that showed his mixed spanish heritage. He and Peter were in the same orphanage when a couple looking to adopt came in for a visit. They had intended on only one child but seeing how close Luke and Pete were, they adopted them both and never regretted it. Luke was the typical older brother, meaning he could harrass and bully his brother but nobody else better try! Even as Peter grew several inches taller and considerably more muscular then his brother, Luke didn’t stop protecting him.

“Hey, Kiddo, you’re late,” Luke stated.

Marcus shrugged his shoulder’s and gave a sheepish grin.

“Oh leave the boy alone, Luke.” came a reply from the dark skinned man next to him, “He probably had a hard time leaving the fair, Kara.” Marcus blushed profusly and that while everyone laughed at him.

“Elvin, give the poor boy a break. You know how traumatic these teenage crushes can be,” laughed Luther.

“Grandpa!” Marcus squeeked.

Everyone laughed some more and Elvin put his hands up as a sign of surrender. Elvin was a handsome black man of average height and short shaved hair. He is the older brother of Uncle Arthur’s wife, Gwen. He is comfortable around his friends but, like Marcus, can be shy around stranger’s and people he barely knew.

“There’s my boy” came a booming voice coming from a room off the kitchen. Leon DeBor, a tall man with shaggy strawberry hair and fair complexion comes into the room. His blue-gray eyes look at Marcus eagerly. “Did you bring it?”

Marcus said yes, stood, reached into his pocket and walked over to Leon as he pulled out a small box from his front pocket. Leon grabbed it eagerly and thanked him. Leon pulled a ring out of the box and looked pleased. Everyone oohed and awed and complimented the ring that was for Leon and Morgan’s tenth anniversary.

Leon married Marcus’ mother Morgan when Marcus was six years old. Marcus’ father, Marcus Sr. was a firefighter who died in the line of duty when Marcus was only four years old. Marcus and Leon walked out the door Leon had come through and Marcus looked at the pictures that were hanging on the wall.

His eyes caught on to one particular picture. It was Marcus Flag, Sr. Marcus looked just like his father. But where as his face was more rounded and filled out, his father had a longer, skinnier face with sharp cheek bones that could cut glass and sharp piercing ocean blue eyes. Senior’s smile was infectious and everyone who met him was charmed by him.

As Leon and Marcus reached the living quarters there was a loud, “It’s about time, Leon.” They looked over to one of the couches where Morgan was sitting. As Leon walked over to her, she noticed that the others were coming in from the kitchen. “Hi, guys,” she said cheerfully, “what’s up?”

Marcus a devious smile and Luther said, “Happy anniversary, Morgan.” He then went over to the couch and kissed her on the cheek. The other guys shouted out a “happy anniversay” and started slapping Leon on the back.

“Leon!” Marcgan screeched, “we were not supposed to get each other gifts.” She then gave out a soft gasp when she looked at it. It was the beautiful golden family ring that Marcus Sr. gave to her when Marcus was born. She couldn’t bear to look at it after Marcus Sr. died so she stored it away. It already had Marcus’ birthstone in it when his dad gave it to her, but now there were two additional-identical- stones that represented Morgan and Leon’s six year old twins, Evaine and Alex. Morgan started getting teary eyed and said, “I hate you for making me cry in front of everyone. Where did you even find this?”

“Well Marcus didn’t just get his good looks and personality from his father.” Leon laughed, “He also inherited your deviousness.” At Marcus and Leon’s fist bump, Morgan slapped Leon on the shoulder. Just then someone brought a cake in and everyone started sing ‘Happy Anniversary’.

An hour after the impromptu celebration, Morgan announced she needed to get home and get ready for her anniversary dinner with Leon. She looked over at Marcus and asked, “Are you sure you want to take care of your brother and sister? Because Aunt Gwen did say that she was willing to...”

“Mom, it’s fine” Marcus assured her. “I have some studying to do anyway.” At her pensive look he quickly added, “It is just a small amount of studying and playing with Evaine and Alex will not get in the way. When they go to bed I’ll be able to study harder. Relax.”

“Relax,” she mimicked, “not what any mother wants to hear.”

“Morgan, he’ll be fine”. Leon reassured her. “Go, get ready and I’ll be home in just over an hour.” He kissed her quickly and patted Marcus on the back. They parted outside when Morgan got in her car and Marcus unlock his bike and rode out of the station; much more cautiously than he entered it.