it.
Had to hate it to kill it.
And he understood how angry they got when the fire tried to win.
The little boy clawed at the window, and it took all of Jed’s control to not run over there and start slamming his fists on the glass. How could they stand it? How could these guys go through this emotional wringer day after day after day?
As though in answer to Jed’s agonized question, Ken lifted one of his huge gloved hands and pressed it to the glass. The little boy wiped his face, then reached up and held his own small hand opposite Ken’s.
At the contact, Jed’s breath caught in his throat. He knew what was happening. Ken was talking to the boy, trying to calm him, telling him what he needed to do. And he knew the man was doing something else.
Praying. Big time.
Though Jed had talked with all the firefighters in the station, he and Ken had spent the most time together these last two weeks. Jed wasn’t sure why. They just seemed to end up in the same places all the time. Ken loved to talk about his family, which Jed didn’t mind.
And God.
Which Jed did mind.
Andy used to try to talk to Jed about God too. When Jed made it clear he wasn’t interested, Andy backed off. But he still carried his Bible with him wherever they went. Even read the thing. That was fine with Jed, as long as he didn’t have to hear about it.
But when Ken turned out to be a Bible thumper, Jed kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to insult the man, so he just listened as Ken talked about God’s provision, about the way God walked beside him, helping him help others.
“That’s the business He’s in, you know. Helping and healing.”
Jed forced himself to agree. And to ignore Andy’s smile behind the camera.
But some of it was good. Or—to be more accurate—it made good material for the episode. Like the conversation they’d had just last week. Ken was telling Jed how prayer kept him focused and calm. Jed listened and was just about to challenge Ken when Dobin, one of the other firefighters, grabbed a chair, flipped it backward, and plopped down beside them.
“You really believe that stuff, Kenny?”
Ken studied him. Dobin was younger, maybe in his late twenties, and full of what Jed’s mother used to call “spit and vinegar.” After a few moments, Ken relaxed.
“Yeah, I believe it.”
“That God works miracles and prayer makes a difference?”
“Absolutely.”
Dobin crossed his arms, leaning them on the back of the chair he was straddling. “How can you? I mean, look around you, dude. The world’s gone crazy. What good does prayer do in a world like this?”
Jed wanted to add a resounding “Amen,” but the viewers weren’t interested in what he had to say So he just kept his mouth shut. Or would have, if Ken hadn’t pulled him into the fray.
Ken tilted his head at the sarcasm in Dobin’s tone and slanted a look at Jed. “I suppose you agree with him?”
Jed held out his hands. “Hey, I’m just listening in. This isn’t my fight.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
They’d all turned to stare at Andy.
“Well, whaddya know.” Dobin slapped his leg. “You do have a voice. I figured you was a mute, boy. You never say anything!”
Andy shrugged. “I’m a cameraman. It’s my job to stay in the background.”
Dobin waved his words aside. “Well, you’re in the spotlight now. Why do you think
ol’
Jed’s wrong?”
“Because it’s everyone’s fight. Why do you think the world’s in such bad shape to begin with?”
Dobin snorted. “Because people are basically jerks, out for themselves, and that’s life?”
Ken shook his head. “That’s what people
think
life is, but it’s not.”
“How can you say that?” Jed knew he should just shut up and let the others talk. He’d just have Andy edit him out later. “I mean, just look at the things people do and say.”
“So we judge humanity by the lowest common denominator?” Ken’s slow smile was almost paternal. “I think your
Had to hate it to kill it.
And he understood how angry they got when the fire tried to win.
The little boy clawed at the window, and it took all of Jed’s control to not run over there and start slamming his fists on the glass. How could they stand it? How could these guys go through this emotional wringer day after day after day?
As though in answer to Jed’s agonized question, Ken lifted one of his huge gloved hands and pressed it to the glass. The little boy wiped his face, then reached up and held his own small hand opposite Ken’s.
At the contact, Jed’s breath caught in his throat. He knew what was happening. Ken was talking to the boy, trying to calm him, telling him what he needed to do. And he knew the man was doing something else.
Praying. Big time.
Though Jed had talked with all the firefighters in the station, he and Ken had spent the most time together these last two weeks. Jed wasn’t sure why. They just seemed to end up in the same places all the time. Ken loved to talk about his family, which Jed didn’t mind.
And God.
Which Jed did mind.
Andy used to try to talk to Jed about God too. When Jed made it clear he wasn’t interested, Andy backed off. But he still carried his Bible with him wherever they went. Even read the thing. That was fine with Jed, as long as he didn’t have to hear about it.
But when Ken turned out to be a Bible thumper, Jed kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to insult the man, so he just listened as Ken talked about God’s provision, about the way God walked beside him, helping him help others.
“That’s the business He’s in, you know. Helping and healing.”
Jed forced himself to agree. And to ignore Andy’s smile behind the camera.
But some of it was good. Or—to be more accurate—it made good material for the episode. Like the conversation they’d had just last week. Ken was telling Jed how prayer kept him focused and calm. Jed listened and was just about to challenge Ken when Dobin, one of the other firefighters, grabbed a chair, flipped it backward, and plopped down beside them.
“You really believe that stuff, Kenny?”
Ken studied him. Dobin was younger, maybe in his late twenties, and full of what Jed’s mother used to call “spit and vinegar.” After a few moments, Ken relaxed.
“Yeah, I believe it.”
“That God works miracles and prayer makes a difference?”
“Absolutely.”
Dobin crossed his arms, leaning them on the back of the chair he was straddling. “How can you? I mean, look around you, dude. The world’s gone crazy. What good does prayer do in a world like this?”
Jed wanted to add a resounding “Amen,” but the viewers weren’t interested in what he had to say So he just kept his mouth shut. Or would have, if Ken hadn’t pulled him into the fray.
Ken tilted his head at the sarcasm in Dobin’s tone and slanted a look at Jed. “I suppose you agree with him?”
Jed held out his hands. “Hey, I’m just listening in. This isn’t my fight.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
They’d all turned to stare at Andy.
“Well, whaddya know.” Dobin slapped his leg. “You do have a voice. I figured you was a mute, boy. You never say anything!”
Andy shrugged. “I’m a cameraman. It’s my job to stay in the background.”
Dobin waved his words aside. “Well, you’re in the spotlight now. Why do you think
ol’
Jed’s wrong?”
“Because it’s everyone’s fight. Why do you think the world’s in such bad shape to begin with?”
Dobin snorted. “Because people are basically jerks, out for themselves, and that’s life?”
Ken shook his head. “That’s what people
think
life is, but it’s not.”
“How can you say that?” Jed knew he should just shut up and let the others talk. He’d just have Andy edit him out later. “I mean, just look at the things people do and say.”
“So we judge humanity by the lowest common denominator?” Ken’s slow smile was almost paternal. “I think your
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