city what the firefighting world is like on a daily basis. What do you think?” Susan asked.
“Sounds good to me. We’ll have to run it by the captain first?”
“You think he’ll go for it?”
“I can’t see why not. It doesn’t hurt to ask.”
“What’s that wonderful aroma coming from upstairs?”
“Tell you what? Join us for dinner and that’ll be an excellent opportunity for you to talk to the captain.”
“Oh thank you Mike. That would be great.”
***
Nick was at O’Malleys waiting for his date and wondering if he should just leave. Every minute that passed while he waited for a complete stranger, made him feel very awkward. He decided to stay put since he had already given Susan the go ahead. Sensing someone was staring at him, he turned around.
“Hi. Are you Nick?”
“Yes, Nice to meet you.”
Nick already knew what Karen would look like based on Susan’s description. Karen was tall about 5’10” but that was because she had heels on; take them off she was probably 5’8”. A little too young for Nicks taste; she appeared to be in her early 20’s. She was an attractive, brunette, both pluses in Nick’s book, with dark brown eyes
“Wow. Susan’s description of you was right on.”
Nick smiled hesitantly, “Glad you were able to tell me from the crowd. Let’s grab a table?”
“Sure.”
As soon as they sat down table, Karen continued bombarding Nick with questions and he couldn’t help but feel this was going to be a waste of time for both of them.
“So Susan told me you’re a fireman. How long have you been doing that?”
“Yeah, about 10 years now.”
“Must be a really intense job.”
“It can be at times.”
“Did you ever think of doing something else?”
“Absolutely not, I love what I do.”
“Have you lived in town long, I mean were you born here?”
“Yes I was.”
“What was the craziest experience you’ve had as a firefighter?”
Getting tired of all the questions, Nick asks, “Are you a reporter also?”
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
“Because you ask a lot of questions, but I guess if you don’t ask questions then how do you get a story. Right?”
“Exactly. It’s a habit, especially when I’m performing research and looking for new material for the news.”
“So am I material for a story you’re reporting on?” Nick said wishing he was somewhere else right now.
“Oh, not at all.” Karen attempted to get Nick talking about something else. “What about music? Do you like jazz or rock? You know there’s another bar not too far from here that plays live rock. Starts at 7, would you like to go?”
Wondering how he can escape from this situation. Nick thought, How about trying the truth?
“Karen, you’re sweet and attractive but I can’t do this. It’s not you, it’s me. I’m just not ready for dating. I truly am sorry.”
Feeling rejected Karen said, “It’s OK, I understand.”
Nick got up, left O’Malleys and let out a sigh of relief.
***
Back at the firehouse Mike and Susan were heading upstairs and to Susan’s surprise several firemen were preparing dinner. “So you team up also to prepare your meals?” Susan asked.
Mike explained, “We’re not out all day rescuing people from fires, so on our down time we’re either working out, cleaning, cooking, sleeping, checking equipment, preparing for inspections. My favorite part of the day is the cooking. More specifically, the eating.”
Alex interrupted by saying, “Yeah, we all cook except for Mike. He only knows how to boil water.”
“Yeah but I do it so well.” Mike said jokingly.
Pulling out a frying pan, Alex says “The best chef this firehouse has ever seen is Nick.”
“Must be nice having a brother for a chef.” Susan said.
Mike replies, “It would be but he hasn’t cooked
“Sounds good to me. We’ll have to run it by the captain first?”
“You think he’ll go for it?”
“I can’t see why not. It doesn’t hurt to ask.”
“What’s that wonderful aroma coming from upstairs?”
“Tell you what? Join us for dinner and that’ll be an excellent opportunity for you to talk to the captain.”
“Oh thank you Mike. That would be great.”
***
Nick was at O’Malleys waiting for his date and wondering if he should just leave. Every minute that passed while he waited for a complete stranger, made him feel very awkward. He decided to stay put since he had already given Susan the go ahead. Sensing someone was staring at him, he turned around.
“Hi. Are you Nick?”
“Yes, Nice to meet you.”
Nick already knew what Karen would look like based on Susan’s description. Karen was tall about 5’10” but that was because she had heels on; take them off she was probably 5’8”. A little too young for Nicks taste; she appeared to be in her early 20’s. She was an attractive, brunette, both pluses in Nick’s book, with dark brown eyes
“Wow. Susan’s description of you was right on.”
Nick smiled hesitantly, “Glad you were able to tell me from the crowd. Let’s grab a table?”
“Sure.”
As soon as they sat down table, Karen continued bombarding Nick with questions and he couldn’t help but feel this was going to be a waste of time for both of them.
“So Susan told me you’re a fireman. How long have you been doing that?”
“Yeah, about 10 years now.”
“Must be a really intense job.”
“It can be at times.”
“Did you ever think of doing something else?”
“Absolutely not, I love what I do.”
“Have you lived in town long, I mean were you born here?”
“Yes I was.”
“What was the craziest experience you’ve had as a firefighter?”
Getting tired of all the questions, Nick asks, “Are you a reporter also?”
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
“Because you ask a lot of questions, but I guess if you don’t ask questions then how do you get a story. Right?”
“Exactly. It’s a habit, especially when I’m performing research and looking for new material for the news.”
“So am I material for a story you’re reporting on?” Nick said wishing he was somewhere else right now.
“Oh, not at all.” Karen attempted to get Nick talking about something else. “What about music? Do you like jazz or rock? You know there’s another bar not too far from here that plays live rock. Starts at 7, would you like to go?”
Wondering how he can escape from this situation. Nick thought, How about trying the truth?
“Karen, you’re sweet and attractive but I can’t do this. It’s not you, it’s me. I’m just not ready for dating. I truly am sorry.”
Feeling rejected Karen said, “It’s OK, I understand.”
Nick got up, left O’Malleys and let out a sigh of relief.
***
Back at the firehouse Mike and Susan were heading upstairs and to Susan’s surprise several firemen were preparing dinner. “So you team up also to prepare your meals?” Susan asked.
Mike explained, “We’re not out all day rescuing people from fires, so on our down time we’re either working out, cleaning, cooking, sleeping, checking equipment, preparing for inspections. My favorite part of the day is the cooking. More specifically, the eating.”
Alex interrupted by saying, “Yeah, we all cook except for Mike. He only knows how to boil water.”
“Yeah but I do it so well.” Mike said jokingly.
Pulling out a frying pan, Alex says “The best chef this firehouse has ever seen is Nick.”
“Must be nice having a brother for a chef.” Susan said.
Mike replies, “It would be but he hasn’t cooked
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