A young boy was rescued by firefighters and taken to the hospital when his house caught fire. Later he gets to know them much better, and they become his heroes and inspiration.
Dylan had never been so frightened in his life. Even though he was seven years old and already a big boy, he huddled at his mother’s legs. “Please, Mommy,” he cried. “Please hold me!”
His mother held the baby with a blanket over his head, and she too looked frightened. “Honey, you have to be strong,” she said. “Please be brave for me and Jessie, okay?” But Dylan didn’t feel brave at all.
He stood with his mother and younger sister at the window and waited. They couldn’t get out of the room. They could see smoke seeping from under the doorway. His mother had already wet towels with water and put them against the door.
“The fire brigade is coming,” the mother said. “They’ll take care of us, okay?”
Dylan nodded and clung to his mother. He could hear people screaming and running, and in the distance, he could hear the sirens of firefighters.
The fire trucks arrived, and the firefighters immediately rushed into action. Dylan’s mother waved a sheet in front of the door to let him know they were there and needed help.
Dylan watched spellbound as a large ladder was leaned against their window and a man in yellow overalls and a helmet climbed up it. His mother held out her hand to Jessie, and the man took her. Another man appeared and held out his hands to Dylan.
“Come on, buddy!” – he said. “Come on!” but Dylan started backing away, shaking his head.
“No,” he said. “No, I don’t want to! I want to go to Mommy!”
“Look,” said the fireman. “If you come with me, I’ll make you my deputy, and you can ride in the fire truck, how about that?”
“With a badge?” – Dylan asked.
The fireman nodded, and Dylan reluctantly stepped forward. In a flash, he was in an ambulance with an oxygen mask over his face, next to his mother and Jessie.
The doctors examined them and said they would be fine, but they needed to stay in the hospital for a few days so they could monitor them.
Dylan was very bored. He had no iPad or computer, so the nurse gave him paper and pencils. He started to draw a picture and it was a wonderful picture!
When the nurse came back, she was amazed. “Wow,” she exclaimed. “You’re a real artist! Did the fire brigade save you?”
“Yeah,” Dylan said proudly. “They said I’d be a deputy sheriff and drive a fire engine… But I think they’ll forget. Adults often forget things! That’s why I made these drawings for them, so they won’t forget. I will ask my mother to send them.”
“Firemen are pretty special adults, I’m sure they’ll remember,” the nurse said. “But what if I sent them pictures of you? Your mother is still very tired.”
Although the nurse sent the photos, the firemen didn’t come and Dylan was sure they had forgotten their promise. Two months later, someone knocked on the door of Dylan’s new home.
His mother opened the door and a fireman came in. “Is Dylan home?” – The fireman asked. “I heard it’s his birthday today.”
“I’m here!” – Shouted Dylan.
The fireman put a red ribbon over Dylan’s eyes and took him for a ride. The fireman helped Dylan out of the car and took him to a crowded place.
Then someone removed the blindfold and Dylan saw that he was in the fire station, surrounded by firemen! One of them stepped forward with a badge in his hand.
“Dylan,” he said. “I’m Captain Ryan, and I’m appointing you deputy!”, Dylan was ecstatic! He couldn’t stop smiling, and when he took a ride in the big fire engine, he was even happier!
It was the happiest day of Dylan’s life. Many years later he returned to the fire station, this time as a firefighter, and saw that his pictures were still hanging on the wall. He had done it! He had become a hero!
