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It was always a good day when the 118 opened its doors for a class from one of the local schools. The kids always came in enthusiastic, the crew enjoyed answering all the questions, and everyone went away happy.
But what made it fun this time was that a certain furry friend was visiting the station.
Audie’s dog sitter had been forced to drop her off due to an issue at her college only about a half hour after their shift started. (Buck being Buck, he had already told Aislinn that he’d pay her for the entire day, it wasn’t her fault that the university lost her transcripts for the third time.) It only took a few minutes of Audie giving Bobby her deadly ‘puppy eyes’ before the man gave in and allowed Buck to keep her at the 118 for the shift.
Not that she really had to beg, since she had every single member of the 118 wrapped around her paws.
Buck spent the morning with Eddie and Audie, working her through her normal paces. The added noise of the station proved to be a good distractor as various people walked past doing their chores and unintentionally distracting her. Everyone was good to respect that Buck was training her, waiting until he gave her a treat and got permission before going to shower the German Shepherd with love.
About two hours later, after a short walk and a lovely nap in front of the TV (inadvertabtly becoming a furry trip hazard that got at least two people stumbling), the sounds of excited children woke Audie up. She wasn’t in her normal harness, instead in her day collar, while she was on break. She trotted over towards the stairs to investigate just as her Buck came skipping upstairs, harness in hand. Just the sight of it had her sitting and waiting patiently.
“Let’s go down and see everyone, alright?” Buck said, giving her some more pets before finishing clipping it in place. “Everyone is supposed to be on their best behavior, so let’s show them how it’s done, okay, Audie-girl?”
Audie let out a woof and wagged her tail in agreement.
They headed downstairs and joined the assembled 118, stepping up to the end of the line of firefighters. Audie laid down behind Buck and Eddie, almost completely out of sight from the gathering group. It took a few moments for the kids to get into their seats, all wanting to look and explore.
Bobby started with the introductions, with every person getting an enthusiastic “Hello!” from the students. With each one the smiles on the firefighters faces grew, knowing what was coming.
“And finally, we have Firefighter Buckley and his own special guest, who I will let him introduce,” Bobby said, gesturing towards the man. Buck snapped his fingers twice and waved at the crowd.
At the snap, Audie sat up and settled right next to him. “This is Audie, she’s a therapy dog in training. Say hi, Audie,” Buck said, looking down at his pup. Audie let out a couple happy sounding woofs that were barely heard over the sound of children scrambling to see her. Buck quickly held up his hand to calm them. “Everyone will get the chance to meet her, I promise!”
After the first presentation, the kids split up into groups, being shown different aspects of the station, getting shown how to wrap hoses, and even just where they all slept (apparently the kids had a bet on it, which had left Hen in absolute stitches). Each of the groups asked good questions without prompting, with many explaining that they had a long discussion about firefighters before their field trip.
Well, that, and one girl let spill exactly why everyone was excited, which had Buck and Eddie in near tears with laughter. The students were all from Durand School, a grade higher than Christopher’s. Apparently, Chris had heard about the field trip and was begging to be allowed to come, since his dads were both firefighters. When he got denied, he spent a long time telling anyone that was going on the field trip all about his dads, and of course about Audie.
Bobby had walked by when the two of them burst into laughter, only to join them as the explanation came out.
Audie, not wanting to be left out of joke, started woofing and practicality dancing around. After all, since her humans were having fun, why not her?
By the end of the field trip, Audie was curled up in the bunk room, exhausted by all the attention she’d received. Buck had felt bad disappointing everyone that Audie wasn’t out to say goodbye, but the kids all seemed to understand. They all basically demanded that she be given an extra treat because of how good she was with everyone, which Buck had immediately agreed to.
As the kids trailed out, they overheard one of the teachers ask about what everyone’s favorite part of the field trip. To the hilarity of everyone, it was an enthusiastic “Audie!”
That had set off the firefighters again, everyone ragging on Buck for having the popular dog. He just laughed it off and sorted through all the photos he’d taken of Audie and his coworkers all day. It was a good day.
(And if they promised Chris a private visit to the 118 with Audie in tow, well, no one had to know. And it was Bobby who offered, so…. All blame to him.)