Work Text:
‘Wishing Twisters’
Summary- Tyler & the Wranglers grant a child’s wish to chase a tornado to come true.
The Wranglers sat at the diner having brunch sipping on their coffee.
“Hey Dex, you seemed very persistent with this, mind telling us what this urgent meeting is all about?” Boone asked
Dex slid an envelope over to Tyler. “You take it from here.” He nodded.
Tyler opened the envelope and pulled out a picture of an 8-year-old boy. “Everyone this is Toby. He has chronic lymphocytic leukemia. His mother sent us an email about his condition because she stated her sons wish was to become a tornado wrangler for a day and see a tornado in real life. Unfortunately Make A Wish doesn’t support our so called ‘reckless’ way of doing things, but we want to give this boy some confidence.”
“What are you getting at?”
“I say we make this kids dream come true. Film an episode, broadcast it later. Raise some funds for childhood cancer awareness.”
“Is that even allowed? Cause what if he wanted to ride bulls?” Lily asked.
“That’s why the mother reached out directly to us.”
“I vote go all in.” Kate added.
—
A week later the Wranglers pulled up to a small house with their music blaring. Tyler stepped out of the truck while Boone filmed. An 8-year-old boy stood beside his mother and grandma in the yard cheering. “Hi y’all. I’m here looking for a future wrangler. Names Tyler Owens.” He approached the boy. “Would you happen to know of anyone interested?”
“I’m Toby.” The boy spoke softly, a bit nervous to meet his dream celebrity.
“Hello Toby, I’m Tyler.” He tipped his hat to him. “I was told it was your dream to wrangle some tornadoes. How would you like to come spend today with my crew?”
“Really?” His eyes lit up like Christmas morning. “I would love to. Can I mom?”
His mother nodded. “Yes, honey you can.” She hugged him then looked at Tyler. “Take care of my boy.”
“Will do ma’am. This is Boone, Dexter, Dani, Lily, and that’s Kate.” Tyler walks him over to the truck. “We have a special set of rockets just for you today, and hopefully if we are lucky, you can see your first tornado.”
“Really?”
“It’s going to be an adventure.”
Kate opened the back door in the truck and pulled out a hat. “This is for you cowboy.” She placed it on his head, and they took a group picture before loading up. She crawled in the backseat next to him. “Buckle up. Gotta be safe.”
Tyler crawled in the truck and looked back to Toby. “Are you ready?”
“Yes!” He squealed.
He drove them to a pizza parlor where they all ate pizza buffet and played some pinball and Pac-Man.
Dani pulled up the radar towards the end of their meal. “This looks promising, what do you think Kate?”
“Everyone it’s time to wrap up because the storm has started to form.” Kate claps her hands getting loud.
Once back in the truck, Toby looks out the window. “Are we going to drive into the tornado?”
“We will get close but will not be going inside it for safety reasons.”
They get out in the field and a rope tornado forms. The crew set up and Tyler parked the truck and put Toby on the hood beside him. “What do you think about that? She’s a beauty, right?”
“This is coolest thing ever.” Toby cheered.
Kate leaned against the truck listening to them talk as Boone filmed.
“You’re a true Wrangler now Toby.” Tyler pat his back as he discussed the wind and how they were safe as it moved the other direction away from them. “Tornadoes come in different sizes. Given the looks of that one I’d say she’s an EF1.”
“Have you ever seen a five?”
“Yes, and they are monsters.”
“Is Kate your girlfriend?” This took him by surprise.
“You might can say that why?” He winked at Kate.
“Well, I imagine you need a good girl by your side while chasing tornadoes.”
“I do.”
Boone handed the camera to Lily. “Alright Toby we had a little something made for you.” He pulled out a shirt from behind his back and handed it to him. It said, ‘honorary tornado wrangler.’ “You my friend are an honorary wrangler now.” They put it on him. “Say hi to the camera.” He did and Dex snapped pics of them all.
Kate looked at Lily, “I can’t imagine. I’m glad you guys agreed to do this.”
“It’s not for the views either; it’s for him. Any money we raise from this special episode will go towards his family and childhood cancer foundations.”
“Alright little man, it’s time.” Boone points to the switch in the truck. “How’s about we launch some neat rockets.”
“Let’s do it!”
“Push the button, Toby.” Toby presses the button launching colorful rockets into the night sky making fireworks appear.
“WOW so cool.”
“Pyro is my specialty.”
7:45pm that night Tyler pulled the truck into the drive of Toby’s house. He had fallen asleep on the drive back. Kate stirred him awake. “Hey Toby, we are back with your mom.”
He opened his bright eyes and smiled. “Hi mom! I had the best day ever thanks to Tyler and his friends.”
“Did you see a tornado?”
“We did and it was awesome.”
Tyler showed his mom a video on his phone. “I’ll make sure everything is sent to you.”
“Thank you all again. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Take care of that boy, he’s special and an official wrangler now.” He gave him one last hug before they took Toby inside to get ready for bed.
—
Kate sat on the edge of the motel room bed. “That was incredible today Tyler. I love the work you guys have done.”
“Kate you’re a part of our crew too.”
“I know.”
He sat beside her. “You heard the boy earlier; I need a good girl by my side.”
Kate smiled. “And I’m right here cowboy.” She touched his cheek. “I’m thinking all the emotions of today has gotten to me.”
“And that’s okay.”
“Tyler, what if we did more things like this?”
“I’m listening.”
“I mean, raise more money for certain foundations.”
“I like the idea. I’ll share it with the others tomorrow.” He kissed her cheek. “We should get some rest.”
“Yeah.”
—
Six months later with permission of Toby’s family, the Wranglers aired his time with them on their channel. “Childhood cancer is serious and my friends this episode today means a lot to Toby and his family. We encourage you all to consider donating and even taking the time to volunteer with children’s foundations. Toby unfortunately succumbed to his illness last month.” Tyler wiped a tear from his eye. “All proceeds from today will be given to his family. Enjoy Wrangler fans.”
—
Kate touched his shoulder. “Tyler, you, okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
Boone sat with them. “This was different but successful. We made him happy T.”
“I know I wish we could do more.”
“Well Ty, it’s like what you say, ‘if you feel it, chase it’. So, let’s do it.”