Chapter 1.14

Chapter 1.14- How Fires Start

                Birthdays are a big deal when you are little, and the three that care enjoy making as big a deal as they can. An enormous cake, candles, music in the background, and Buck with a noisemaker all help make Cyrus feel special.

                It isn’t until Buck blows as hard as he can on the paper horn that Helen realizes something isn’t quite right. Maybe Buck blew too hard. Maybe the candles were faulty.

                Helen walked away trying to get Cyrus away from the flames that were creeping up the table legs. Once Buck finally realized what was going on he drew a deep breath before becoming momentarily frozen.

                It's only when the flames begin to lick the ceiling that Buck drops his arms. His life flashes before his eyesassuring him he can only fear for his life.

                It surprised Helen to watch Buck race out the front door without a word, but Helen kept her head and dialed the emergency line.

                Figuring that Buck is outside Helen snatched Cyrus and put the boy outside where Buck can keep an eye on him. Phedra is napping in her crib, she’ll get her next. But it takes her second trip to finally register what it is she’s stepping over as she goes in and out.

                It’s Buck. The fire inside making him unable to cope with the world.

                Hearing the fire truck nearing Helen races back inside, hoping to point the way. (Cause, you know, the house is huge and they might not know where the fire is…O_o)

                Helen is shocked to see the firefighters act like they don’t really know what to do. One simply looks on as the other futilely battles a blaze that is growing. Finally, out of frustration and fear that the house will burn down completely if she doesn't do something, Helen grabs the extinguisher out of a cabinet and attempts to help.

                If Helen had been paying more attention, she’d have noticed that she left the front door wide open. Most importantly, she would have noticed that her little boy had walked right back in. In normal moments, this would have mortified Helen. In Cyrus' opinion, this was the show of his life. He had a great time.

                Giving a final blast with her near empty extinguisher while the firefighters look around the soot blackened room Helen is extremely relieved that she can see no more flames.

                ‘I could have done it myself if I’d known these two would be worthless,' Helen thinks.

                Rubbing  her neck, and panting Helen takes a better look at the rest of the room. The table is done for, as are most of the chairs, but they can replace those easily. Thankfully, the flames seemed to stay confined to the table.

                She looks up, trying to see the damage on the ceiling when she notices both women are glowering at her.

                “Wow! Thanks, you guys! Looks like the fire is out now!” Helen’s eyes are wide, and the women’s silent disapproval is making her extremely uncomfortable.

                The dark haired one stares silently at Helen. Her disapproval almost visible in the still smoky room.

                Buck finally reenters the house, picking up Cyrus, making sure that he’s ok when the dark haired firewoman speaks.

                “Ma’am,”she says in a harsh voice. “You really shouldn’t play with matches. It’s not safe, and it’s how fires can start.”

                “But, I wasn’t playing with matches,” Helen is shocked. “It’s my sons birthday we were-“

                “-Ma’am? Don’t play with matches. It’s not safe and it’s how fires start.”

Helen drops it, realizing this woman has no sense of how fire can be fun. (Gosh that sounds awful-says the daughter of the town pyromaniac)

                “Ok. No more matches for me,” Helen’s voice is over-bright and falsely cheery, but it’s lost on the irate woman.

                “We’ll leave now,” she responds. “And remember, only you can prevent house fires. Don’t play with matches.”

                “Rrright.”

                Buck had been roused by two sisters who live near-by. They had been worried by the fire truck and the ‘dead’ man laying on the ground outside.
                Helen invites them in for a second attempt at Cyrus’ birthday. She's so frazzled that it's only after they're in the house that she realizes the girls are Trenton’s step-children. One of them, the pink one, is Sadie, her niece, William’s daughter. Though she highly doubts Lily Pad would have ever told the girl the family connection. They make Helen a little more wary, than she would be otherwise and regrets inviting them in for cake.

                Buck just ignores them all. He’s still a little groggy, and just wants this birthday celebration to be over.

               After blowing out his candles, (with Buck's help this time), Buck sets Cyrus on the floor. He’s excited for his little buddy to grow up and is planning on their first big boy fishing trip when a little noise from Helen distracts him.

               Helen is surprised Buck doesn’t pass out again.

              It’s pretty typical, though, that instead of being elated over his dearest wish coming true, instead he is only focused on his fear of doctors.

             “You know what this means,” Buck asks through chattering teeth. “Doctors. We’re going to have to see doctors, lots and lots of them!”

              “Yeah,” Helen barely hears him.

                Cyrus' clapping finally gets Buck out of his own head. He now realizes just what this means.

                “We’re going to have a baby!”

                Helen is happy, don’t doubt her, but another long slog losing her figure, aches and pains abounding, isn’t the most joyous of news to her. Especially not after tonights fire.

                The radio is playing “Walk Like an Egyptian” which inspires Cyrus to try just that when the sparkles overtake him.

                He looks so much like Norris, that Helen is overcome for a moment. He may have her hair color and mouth, but everything else is from his father. Except the olive green eyes. Those belong to Peter, her brother.

                It's only after everyone enjoys cake, and Buck goes in for his shift, that Cyrus finally notices the new girls in the house to help celebrate his birthday.
                Cyrus is excited that one of the girls is his age. He wants to talk to Olivia, get to know her, make friends, but she sounds just like his mom. All she can talk about is how much she hates dirty dishes, and germs.

                He walks away, saddened by her topic choice, but he’s quickly buoyed up again when she runs up to him, punching his arm and yelling “Tag!”

                Maybe he’s got a friend after all.

                Helen isn't so sure.

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1.) Ok, There are no good shots of Sadie because she did nothing... NOTHING... but talk to the fridge the entire time. Totally not useable. Enough of that...

2.) Love love LOVE Buck passed out in front of the house. That made me lol SO much when he did it! I love Buck.
3.) And I'm sorry this was awfully choppy. I just couldn't make the fire flow the way I wanted to.
4.) Generational Goals has been updated with Cyrus as a child and his new trait.
5.) Seriously. My Dad is one of the notable pyros in his town. It's only because a cousin (nephew for him) is a fire chief that they only keep a close EYE on him instead of putting him in jail every time one of his "little burns" gets out of control and another building burns down. I love my dad. Okay. Fine. I admit. Fire is Fun.