Misery Loves Company
"Roy?"
"Yeah Junior."
"How long have we been doing this?"
"Doing what? You laying in a hospital bed and me visiting you?"
He sighed, "No, how long have we been getting thrown up on, spat at, spat on,
hit, verbally abused, and running into fires and other places where angels would
fear to tread?"
"About five years partner."
A look of concentration passed over the handsome face. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are we still doin' it?"
"'Cause we love our jobs. Most days. don't forget besides the bad stuff we also
deliver babies and save lives on a daily basis. People that would not have a
chance without us being there and doing our jobs."
"Yeah but..."
"It's what we do Junior." He said interrupting the questioning.
Sigh.
"You thinking about making a change?" Roy asked.
There was a moment of silence, Roy was going to ask again.
"Yeah." Johnny finally admitted to his friend.
"Well if you're serious about it I have an opinion on the matter."
"I am and what?"
"I can understand why you're thinking about this and you know I've thought about
it too. But you have to do what is right for you, like I have. I'm not ready to
give it up, but I won’t hold it against you if you want to move on and up. And I
think you should. You'll make a great Captain."
He snorted, "Captain! I was thinking along the line of Engineer."
"Well, you'd be a good engineer, but you'd be a better Captain."
"But there's only three weeks until that test. There are three months until the
engineer's exam. I'll have a lot to study."
“Yeah there is, but what else have you got to do for the next three weeks,
you’ll be laid up for at least six with that injury. Besides you're a lot
smarter than you give yourself credit for. Heck even Chet passed the engineer’s
test, granted at 74th, but he passed. And he's taking it this time. You don't
want to go into the same test room as him, believe me."
"Yeah, me and the Phantom in the same test room, not a good idea." Johnny
agreed.
"I'm sure Hank and Stoker will help you with any questions."
"Yeah, they would."
“So want me to stop by HQ tomorrow when I get off shift and pick up a set of
manuals for you?"
"Yeah, but get two, cause if you think I'm gonna do this all alone you’re nuts.
Even if you don't do it now you should do it cause you'd be a great Captain too.
You owe it to Joanne and the kids too."
Roy sigh, "Yeah I'll get two."
"Besides misery loves company." Johnny said with a half-assed smile.