
It is amazing to me, how many women talk to me like I am their husband or significant other. It seems to me, that many women feel comfortable talking to me, not afraid to share themselves intimately. Sharing things that only those close to them should know, however, they tell me that they could never speak with that special someone like they speak with me. I do feel
privileged in many ways, that purely strange women, feel so comfortable with me.
It began one day during a fire station tour, the firehouse doorbell rang, there stood a very adorable mom and her two daughters. They were
driving by and saw that the doors were open and that we were in the house. Her daughters had been asking to stop or so she says. Holding the door open, I welcome them into the fire station. Like most men, I looked at her ring finger, yes their was a significant diamond, shiny, standing out on her slightly tanned skin.
The tour began as usual, asking the girls what grade they were in, asking if they remember me from speaking at their school. I am the department representative for the schools, how scary is that? So I continue on with the girls and invite them to see where we live, most parents are equally amazed that we allow them to enter into our firefighting lives. We are proud of jobs, willing to share, exposing a side of us that is not normally seen. I start off showing the girls the offices, explaining to them the importance of doing well in school. When they become grown ups they too may have to do reports, testify to judges, be professional. The parents love how we emphasize the importance of schools.
Next we head down the hallway, seeing the day room, otherwise known as the family room of the firehouse. Six lazy
Boy's circle the room, flat panel
tv in the corner. Explaining that we don't just sit around, how many times the
tv does not get turned on until the 10pm news. Describing different situations and times where we too busy to enjoy the comforts of home.
Adjacent to the day room, through the french doors lies the kitchen. Extremely large kitchen where we cook, three refrigerators line the north wall. Explaining our shifts of 24 on and 48 off, relating to them that we are three different families living in the same house. Each needing our own fridge for leftovers, condiments, other cooking items, hoping that the others do not borrow too much from us. Most times than not, the parents are asking questions, totally encompassed by the jobs and people that we are.
Finally we walk down the hall again, to the bunk rooms, each firefighter having his own bedroom of sorts. Rooms
separated by seven foot wall, then open to the ceiling. Enough privacy so that you can sleep in your boxers,
even though, policy states you should be in gym shorts. The only time guys sleep according to policy, is when they are on shift with a female. Respectfully
accommodating the opposite sex, even when they say they are just one of the guys. It is always then when the tour always hears from my co-workers, knowing that the moms are annoyed by snoring, they try to knock me down a bit, knowing that the moms are drawn to my talks. Explaining that with my snoring, no one ever gets to sleep, so I further explain that it is not my snoring that keeps them away, its simply that they can not sleep because they miss their families so much.
That ends the tour of the house portion and we continue out to the fire trucks, everyone is excited to see the trucks, even the parents. There is even a certain smell of the firehouse, the smell of water, musty hoses, a slight smell of smoke
permeates the apparatus floor. Much discussion is always had about the equipment. Parents are curious to response to calls and someone always asks "Whats the worst call that you were always on" My reply is always about the best call that I had, delivering a baby on the bathroom floor at 4:24 am. Do people really want to hear about death and destruction, I think not, so I try to reply positively. If they keep pushing, I tell them about the five year old that we pulled out dead many years ago. Or I simply ask " You really don't want to know do you" they usually get the hint.
On this
particular tour I asked if the girls if they wanted to stand in my fire gear, since mom had a camera. The fact that I was attracted to her had nothing to do with it,
that's my story and I am sticking to it. Excitedly the girls who were best friends, nine years old,
absolutely ecstatic about dressing up. One by one with giggles slipped off their shoes, put the pants on, pulling them up, ten sizes too big, I then help put my jacket on them. Making sure that they don't fall over from the weight of my gear. Smiling from ear to ear they both enjoy being like me. Finally I ask mom if she is going to dress in my gear as well. Reluctantly she was saying she shouldn't, knowing that she wanted too, the girls encouraged her. With the girls helping the situation, she too dressed up, making my gear look the sexiest that it had looked in days. I took the picture for her, explaining how I loved taking photos, a hobby of mine. I even asked her to strike a pose or two, handing her an axe, helping her enjoy her
experience. She left my gear smelling better than the musty smoke odor that it normally smelled. It left the rest of my day quite enjoyable every time I had to gear up.
After about an hour and much thanks the mom and girls left. As they left the mom shook my hand and smiled very willingly at me. Then she asked for my card, stating she may have a couple questions for me. I handed her a card from my wallet, telling them to enjoy the day, thanking them for stopping by. The door barely closed when the other guys came from the offices, telling me that my wife was going to kick my ass. I said why would she do that, it was only a tour. Shaking their heads the badgering continued throughout the rest of the day.
Later in the day I
received an email from the mom, I never told the guys or my wife. In the email the mom graciously thanked me for the
thorough tour. Telling me how much she had learned about the fire department. Leaving me her phone number, asking me to call, giving me times to call between, that is when I became a bit suspicious and a bit
apprehensive. This did not stop me though, like most men, I was intrigued. Calling between the times she had given me we talked for about thirty minutes. Answering many questions that she had, including her talking about her personal life, her marriage, finally the big question entered the conversation.
She explained to me how much fun it was to dress up in my fire gear, she felt like a little kid. I told her that she may have felt that way, however, she looked beautiful in it, kids look cute. That is when our conversation changed slightly. The tone of the conversation became slightly flirtatious, small
innuendos were being made, finally she asked me something that I have been wanting to do at home, something that my wife has never done. She asked if she could do boudoir photo's in my gear. I explained to her that I couldn't just loan out my gear, she began to laugh at me. She reminded me that I said I liked taking pictures, hinting towards a fun filled afternoon.
I told her that I was going to have to think about this, intrigued but cautious. We agreed that we should met for coffee, discussing the details much further. She ended the conversation that day, telling me how excited this made her, she had been wanting to experiment with boudoir photography herself. Explaining that she felt very comfortable with a man like me, someone else that was willing to experiment, a trustworthy fireman. I told her that I too was willing to experiment, however, lets talk more when I am not at work. She agreed, making a morning coffee date for when I got off work the next day. I am looking forward to report my findings.