A Neighbor's Dream (True Story)

by Nathan R. Adams
(Jasonville, Indiana U.S.A.)

This story starts out like any other, it's about a small,wide-eyed, impressionable young boy.

Growing up in the neighborhood at age 10 was a rough time. The boy's father had just passed away, and the mother was falling apart.

His sister was still confused from the event, and the boy was mad at the world. All that this young boy wanted was to find hope where others had failed to find it.

However, today was special, it was Christmas.

Today was a day that would give him hope, the day that would keep him intact with society. But, he would soon find, that even this special day was not without it's tragedy.

As the young boy sat down to indulge in the bountiful Christmas meal, he suddenly heard sirens coming from the distance. Today of all days, could not the devil take even one day off?

The boy rushed out of the front door to see the graceful beauty of a firetruck approaching.

Then, looking across the street, he sees his neighbor running from his home in horror. The smoke billowing from the side of the house, drifts across the street like a black river without boundaries. The smoke and the lights of the firetruck battle to control the attention of the crowd, so fierce, that it had to be lighting the devil's own walkway.

Then from the middle of the front lines of this battle, comes a shadow, strong and tall, a nonstop shadow, one with a mission, a Firefighter. In his arms cupped so gently but firmly, he carries another small boy. The fireman places the boy in the waiting arms of the father. The look in the fireman's face is one of great satisfaction.

Then the onlooking boy approaches the fireman and asks him, "Weren't you scared?"

The fireman looked at the boy and said, "Yes son I was, scared that I would fail those that needed me."

The boy looked back at the fireman and said, "You are a hero."

The fireman paused a moment, knelt down and placed his arm on the shoulder of the boy and with the most gentle voice he had ever heard, the fireman said to him,"I am no hero son, I am a neighbor of a neighbor here to help another neighbor in need."

Those words would be remembered and kept in the boy's heart throughout his life.

Lack of education and rough times kept the boy from following his dreams, fate however, would give the boy a second chance.

One day an accident took place in front of him, and without thought the boy, now a man, took action and helped save a life. When the Fire Department showed up, the Chief was so impressed with the man's ability, he asked if he had ever thought of being a fireman? The man stated, "All the time," but lack of education had kept him from it.

The Chief then asked him, "If given the chance would you take it?"

"With honor" the man replied.

The Chief seeing promise in him gave him the chance as a probationary fireman.

Now 6 years later, the man has earned over a dozen certificates in various areas of firefighting, in two different states, as well as earned his G.E.D., and is a diver.

As you may have figured out by now, the boy turned man, is me. My reason for telling my story is to tell everyone to not only be a neighbor to another in need, but never give up on your dreams, they will come true, when the time is right.

I would like to thank my Oklahoma Chief for giving me my start, and my Indiana Chief for continuing to make me a better fireman, and neighbor.
Nathan R Adams
Lewis Fire and Rescue #25