“Subedar Turin advised us to keep our water bottles filled in the blockhouse so there would be water in the morning for tea Colonel Sahib,” he mur...ured. David nodded and he went on to say that a four-man detail had ridden out leading horses to collect firewood from outside of the Pass. David knew that the troop required a great deal of wood to keep the fires going.“I’m going up to see the lookouts’ positions. Is there anything they need?”“Perhaps some firewood, Colonel Sahib.”“Have the men make. I was teamed up with a guy, typical since there really aren't a lot of women in the fire service.Training day arrived and I was excited. We were going to burn down an abandoned house and do some training with our SCBA's (self-contained breathing apparatuses - air tanks) and do thermal sweeps. Get some hands-on training with some different equipment that we sometimes don't get to do on an actual fire scene. I got to the station early to help prepare our department and get equipment together for. ? It was the wail of a creature in torment. Itwas as if the fear had knocked my spirit out of my own body.? I watched as I came alive and fought like awildcat.? The dark form behind me justleaned further in, pressing my body into the cabinet and counter top.? My scream continued.? One long scream until I ran out of breath andthen a gasp for air and more screams in staccato.? Suddenly I felt something warm running downmy legs.? I had pissed myself.? It took everything out ofme.? My mind ran a. I don’t intend to ask you what the two of you have done,’ she said, looking at me with interest as I felt myself reddening, ‘but I don’t want you to take the same risk I did.’ She smiled at me. ‘I’m too young to be a grandmother!’ I laughed, then frowned. ‘I don’t know how it will go with Mike, Mom. I like him, I like him a heck of a lot. I like necking with him.’ Suddenly I wanted Mom to be aware of how I felt. I looked up at her, almost defying her. ‘I like him to touch me, too.’ She smiled..