Tom the Fireman Part 73
Let's show your appreciation by donating to Nifty to help defray costs for hosting this wonderful archive on their website, they need your donations, so they can continue to host other stories for your enjoyment. Go to: http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html.
Zach, thank you for your editing skills. Your ability to take my words and make them better is appreciated.
Sitting on the end of the dock with his camera mounted to his tripod, Steve captured the solitude of the early morning sunrise on the lake. Knowing he was alone, he was excited to see what would unfold in front of his lens. The solitude felt perfect, the camera felt great in his hands. It's been a long time since he photographed the beauty that surrounded him. Though it was a long time since he experienced a beautiful morning on the lake, it was like it was only yesterday that he had left this world behind. Missing was Barron joining him, but he wasn't pining for Barron this morning. He felt a new peace inside of him. There was a renewal sitting there that this old place was going to share. Wishing Tom didn't have to head back home yesterday, it was with Tom he wanted to share this moment. Knowing one day, Tom will be by his side, and hopefully, that would be soon. Why had he waited so long to return? Knowing the answer to the unasked question, Steven felt it was the love of his life that made him want to return. He wanted to show this old friend that he found love and wanted to share. This is the peace he wished to see, this is the peace he wanted to experience when he finally returned to his old friend after all these years.
Breathing in the brisk air, he warmed his fingerless-gloved hands in his pockets, waiting for the perfect opportunity. As the first signs of morning greeted him, watching as the dark sky was being illuminated from the east with a touch of apricot. The serenity returned to his soul as the top branches on treetops glowed in the golden light of the morning's first rays. The scattered clouds turned pastel colors add to the beauty all around him, reds, pinks, and golds, as he sat on his wooden Adirondack chair behind his camera mounted on the tripod. Feeling peaceful as the sky announced the beginning of a new day by slowly turning to a light blue, greeting everyone a good morning.
The silence was being overtaken by birds singing their songs, as they hop from branch to branch in the trees and nearby brush. Sitting back Steven watched the two squirrels spiral around the tree, chasing after each other, in their hunt for breakfast. The provided entertainment as they dug through the leaves looking for their winter stash, before chasing after each other, hoping the other wouldn't find their discovery. Turning the camera in their direction to snap a few frames as the momentarily posed before dashing off in different directions, foraging through the brush.
Startled by the croaking of the blue heron as it flew to the nearby shore, Steven looked through his lens capturing the flight as the giant bird was landing on the trunk of a fallen tree that was submerged in the water. Working with his aperture on the camera as well as the shutter speed, Steven manually focused on the features the day breathed to life. The blue heron stood there, not wanting to be noticed. Steven watched as the bird eyed something below the surface. Focusing on the bird, he snapped away as the heron dove into the water for his breakfast, jumping up on the log as heron quickly devoured its prey. Watching the head turn as it scanned the surface of the lake for more.
Hearing the distinct call of the kingfisher, Steven quickly turned in the direction he thought he heard the bird. Scouting for the little blue bird fluttering in the brush by the water. Spotting the still bird sitting on a branch, Steven slowly turned his camera aiming for the shot. Steven was enjoying the morning, appreciating the fantastic lens Tom gifted him. Finding the shy creature as it sat on the branch, it waited just long enough for Steven to locate him. The click of the camera echoed through the trees frightened the bird, crying out as it flew across the lake.
Looking out on the lake, he spotted some more creatures, focusing with his camera, he couldn't believe he was seeing common mergansers, as they swam along the lake surface. Allowing the ducks to get a little closer, Steven focused in on them getting ready to take a shot when they dived. Waiting for them to reappear, Steven was able to capture the pair before they plunged under the surface again. As he expected the female appeared, her reddish-brown head feathers puffed out as she scouted the area. In a few seconds she was swimming, Steven captured a few shots of her before she was diving under. He felt his heart pounding inside his chest, knowing it was rare to see them at this time of year.
Sudden laughter could be heard, as the mallards swam along the shoreline. As the sun rose in the sky, their green heads glowed, nearby was his mate as they continued to float along the beach. Behind them were several more paired mallards, as they dipped their heads under the frigid water eating on some aquatic plants. Watching as they came up, Steven snapped the camera hoping to catch some of the water dripping off their beaks. The lens was able to bring things closer to him, without interfering with their lives, capturing their naturalness as the foraged along the shoreline. Occasionally a burst of laughter could be heard which brought a smile to his face as he laughed inside with them.
The Canadian geese laid on the ground next to the water, in the distance, he could hear the honks of a small group. Steven sat there witnessing the leader of the pack on the ground, acting as a beacon - honking as the small group flew to their destination. The leader in the air kept honking intermittently as the one on the shore kept a continuous honk, guiding the in-flight geese to the surface of the lake. Landing with a splash, the two leaders held their heads close to the ground as they welcomed each other, the air-bound group joining the ranks of one on shore. Calling attraction to themselves as they kept up their loud routine.
As Steven was looking through the lens, he heard footsteps behind him. As he snapped the picture, Sean greeted him with a good morning while holding a steaming cup of coffee. The steam rose into the brisk air as the Sean stood there with his other hand in his pocket, watching his brother take the pictures.
"Beautiful morning," Sean announced.
Steven turned from the camera smiling to wish his brother, "Good morning, it sure is. Got quite a few shots." As he pointed down to the spot on the lake.
Taking the chair on the edge of the deck, Sean sat back in quiet as he watched the beautiful morning unfold with his brother.
"Look up there," Sean pointed toward the sky as a speck in the background was coming their way.
Steven stood up, looking in the direction, watching as the speck Sean spotted getting larger. With the sun just over the trees, the white on the head and white tail identified the object.
"It can't be," Steven said excitedly.
"I think it is," confirmed Sean.
"It sure the fuck is," Steven gulp, swinging the camera lens toward the sky, adjusting the focus as the object was getting closer.
"Oh, My God, you're right," Sean gasped.
The sound of the camera shutter was clicking away, as Steven followed the movements with his lens. Flying directly toward them, they both looked at the blue sky, with their jaws dropped. Forgetting about his camera, Steven looked up as the bird passed overhead.
Sean was utterly speechless, as he witnessed the bald eagle flying overhead. Watching as the bird did a 180 in the sky, it flew back over them. They both watched as it flew back over the lake, before turning around again heading back their way. Nervously Steven fumbled with the camera, missing quite a few shots as the eagle flew overhead.
"Wow!" Sean exclaimed as it circled overhead this time flying to the surface of the lake. Steven was adjusting the camera as they tried to capture the majesty of the big bird. Turning once again, the eagle flew towards them along the surface of the lake. Steven was snapping away.
"Oh, my god," Sean blurted as the eagle grabbed a large fish underneath the surface, as Steven was trying to capture what he could. The bird flew with its catch, landing on the log that stuck out of the water.
Zooming in, Steven snapped away as the Eagle tore into the flesh, eating his breakfast as the two men on the deck a few hundred yards away watched in awe.
"Those are a once in a lifetime shot," muttered Sean, as Steven was still clicking away.
The two watched as the eagle enjoyed his catch, hearing footsteps, Sean turned around to see Ephraim with his cup of coffee all bundled up. Sitting on the arm of Sean's chair, Ephraim saw what the two were looking at.
"Woah!" is that what I think it is, as he looked over the lake to the log with the eagle finishing up breakfast.
"Uh huh,' replied Sean as all three sets of eyes were glued on the bird.
Ephraim sat back sipping on his coffee, "Beautiful."
"Is that the lens Tom got you?" Ephraim asked.
"Isn't it nifty? Looking through the viewfinder," Steven offered as he stepped back.
Stooping behind the camera, Ephraim looked through the viewfinder, "Wow, that's just fucking amazing. The detail, it's like its right here, and you could touch it."
"Yeah, it's a powerful one," beamed Steven.
"Hon, where is your camera?" Ephraim asked Sean as he turned toward his partner.
"It's inside, I'll get it out later when we go over the meadows. Connor said the owls are there," replied Sean.
"That's awesome," replied Ephraim.
"How long have you been up?" Ephraim asked turning toward Steven.
"I think I was up an hour before dawn, wanted to get out here," as Steven looked around at the beauty of nature surrounding him on the lake.
"Boys, Breakfast is ready," could be heard from the direction of the cabin. All three turned to see Lois waving them to come in. Steven dismantled the lens from the tripod, before heading back to the house, with camera and lens in one hand and the tripod with the other.
Strolling back to the cabin, he was taking in the beauty of the morning, as Sean and Ephraim stood on either side of him, enjoying the same. Silently they walked back, only to be greeted with the smell of coffee, eggs, and sausage as soon as they opened the back door.
"Good morning," Lois gleamed as she stood in her apron at the counter.
"Good morning," All three replied as they took their seats around the table. Lois was playing hostess as she sat the plates in front of the three boys.
"Where's Dad?" Sean asked.
"He's sleeping in," Lois smiled as she wiped her hands on the front of her apron.
"Are you coming along with us to the meadow," Sean asked Steven, as he looked up from his plate.
"I think I will," Steven replied as he forked the sausage, cut it with his knife before taking a bite.
"Mom, this is delicious," Steven exclaimed to his mother.
Lois turned around and flashed her loving smile.
"Yeah, Mom, this is great," Sean offered.
"Thanks, mom," Ephraim was complimenting his mother-in-law.
Sitting at the head of the table, Lois joined the three boys. "It's so great to be back here. I really missed this place."
"Me too, Mom," Sean replied as he took another fork full of eggs before stuffing it into his mouth.
"Slow down man, you act like you haven't eaten in a month," retorted Ephraim as he shook his head as he watched his husband shoveling the food into his mouth.
After the three were done eating, Steven cleaned up the plates, as Sean washed the dishes, Ephraim stood next to his husband drying them and putting them away. Sean turned to Steven, "Thanks for letting us stay."
"You're welcome, just make sure you drain the hot tub and the water lines when you leave," Steven replied. "Oh, and turn off the water heater. It should be ok if you leave the house at 55."
Saluting his brother, Sean acknowledged he heard his brother before walking to his belongings to retrieve his camera. Ephraim, gathered the backpack as well as the tripod. Steven grabbed his equipment as they headed out the door. They all wanted to capture the owls and knew this was an excellent day to do it.
The three men walked over to Sean's SUV, placing their equipment in the back before getting in. Sean drove down the driveway to the main road; making a right as he drove away from the lake into the heart of the rural country; laughing as he said, "Welcome to New York."
Following the winding road, as Sean drove over the knoll, before him on the farm valley below was a flock of white snow geese in the fields. Sean stopped the car, pulling over to the side, to look at the hundreds, maybe thousands of birds laying in the fields.
With Sean stopping just over the berm, Ephraim, who was feeling nervous suggested, "Hon, why don't you get a little closer and pull over to the side?" Sean pulled back into the road, driving closer to the field of white. Seeing a small pull off for tractors to gain access to the field, Sean parked the car. Keeping their distance, the three got out of the car, fumbling with excitement as they tried to retrieve their equipment from the back.
Steven was the first to cross the road; crossing the big ditch; and set up his tripod to attach the large lens. Sean asked Ephraim for the larger lens, Sean removed the smaller lens from the body, as Ephraim retrieved the large lens from the backpack. Sean's fingers seemed to turn to butter as he aligned the lens to the body. Ephraim noticing his frustration helped Sean as he aligned the grooves before successfully tightening the lens to the body.
Ephraim grabbed the tripod, before looking in both directions, making sure the road was clear. Joining Steven, they crossed the country road, jumping over the ditch. Ephraim had a little problem crossing, as he couldn't make the leap required. Handing Sean the equipment, Ephraim climbed down into the ditch, and with a bit of help from Steven and Sean, they pulled him up the other side.
All three were smiling as they looked in the direction of the flock. Commenting on the fresh air and the wide-open blue sky. It was farmland for miles with lines of trees surrounding each field that acted as windbreakers. But this was a still day and mother nature was being very cooperative for this unseasonably warm day in January.
Ephraim set the tripod up for Sean, mounting the lens. The two brothers stood behind their camera's shooting in the direction of the beautiful white snow geese as they grazed in the field, plenty of them were resting. Hearing a noise from behind, the three turned around to see a sky of white heading in their direction. Ephraim joked, "We need to take cover."
Turning in the direction of the incoming geese, Steven and Sean clicked away as they captured the beautiful birds in flight - flying directly overhead.
"Oh, Jeez," exclaimed Ephraim as he was being used for target practice from above. Shielding his face from the sky, Ephraim felt a few of the pellets hit him on the back. Steven and Sean braved the sky droppings as they continued to shoot the amazing birds, the sun capturing at just the right angle as they snapped away. With the flock flying lower to the ground, the flock turned to head back in their direction. Steven continued to snap as he witnessed the feet first landing into the field directly in front of them.
"That's fucking amazing," Sean excitingly quipped, as he clicked away at the now peaceful birds, adding to the fields of white.
"I don't think you could ask for better timing," replied Steven as he smiled ear from ear, knowing this was a great day for shooting. He couldn't have felt more blessed. This was a bonus to what he already shot this morning.
Wanting to get to the meadow to capture some shots of owls, the three decided to pack up. Ephraim noticed a culvert about 100 feet up the road where he could easily cross. Pointing it out, Sean leapt across the ditch as Steven and Ephraim walked down to the culvert with all the equipment, meeting Sean when they got down there.
"That was just fucking amazing," as Ephraim removed his coat, placing in the trunk with the car. Joking, how the geese picked on him because he wasn't white. The brother's chuckled, when Sean turned to him, "We're here to protect you from the men in white sheets." Ephraim gave him a sour look as he shook his head. Wanting to say something, he turned his head to look out the window, keeping his mouth shut.
Sean continued down the road heading to the park. Once they arrived at the pole barn, they parked in the lot amongst the other cars. Slowly getting out, Steven looked around, seeing several photographers with their tripods and telescopic lens.
"Looks like the action is down that way," Steven pointed out.
Gathering their equipment from the car, the trio head down the path. In the center of the field sat a short-eared owl on a stick, looking around, as the photographers stood on the trail behind their tripods. Trying to be as quiet as possible, Steven and Sean sat up their equipment, focusing their lens on the creature. Occasionally watching as it leaped into the air landing back down on the branch.
Wanting to rummage for more, they repacked their equipment heading down the path, wishing the other fellow photographers,`a good day'. They all commented about the excellent shots. Some were saying they have seen another owl in another field. Feeling right about the location the three trudged through the wet, soggy path off to find more bird of prey.
Stopping at the crossroads on the path, they tried to look around seeing if they could spot anything in the trees, seeing small birds flickering around. Laying the backpack on the ground, Ephraim routed through the contents to find a pair of binoculars. Standing in the center of the crossroads, he scoured the woods as the other two looked around as well.
Seeing a small movement in the corner of the binoculars, Ephraim spotted an owl in a tree. Slowly gathering Sean's and Steven's attention, he pointed in the direction. Sean held his camera to his face, focusing on the area Ephraim was suggesting. Steven did the same, resting his camera on top of the tripod. They both were searching in the area Ephraim was suggesting - pointing out a focal point and to the left of the focal point was the owl.
"Oh my god, that's a Northern Saw-whet Owl," gasped Sean.
"You're right," replied Steven as soon as he spotted. Quickly but quietly setting up their tripods and camera's they snapped quickly before the shy bird disappeared. Continuing down the trail, sitting on the ground was a harrier. Steven was the first to spot it, using his camera to locate it, he was able to get several excellent shots. In the distance the clouds were starting to roll in.
As the afternoon rolled on, Steven said, `It's time to head back, I have to drive home tonight."
Sean and Ephraim frowned, but they knew he had to get home. Packing up their equipment, the three follow the trail back to the SUV. Feeling a little depressed, Steven didn't want to return home as he was enjoying his communion with nature. His mood definitely changed as he got into the back seat. All three were quiet on the way back home.
Sitting in a trance Steven thought it was odd they got back so soon, not remembering anything about the ride back to the cabin. Sean and Ephraim noticed the mood change and hadn't seen that in years. Trying to include Steven in the conversation, Steven would grunt one-word replies occasionally, causing concern for Sean.
Once back at the cabin, Lois and Herb greeted them, as they entered the front door. With the cabin filled with aromas of Lois' wonderful cooking, the three sat down with Lois and Herb to banter about their day. Ephraim and Sean were glad to see Steven come out of his stupor, as they told Lois and Herb about their day.
Lois commented it was nice to have the cabin to themselves, as they soaked in the hot tub enjoying the unseasonably warm January.
When supper was over, they all knew it was time for Steven to return home. Sensing his quietness, they helped him pack the car, seeing him off. Assuring him, they will make sure the place is winterized before they left. Thanking Steven for allowing them to stay.
"Make sure you call us when you get home," Lois quipped before Steven rolled up the window. Starting the truck, Steven backed up, turning on the lights before putting it in gear. Waving to his parents, brother, and Ephraim. Tears fell down Steven's face as he drove down the driveway and seeing the four waving in his rear-view mirror. Pulling the SUV out onto the winding road, it was at that moment the holidays were officially over for Steven.