Firefighter

by Jennifer Li Shotz

  Dedication

  For Por Por and Violet, who taught me

  the importance of being kind

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Back Ad

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  1

  SCOUT SEEMED TO KNOW THAT THE crowd had come to see him. He puffed out his chest and rotated his big, pointy ears to the front of his head. His brown-and-white fur had been shampooed and brushed for the occasion, making him look dignified and serious instead of goofy and eager, like he usually did. His brown eyes glittered playfully under the stage lights.

  He was a handsome mutt, and he looked extra proud in his shiny new K-9 National Guard vest, stitched with an American flag and his name in capital letters: SCOUT.

  The dog shifted from one paw to the other, trying hard to obey the sit command he’d been given.

  Matt knew what Scout really wanted to do. He wanted to hop to his feet, wag his tail wildly in the air, and prance around the room, sniffing at everyone. If dogs could smile, Matt knew Scout would be grinning from ear to ear.

  But Scout was a good dog, and he was doing what good dogs do. He had been told to sit, so he sat. With his head cocked to the side, Scout focused on Matt’s mom, Colonel Tackett, who stood next to him onstage and spoke to the audience.

  Colonel Tackett was beaming as she welcomed Scout to the National Guard K-9 unit of Nevada. Finally, after months of training and a dangerous rescue mission, Scout was officially on the job.

  Matt’s mom held up Scout’s certificate for the audience of servicemen and -women to see.

  “And now, for the dog of the hour,” she said. “May I present to you my friend Scout.”

  Matt let out a wild cheer, but he was drowned out by his older sister Bridget’s “woo-hoo!” and his new friend Dev’s piercing whistle. The crowd around them burst into raucous applause. As they hooted and hollered, Matt and Scout made eye contact. At the sight of Matt, Scout bobbed his head and let out a silent woof, then swished his tail across the ground.

  Matt’s mom laughed and waited for everyone to quiet down.

  “I think every single person here today knows how I feel about Scout.” She winked at Matt, and Matt felt the eyes of the entire room on him.

  “Scout saved my kids’ and their friends’ lives. That is something a mother never forgets. So, I’m honored to say that Scout has finished his training and is now a certified member of the National Guard.” She squatted down next to Scout and put her hands on the sides of his head. Scout sniffed at her face, and Matt’s mom scratched him under the chin. She whispered something to him, and Scout licked her on the cheek.

  Matt’s mom stood up. Her eyes were a little damp, and she brushed away a tear. She cleared her throat. “And I’d also like to thank my son, Matt Tackett.”

  Matt’s eyebrows shot up in surprise—he hadn’t expected her to say that. His mom smiled broadly at him, her eyes still dewy, and Bridget elbowed him in the ribs.

  “Awww,” Bridget exhaled, so softly only Matt could hear. “Who’s the hero now?”

  Matt elbowed her back but kept a straight face. He suddenly became hyperaware of his stiff new shirt and the weird way his hair was slicked down and neatly brushed. It was a strange feeling to have a whole crowd of people staring at him.

  “My son,” his mom went on, “saw something in Scout that—I won’t lie—I didn’t see at first. But Matt and Scout understood each other. Matt knew that Scout needed time and encouragement to become the dog he was meant to be. So, Matt, this honor is as much for you as it is for Scout.”

  Matt’s face went hot. He looked around sheepishly and gave an awkward little wave at the assorted trainers and K-9 specialists who were, much to his embarrassment, still staring at him.

  He hated being the center of attention, but he sure couldn’t argue with his mom when it came to Scout—and the bond they had.

  When Scout had arrived in Nevada, Matt’s mom had wanted to ship him right back to where he had come from. She didn’t think he had what it took to be a highly skilled search-and-rescue dog.

  Matt had begged her not to send Scout back, and he’d even surprised himself with how upset he was about it. But Matt had been upset about a lot of things back then—from his family’s sudden move to Silver City, to the need to make new friends again, to the fact that his dad, a first sergeant, was on a long deployment to Afghanistan.

  Something about Scout had helped Matt start to feel better. He had seen how special Scout was from day one. Matt knew, from his own experience, that when you’re the new guy in town, people often don’t see you for who you really are. Just like Matt, Scout needed a friend to believe in him.

  Matt had decided to train Scout in secret, hoping that he could convince his mom to keep the dog in her K-9 program. But before they could make any real progress, a dam broke and flooded their town.

  That’s when Scout proved himself all on his own. The instant the flood hit, he transformed from a nervous pup to an unbelievably brave dog. He jumped into action, saving Matt, Bridget, Dev—and even some strangers too.

  Now there was no doubt in anyone’s mind: Scout was heroic beyond their wildest hopes.

  And though he was technically Colonel Tackett’s dog—well, the National Guard’s dog—no one could tear him away from Matt. Scout had become Matt’s shadow, following him around the house, whining when Matt left for school, and waiting for him by the front door when he came home. Scout was part best friend and part fierce protector, and Matt felt the same way about his dog.

  Matt and Scout would do anything for each other.

  They were a team.

  2

  “MORNING, SUNSHINE!” Someone smacked Matt hard on the back.

  “Morning, Dev.” Matt grinned without turning around. He didn’t need to look to know who it was. He could recognize that voice—and that painful hello—with his eyes closed.

  Matt snapped his bike lock shut and readjusted the heavy backpack on his shoulders. The late-spring day was already getting hot, and the morning sun glinted off the windows of their two-story school building. Parts of the school were still under repair—the entire first floor had been totally destroyed by the flood. It had taken weeks for the building to dry out, but things were finally starting to feel back to normal—just in time for summer vacation.

  It was hard for Matt to believe, but he only had a month left of sixth grade.

  “Hi, Matt.”

  At the sound of a girl’s voice, Matt suddenly became aware of the root of every single hair on his head. He spun around to see Amaiya leaning against the end of the bike rack. Her long brown hair was pulled back in braids, and the freckles on her nose were pronounced in the sunlight.

  “Hey, Amaiya!”

  “Good morning, Ms. Amaiya,” Dev said, tipping his head in her direction with a little flourish of his hand. “How are you this fine day?”

  “I’m fine, dork.”

  “I don’t believe I’m the dork here,” Dev said, jerking a thumb in Matt’s direct
ion and flashing Amaiya an exaggerated know what I mean? look.

  Matt and Amaiya rolled their eyes at him and cracked up. They started to walk three across toward the front door.

  “How’d you do on that algebra test?” Matt asked her.

  She shrugged. “Pretty good. It was hard, though. You?”

  Matt knew that “pretty good” for Amaiya was probably an A. She was the smartest kid in their grade. Dev was a close second.

  “Not bad,” Matt said. “Thanks for helping me study.”

  “You’re welcome.” Amaiya grinned, and for a second Matt wasn’t entirely sure where he was or what he was doing there.

  Ahead of them, kids streamed in through the school’s double front doors, some high-fiving, some only half-awake, others nervously flipping through the pages of a textbook before class. Girls gathered in small packs, holding their books in front of them and comparing homework notes. Boys ran hands through their bed-head hair and gave each other the nod. Teachers checked their watches and waved the kids through the doors, their faces tense with thoughts of the day ahead.

  Matt loved it all.

  For the first time in his life, he was at a school that was his. It was his because he was staying here, at this middle school, in Silver Valley, Nevada, for—well, maybe for good.

  As the child of two military parents, Matt had never stayed in one place for long. He had lived in nine states in his twelve years. But this time, his parents had promised they would do everything they could to stay here.

  And now that Matt had a real home, he could keep his friends Dev and Amaiya. Matt had made tons of friends before, of course, in lots of places. But after a few times saying good-bye, promising to text, and waving as the moving truck pulled out . . . again . . . he’d stopped getting too attached.

  But something felt different with Dev and Amaiya. There was something about their friendship that felt easy, as if they’d known each other for a lot longer than a few months.

  Matt couldn’t really put his finger on it. Maybe it was what they’d gone through together in the flood, or maybe it was all the time since then they’d spent exploring in the Nevada wilderness. Matt had grown up camping and hiking and kayaking and fishing—thanks mostly to his dad—but Dev and Amaiya took the outdoorsy thing to a whole new level.

  Before he moved to Nevada, Matt had never met anyone who loved being in the wild as much as he did. Now he had not one but two friends who were even more into it than he was. Dev and Amaiya loved to camp. They were insane and fearless rock climbers, and they could hike for hours at a stretch. They had taught Matt how to climb, and he had taken them kayaking and fishing.

  When Matt hauled a kayak behind his bike, with Dev and Amaiya riding alongside and Scout running ahead of them, leading the way to the Truckee River, Matt sometimes wondered if any of this could be real. Part of him kept waiting for the other shoe to drop—like maybe he was just imagining that these were the best friends he’d ever had.

  “Listen up, Matt,” Dev said as they neared the school steps. “You better not be busy this weekend. Amaiya and I have epic plans. Curtis is coming too.”

  Matt tried to remember what day it was—Wednesday, he was pretty sure—and what he had to do that weekend.

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Because . . .” Dev grinned like he was guarding a big secret. “We are going on the most awesome hike and you have to be there. Are you ready?”

  “You’d better be ready,” Amaiya joined in.

  “I’m ready,” Matt said.

  Dev’s eyes were lit up with anticipation, like he was presenting a huge scientific breakthrough. The first bell rang, and Matt gestured at him to hurry up.

  “We are going to hike”—Dev paused for dramatic effect—“Mount Kit.” Dev threw his hands up in the air and held them over his head in a victory pose. He was tall and lanky and prone to making big, exaggerated gestures.

  “No way!” Matt gasped. Mount Kit was the highest and hardest peak in their part of the state. It was legendary for having the most insane views from the top, but also for being extremely steep—and incredibly challenging. Matt couldn’t tell if he was more nervous or excited at the thought of climbing it. “For real? I mean, isn’t that hike, like, ten thousand feet?”

  Even for skilled hikers like Dev and Amaiya, that was a big climb.

  Dev nodded, his eyes wide. “I don’t want to brag, but I’m basically the king of that mountain.”

  “Then good thing you’re definitely not bragging.” Amaiya groaned.

  “I’ve done that hike a hundred times with my mom and sister,” Dev went on, ignoring her. “It’s hard but it’s totally worth it.” He started talking even faster. “The last push is practically vertical, so you have to lean all the way forward when you walk.” He demonstrated by bending forward ninety degrees.

  Matt and Amaiya exchanged an amused look, and Matt noticed that her nose wrinkled up a little when she smiled.

  “And there’s a climbing spot that practically nobody knows about,” Dev went on. “It’s off the trail—you have to bushwhack to get there, but it has the sweetest routes. First you have to hike up the southern face; then when you’re almost at the top, you stop at this ridiculously beautiful waterfall for lunch. It’s so high up, you can actually see Lake Tahoe from there. Then you keep going and you see this huge overhang.” He held his hands as far apart as he could. “That’s when you start off-roading under the overhang”—he waved his arms in a half circle—“and aroooouuuund the mountain. It’s hairy for a little while. But then there’s this pristine rock face . . .” Dev trailed off and closed his eyes, a half smile on his lips, as if he were tasting something delicious.

  His enthusiasm was catching. “When do we leave?” Matt asked with a laugh.

  “Early on Saturday,” Amaiya said.

  “Be at my house by eight A.M.,” Dev said. “Because if you’re la—”

  Before Dev could finish, Matt smacked his forehead with his hand. “Ah, man,” he grumbled. “I promised my mom I’d help her replant the garden this weekend.”

  “Dude.” Dev shot him a pitying look. “That is the lamest thing I’ve ever heard. We live in a desert.”

  “Could you help her next week instead?” Amaiya offered.

  It was his mom’s first weekend off in a month. Matt couldn’t possibly back out of it. He shook his head. “I promised. And there’s a lot to do—we’re starting after school on Friday and it’s going to take all weekend.”

  Matt’s family was still living in a house on the National Guard base. They had planned to find their own home, but the flood had messed that up. Their current house had been filled with water almost to the second floor, but it had been repaired quickly. Matt knew it sometimes helped to have a mom who was the boss.

  Their yard, though, was still a muddy mess. Now that it was May, he and his mom and sister had planned to spend the weekend filling in the dirt, mulching, and planting shrubs and flowers.

  “That sucks!” Dev threw his hands up.

  “I know. Sorry, guys,” Matt said. There was nothing he could do about it.

  “Matt! Amaiya! Dev! Let’s move it!” a grown-up yelled from the front steps. Matt looked up and saw that they were the last three students standing outside the school. The principal was waving them in. “Second bell’s about to ring!”

  The three friends scurried toward the door.

  “Oh, Matt,” Dev said as they ran. “One small favor: Don’t say anything to anyone about Mount Kit. And by anyone I mostly mean your mom.”

  “Yeah, Matt—it’s kind of top secret,” Amaiya added.

  Matt didn’t get it. “Wait—what? Why?”

  They took the stairs two at a time.

  “It’s not exactly something our parents would give us permission to do unsupervised,” Dev said under his breath.

  “But . . . I thought you said it was safe?” Matt replied.

  “It is!” Dev looked at him sideways. “Just swear you won’t
say anything, okay?”

  “Wait, if it’s safe, then why can’t you tell your parents?”

  “Please, Matt?” Amaiya was on his other side. “We just don’t want them to worry.”

  Matt opened his mouth, then shut it. He thought for a second. “Sure, of course,” he finally said. But he wasn’t so sure. If Mount Kit was safe to climb, then why wouldn’t they just tell their parents they were going? Something didn’t add up, and he couldn’t deny a slight wriggling feeling in his gut.

  “We’re telling our parents we’re having a campout in Curtis’s backyard,” Dev said. “And Curtis is telling his parents he’s camping out at my house.” They reached the top step, where the principal checked her watch and shook her head at them. “Hi, Principal Fagan!” Dev said cheerily. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

  “In,” was all she said in response, pointing down the hall.

  Dev scooted past her and turned to look at Matt. “Curtis’s,” he said.

  Matt sighed. “Curtis’s,” he repeated. “Got it.”

  3

  SPLAT.

  The mud flew out from under Scout’s front paws, splattering his belly, back legs, and Matt, who knelt down in the dirt right behind him.

  “Scout!” Matt covered his face with his arm. “Cut it out!”

  Matt’s mom grinned in his direction. “That’s what happens when you sit behind a dog playing in the mud.”

  It was Friday afternoon. Matt, Bridget, and their mom had been at the yardwork for a couple of hours already, but Scout just kept digging holes and undoing their efforts.

  “Good thing you’re cute, pal.” Matt gave Scout a scratch by his tail and gently nudged the dog a little farther away. “But go be cute over there, would you please?”

  Matt was crouched down in the fresh soil with a spade in his hand. He exhaled and sat back on his heels for a second, wiped his forehead on his sleeve, and looked around the yard. It had been a hot, sunny day, but a soft breeze was starting to cool things down. The scent of wet dirt and blooming plants filled the air.

  Matt’s mom was relaxed and, for once, not in uniform or staring at her phone. They had made great progress despite Scout’s attempts to mess it all up.