"Why do you want to be a firefighter?" one asked, their voice dry.
"One more landing, 42!" the evaluator barked, his voice distorted by the mask. FIREFIGHTER EXAM
Weeks later, a letter arrived. Leo tore it open. “Congratulations, Candidate 42...” "Why do you want to be a firefighter
He had passed. The journey was only just beginning, but he had survived the first fire. If you want, I can: Leo tore it open
He breathed in, closed his eyes, and imagined the familiar heft of a Halligan tool. He didn’t just want this job for the excitement; he wanted to serve, to be the calm center in the chaos. He marked "B" with confidence.
He thought about the morning’s CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) warm-up—the way the weighted vest had felt like a second skin, the taste of air thick with imaginary smoke. He remembered his father, a retired captain, saying, "The test isn't just about strength, Leo. It's about staying calm when everything else is burning".