Chapter 5: Ceremony

Then: The Great Fire of Pontypandy Aftermath

Jetfire's P.O.V

I Was Getting Ready For Steele's Speech After Sam Sr., Elvis, Tom and Penny arrived.

"It's Been a Year, since the Great Fire of Pontypandy when so much was achieved by so few. But one fireman, along with a few good friends stood out with not one but two acts of selfless bravery."

Station Officer Steele paused while the Pioneers applauded. I saw Elvis take a peek at the applauding audience. He quickly brought himself back to attention when Station Officer Steele resumed his speech.

"Firstly, good people of Pontypandy out of the burning forest to safety, and secondly, saving the life of a fellow fireman, all above and beyond the call of duty!"

"Here! Here!" Chief Fire Officer Boyce interjected.

"So! Would our hero please step forward?"

None of us moved. I saw Elvis looking around at the rest of us, waiting for one of us to move. So, we all did, by taking a step backwards. Elvis was surprised!

I Transformed into My Cargo jet Mode to To A Massive City by An Old Friend I have Not seen in years, but I Can't say anymore, BmOr I will spoil our next Chapter.

Sam Witwicky Sr.'s P.O.V

A Year Later:

Penny, Elvis and I were enjoying a quiet cup of tea in the fire station's kitchen, when Tom entered the room.

"G'day everyone!"

"Hi Tom," we replied in unison.

"You're early this time," Penny added.

"Yeah, I know. I nearly missed the ceremony last Year, so I made a special effort to get here early. Has Chief Fire Officer Boyce arrived yet?"

"He's downstairs with Station Officer Steele," I replied, just before taking another sip of my tea.

"You'd better put your medal on, Sam," Penny said, seeing my medal for Outstanding Bravery on the table in front of me. "Didn't Chief Fire Officer Boyce specifically order you to wear it in formation today?"

I groaned. Trust Penny to remember that!

"Here. I'll help you with it." And Penny gently pinned it to my uniform.

"Thanks, Penny."

"You should be proud of that medal, Sam. After all, you did earn it."

"Perhaps, but I don't deserve to be rewarded for doing my job."

"Can I have it then, Sam?" Elvis asked hopefully.

The alarm rang. "Special formation outside, now!" Station Officer Steele said over the loudspeakers.

Elvis got to the fireman's pole first. Radar bolted down the stairs. I managed to finish the rest of my tea while Penny and Tom slid down the pole. I was perfectly happy to go last for once, because I knew that today, I was out of the spotlight. And I couldn't be happier!

When I'd reached the garage after sliding down the pole, I saw the others scrambling to line up in an orderly manner in front of the garage.

"That's it, firefighters!" Station Officer Steele snapped. "Straighten up! The Pontypandy Pioneers and their parents are here today especially to see this ceremony, so I won't tolerate any sloppiness! Uh, where's Fireman Sam?"

"Right behind you, sir!" I said loudly behind him, making him jump. On the other side of the yard, the Pioneers burst into peals of laughter. Penny, Tom and Elvis also laughed.

"Uh! Get into line, Sam!" Station Officer Steele ordered me. "I've had quite enough of your practical jokes lately…"

"When can I have my plastic spider back, please, sir?" I asked mischievously.

Station Officer Steele snorted indignantly. "That incident was not funny, Fireman Sam!" Then, to himself, he added, "I'll have to have a word with Bronwyn about what she's been feeding you…"

Still chuckling to myself, I fell into line beside Elvis. The day before, I'd slipped a small plastic spider into Station Officer Steele's tea. Needless to say, his reaction when he discovered it sitting in the bottom of his teacup was completely worth me spending the afternoon washing Jupiter and Venus, and having the plastic spider confiscated. Penny, Elvis and I had laughed hysterically for at least ten minutes, much to Station Officer Steele's chagrin. But my sudden, playful attitude had nothing whatsoever to do with Bronwyn's cooking. The truth was, since my near-death experience during the fire, I'd decided to try and lighten up a little. After all, there wasn't any harm in having a bit of fun every now and again, was there?

"Attention!" Chief Fire Officer Boyce snapped. Without even having to think about it, I and the rest of the crew, promptly snapped to attention.

Station Officer Steele picked up a red and gold cushion, and he cleared his throat. "It's Been a Year. since the great fire of Pontypandy, when so much was achieved by so few. But one fireman stood out with not one, but two acts of selfless bravery."

Station Officer Steele paused while the Pioneers applauded. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elvis take a peek at the applauding audience. He quickly brought himself back to attention when Station Officer Steele resumed his speech.

"Firstly, leading the good people of Pontypandy out of the burning forest to safety, and secondly, saving the life of a fellow fireman, all above and beyond the call of duty!"

"Here! Here!" Chief Fire Officer Boyce interjected.

"So! Would our hero please step forward?"

None of us moved. I saw Elvis looking around at the rest of us, waiting for one of us to move. So, we all did, by taking a step backwards. Elvis was surprised!

"Oh! It's me!" Laughing at his silliness, Elvis took a big step forwards to accept his medal. "Sorry, sir."

Chief Fire Officer Boyce carried the medal over to Elvis, and he pinned it to his uniform. He then saluted Elvis, but instead of saluting back, Elvis looked down at his shiny new medal.

"Oh! Thank you, sir!" Elvis said, and then he saluted Chief Fire Officer Boyce. Both men shook hands, while we applauded.

Across the yard, I heard Trevor talking to the Pioneers. "And, it gives me great pleasure in finally presenting the Pontypandy Pioneers with their Survival Awards."

Sarah, James and Mandy cheered excitedly. Sensing the we were now dismissed, I relaxed to watch the kids get their hard-earned awards.

"About time we Got them" Said James, "We Did not get them for a Whole Year" Agreed Sarah.

"Well, not all the Pioneers," Trevor added, looking around the corner of the building to where I knew Norman and Derek were hiding. Although Norman was no longer grounded, he was still under very strict conditions given by his mother.

As the ceremony broke up, I went and stood in front of Jupiter to soak up some sunlight and just enjoy the view of Pontypandy. I still couldn't quite believe just how close I'd come to losing it all, in more ways than one. After a moment, Elvis came over to me, dangling his medal in his hand.

"So, what made you change your mind about the job?" he asked me curiously.

"I learned a lot during the great fire, Elvis," I told him sincerely. "I nearly lost Pontypandy in that fire! So, I'm not going to lose it now."

Elvis nodded in understanding. I smiled. I was so glad I'd decided to stay.

"Hey! Elvis!" Trevor called, holding up his ukulele. "How about a sing-song?"

"Huh! Brilliant!" And Elvis hurried across the yard to where his guitar and a drum had been set up. Mike sat down at the drum, ready to start playing.

I shook my head as I watched Elvis go. Then, I walked down the driveway a bit to get away from the crowd, and from the music coming from the impromptu band. You see, sometimes, I just like to take a moment to be on my own, alone with my thoughts.