Something always comes up

Cara Moore moved to New York 3 years ago and has been living with her roomates, Mary and Stuart, who also happen to be her colleagues in firehouse 42 every 48 hours. “Every 48 hours” is what they say when one of them says they’re colleagues because, in the USA, firefighters work 24 hours shifts and are off duty for 48 hours. Just like most of her colleagues, Cara does not spend her free days doing nothing, except for her Sundays. She graduated as a special needs teacher back in Australia and spends her free days teaching three kids twice a week, sometimes one by one, sometimes all three together : Aaron, Isla and Noah. As Noah’s father came to pick him up, she finally could go out and shop. Before getting back home, she stopped at her favorite coffee shop where she got her usual cup of coffee and a cookie. On the way out, this little girl started shouting at who Cara supposed was her dad trying to calm her. She was gonna ignore her but then thought, why not try. So she walked to them and leveled with the little girl who started staring at her. “Hey sweetie, what’s wrong?” Cara asked She seemed to have stopped crying and said “I want ice cream” “Okay, why are you shouting then?” “Daddy says I can’t have ice cream” she shouted She looked up at the dad and asked “may I?” “Oh do whatever, I cannot calm her down it’s always the same” Cara looked back in the little girl’s eyes and asked “Here’s the thing, I don't know everything right? So catch me up. Why do you want ice cream?” “I don’t know I just want ice cream” “Alright, now do you know why your dad doesn’t want you to have ice cream? I suppose that's your dad?” “Because it’s not time for ice cream” She said, looking down “When is it time for ice cream?” “Sunday afternoon” “Why?” “Because I get too excited if I eat too much sugar and I already drinked hot chocolate” “Alright, so, what’s the problem with your dad not wanting you to eat ice cream?” She seemed to think about it for a minute and said “Nothing.” “See” “How did you do that?” The dad asked “I’m used to it. Don’t talk to her like a kid, talk to her like an adult” “How are you used to it?” “I’m a special needs teacher” He seemed to be enlightened. “Would you teach her?” He showed his daughter “I’ll pay double whatever you charge” Cara politely smiled but refused. “Please?” He insisted “Triple?” “I don’t need money” she said “I have three kids already, I don’t want to be overbooked” “How about you do it whenever you can? I’ll take anything, please” Cara frowned. “Please. I really need help. Here’s my number” he handed her a card “just text or call me whenever you’re free to teach her anything. And again, I’ll pay double however much you usually ask for” She took the card and said “Can’t promise anything. But, again, it’s not about the money” “Thank you” He said, relieved, “I’m Josh Carloyle by the way” “Cara. Moore” They shook hands and she asked the little girl her name “Athena” she replied “like the goddess” she added with a proud voice, making Cara smile “Nice to meet you Athena” she shook her hand And then she left home. “What took you so long?” Stuart asked “Some guy needed help with his daughter” “What?” She told him what happened while they were storing what she bought in the kitchen. “Wait, he said he would pay you triple? DO IT” He said “I don’t have the time nor the energy…” “MAKE IT” he replied She raised her eyebrows and went to her room to get ready for the next day’s lessons while Stuart was cooking dinner, as it was his turn. At the end of the week, she texted Josh Carloyl to meet up for an assessment. After she explained that she usually meets in the kids’ homes, Josh asked if they could meet outside for now. So she agreed and met them in a diner. “Thank you for this” Josh started after they sat down, Athena and her dad in front of Cara. “Sure” She said “So, Athena, what grade are you in?” “First grade” she said “Alright, and how are you doing?” “I’m fine, thank you” Cara smiled. “That’s not what I meant. But good to hear. I meant, how are you doing in class?” “The teacher says I’m too loud and agitated but I think I’m great”  “Well, it’s good that you think you’re great” Cara replied, amused “And how are your grades?” “Good” she replied, looking a her dad “Not that good” the latter said “Well, what about you, how are your grades?” Athena asked Cara “Athena” Josh reacted, but Cara told him it was okay “Well I’m not going to school anymore, so I don’t have grades.” “Why aren’t you at school anymore?” Athena judged her “Daddy says you have to go to school” “Yes, well, I graduated and now I’m working” Cara replied And at that moment, three guys shouted “Nobody moves”, rifles pointed at everyone. Cara looked at them and then at Athena before telling her to get under the table as they shot someone. “Alright, now where’s the owner of this place” one of them shouted as Cara, Josh and Athena, as well as many others in the diner, were hiding under the table, scared.“You guys stay down ok?” she told the Carloyl. “And stay silent” she told Athena” The little girl nodded as Josh stared at Cara, wondering what’s her plan as they heard two other shots and screams. Cara stood up, hands in the air and said “Please don’t shoot” The three rather young men pointed their rifles at her. “Listen, you can shoot me later if you want, but that is no way to hold a g*n” She walked towards the blond one, her hands still in the air. “Stop” he order, making her stop. “What do you mean?” He asked “Well, this guy’s holding it way too low, you, way too high and you” she pointed at the smallest one, can you even hold it straight?” “Hey watch your tone” “Sorry” She said “Listen, I took tons of shooting classes. I can show you how to handle them, how to shoot and that way, you’ll be able to get out of the cops way” “The cops? There are no cops” “There will be in minutes” she said. "Do you really think out of everybody here, nobody called 911?”. Cara wasn’t sure if her plan would work, but she did dial 911 and was hoping they get all the information she’s giving them. If she’s dying, at least she saves a few people. “Can I show you?" She asked, her hands pointed at their guns. The blond one handed her his, but the two others were pointing theirs towards her, in case she tried anything. “Alright” She said, weighing the g*n. She looked around and pointed the g*n at some glass plates hanging up on a wall as decoration. “Look close” she said, "when you’re holding it high, like this” She showed them, you can’t reach the target properly.” she said, shooting at a plate but only hitting the bottom of it. While they looked at the target, she emptied the magazine and put it back, leaving only one bullet in the g*n. She handed it back to the blond one and told him to try and shoot the same plate, but lower. And he did, successfully. She took the other guy’s g*n and showed him how to hold it. “Listen, can I have your names? That’ll be easier” she said “My name’s Cara. I’m a teacher” “Caden” the blond one said “John” the one she’s holding the g*n said “Jimmy” the small one ended “Alright guys. Now look at why you shouldn’t hold it low” She said, shooting at another plate. And again, emptying the magazine before putting it back on. She gave the g*n back to John and grabbed Jimmy’s. “To stay leveled, you have to stand in a certain way” she said “But first, show me how you hold it John” The latter shot the plate and said “Is that good?” Cara smiled and nodded. “That’s great! Now look at how you should stand. Look at my feet. Come in !” She said loudly as she saw the lights. “Come in?” Caden asked, pointing his g*n at her “I meant come on” Cara said, Jimmy’s g*n still in her hands. “Come on in now” She shouted, pointing the g*n at the boys as the door got destroyed and S.W.A.T came in. Caden and John tried to shoot at them but there were no bullets. When they got handcuffed and held up, she pointed the g*n down and emptied it before handing it to the S.W.A.T officer. “Ma’am, I don’t know how you did what you just did, but you’re hero” the latter said. She reached at her pocket and handed him the bullets. “Just doing my best” she said before running to the table where she was sitting to find Josh and Athena. “Hey guys, it’s okay, you can get out” she told them as officers were getting people out and EMTs were running inside to check on the people who got shot. “How did you do that?” Josh asked, still in shock Cara smiled and walked with them outside. “I know what I want to be” Athena said, looking up a her dad. “What?” He asked “I wanna be a hero like Cara” She added, making Cara smile. The latter walked towards the captain and was about to explain what she did when the latter said “We saw everything. If you didn’t do what you just did, there would’ve been way more dead people inside. Thank you. What’s your name?” “Cara Moore.” “Could you tell us how you managed to make them trust you?” “Choosing my words carefully. And analysing the situation. And a little bit of guts. Honestly I didn’t believe it would work that well, I thought I would just buy you some time and get shot but at least you’d stop them before they shoot everyone” “Thank you. Very much. What you did is incredible” She nodded and went back to Josh and Athena. “Wow” Josh said as she reached them “you were amazing and scary. Wow” “You might wanna get her a shrink” she said, walking towards his car. “Why?” “From what I’ve seen, I’m not a doctor so nothing’s certain obviously, she seems to have ADHD. And after what happened right now, she should get it out before it eats her” “Alright, I’ll see her doctor and check things up. But I need to know, how come you weren’t scared?” “Oh I was. But I’m used to scary situations. I’m a firefighter” “You are? Oh that’s why you don't have a lot of time, isn’t it” She nodded “Well, thank you for being there with us. We would probably be dead if you weren’t. I hope you can still teach Athena?” “You know what, sure! On Tuesday, I have a group class of two hours. Get her there at 3 pm. I’m sure she’ll get along with the others” She texted him her address and left to join her roomates who were scared and proud to hear about what happened. “b***h you’re a hero. You might actually make lieutenant if you apply” Stuart said “I would if I could! I’m not allowed, remember?” “Ugh, stupid laws” He said “We live with a hero” he told Mary