Meghan and Jerry were fortunate enough to get to sleep most of the night, but caught a late call for a rectal bleed about an hour before their shift ended. Back at the station, Meghan hustled to get her stuff rounded up, keys, pager and radio dropped off with the medic relieving her, and her vehicle loaded. She quickly dropped her vital signs sheet on Brandi’s desk and dashed out the door – she was going to be late arriving at the college.

She managed to make it to school 20 minutes late. She parked and her phone rang – it was Rick. She answered it as she opened the trunk to retrieve her backpack and briefcase. “Hello?”

Oh, hi, Meghan. I figured I’d reach your voicemail.

“Hey, Rick. I caught a late call this morning, just got to the school.” She shifted the phone in her hand so she could shut the trunk.

How was your shift? Busy?

“Yeah, really busy. Had a bad trauma case I flew to the ER last night.” Meghan started hustling across the parking lot.

Listen – I won’t keep you, but I was wondering if you’d like to join me for breakfast tomorrow?

She smiled as she opened the door to the school. “I’d love that. Care to make it a late breakfast? I think I’m going to be sleeping in tomorrow morning. Listen, I’ll call you when I’m on break and we can talk more. I’m almost at the classroom.”

Sure thing. Talk with you later!

Meghan hung up, entered her classroom, and dropped her stuff in the office after a quick wave at Fred, who had started the lecture for her.

Fred dismissed the class at breaktime and joined Meghan in the office. “Catch a late call?”

Meghan looked up from her lesson plans. “Yeah. Lower GI bleed, elderly patient.”

Fred chuckled. “I don’t miss those. So, how did the first day back go?”

Meghan smiled. “Pretty good. A couple of transfers, breakfast with the fire guys. Had a couple of good calls I’ll share with the class after break ends. How far did you get in the course material?”

“I think we’ll be ready to do a skills lab on vital signs tomorrow,” Fred confirmed.

“Good. Things start being fun when the hands-on practice starts. Want to continue lecturing, or do you want me to take over?”

“Eh, I can continue. I’ll let you take lead this evening. What are you working on?” He peered over her shoulder at her computer screen.

Meghan held up a few slips of paper. “I did a suggestion box at the staff meeting a couple weeks ago, and I’m trying to compile a list of education ideas for the next few months.”

“You’ve only got a couple more weeks until the next meeting. Have you decided what to teach?” he asked, settling in his office chair.

She nodded. “Cardiac tamponade, and an airway skills module. I’ll need to borrow a few of the mannequins for the class.”

“Sure thing. Just let me know what supplies you need and I’ll help you drag them over.” He glanced at the clock. “Guess I’d better get back out there – break’s almost over.” He stood. “So how many stories do you want to share?”

She laughed. “Two. One short and stupid, and one long and serious.”

He chuckled. “Okay. Stupid before lunch, and serious afterward?”

“Sounds like a plan. Go wrangle the kids, Fred!”

He chuckled and left the office. Meghan went back to her computer and lesson plans.