I found the opening after a long stint of working office jobs. I wanted something more

in touch with nature and my search went further and further until I hit an ad for a job

as a fire look out. The bay was low, the hours looked horrendous and the benefits were minimal.

However, the life started granted was something I wanted, even if just for a temporary reprieve

from my dropped city life. I never expected to have worked this job for the better part

of a decade. However, over my time, I have recruited more than enough stories to hold

any part as a tangent for a week. That's because my job wasn't that of an ordinary

fire watcher. I don't know if this is the same for others in the same job line as me or

if it's just my specific one, but let's just say we had more duties to attend to than

just watching for smoke. My first day in the job there was a lot to take in. I was actually

shown around by the area's ranger rather than another look out. Apparently the previous

two quit and short notice for them to train their replacements, so the duty fell on his shoulders.

The walk to the fire watch tower was arduous at first. If it weren't for my partner leading

the way, I'd have gotten lost many times over. Just when you think you're at a clearing

that should lead straight to the place, we'd take a sharp turn. We'd take a sharp turn

seemingly away from the destination and yet it wound up to be correct. We made it to

the tower at around 8.20pm. The first thing I was told was that the door should be closed

before 8.30pm and never opened until the shift was over at 6am, not accounting for day-like

savings. When he safely made it in, I was briefly left inside while he went out with

a brush and paint can and came back covered in a few specks of red on him. The door was

closed and my first shift officially started. At first things were unoffentful. I expected

to be lectured and all I needed to do, but as soon as the door closed, my partner simply

...