STORY BEHIND THE POEM, BROTHER, WHO DID
IT
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Curtis Robinson, a veteran police officer,
currently working in our training section, had his life overturned just
over 2 years ago. He went from a Dual Income No Kids family, to the father
of twin boys. Now Curt, never being the innocent type himself, seems to
be reaping the rewards (and other things) of fatherhood.
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Curt was out at the Academy one day conducting
simulation exercises for new recruits. I never did find out why he had
his sons with him, but I’m assuming like most parents he was stuck for
child care that day. Everything had gone well during the morning session
and the boys (Connor and Ryan Age just under three) were behaving great.
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Curt had just taken his sons to lunch
in the cafeteria and was walking down the hall hand-in-hand with his two
boys. Proud papa you know. He stopped to make a quick phone call and the
boys were by his side. But like any young boys, they became bored with
the call after about 7 seconds and started to explore. Now Curt tells me,
when they were on the way into the cafeteria, he pointed out the fire alarm
switch to the boys and told them never to touch it unless there was a fire.
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Well, apparently this switch was around
the corner and no more than fifteen feet from where Curt was standing.
The boys inched away and disappeared around the corner. Immediately sensing
they were no longer beside him, Curt had one of those parental premonitions
and immediately knew where they were. He dropped the phone, leaped around
the corner, just in time to see the open alarm switch, the boys standing
there and then the alarm started ringing.
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The academy was evacuated, which in itself
was no small task, since there was a recruit class going, several inservice
courses and a supervisors course. In addition there was all the training
classes for security personel, ambulance, conservation, etc. You get the
picture. Several hundred people milling about out in the hot sun as the
fire rigs rolled up to the scene.
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Well of course, the rumour circulated
like wildfire, that it was Curt’s kid who pulled the alarm. Like any brother
act, the two normally stick together with the age old answer when asked
"Who did it", with "I dunno" or "Not me". However, on this occasion, Connor
stepped back and proudly fingered his brother Ryan for the crime.
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I immediately received about 5 phone calls
about the incident and then ran into Curtis himself who also told me the
story. My thanks to all, and here is the resulting poem.
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