Drive In Tales Summer 2015 | Page 16

house. He was back in a minute and pointed into the back yard.

Another fireman carrying an axe jogged onto the Swegners’ lawn. Mr. Swegner was gesturing at his burning house and leaping around when the fireman ran up. He set his axe down and tried to calm Mr. Swegner. Flames were now visible inside through the picture window.

“Oh, god, John,” screeched Mrs. Swegner. “Our family albums.”

Mr. Swegner tensed and appeared ready to charge the house. Mrs. Swegner called out, “No, John. You can’t—“

Swegner suddenly thrust himself away from the fireman and dashed to his front door. The fireman pursued and tackled him before he got there. He dragged Swegner flailing and kicking back on the grass. Swegner got free and took a swing at the fireman. He missed the first time, but then connected with a wild left hook. The fireman went down. Then he got up shaking his head and saw Swegner about to go into his house again. The fireman walked up to Mr. Swegner , spun him around, and hit him in the chops with a stiff right. Mr. Swegner sagged to the grass off his front walk and didn't move. The fireman unbuckled Swegner’s belt, yanked it free of the belt loops, flopped him over, and fastened his wrists together behind his back with the belt.

The fireman walked up to Mr. Swegner, spun him around, and hit him in the chops with a stiff right. Mr. Swegner sagged to the grass off his front walk and di

14