Shift Notes and Sparky
The Creative Short Story behind Shift Notes: Conversations in Resilience.
Ten new notebooks, boxes of pens, and a few decks of cards. Jacquie lifted them from the shelf in her office and stacked them neatly in her training suitcase. She added her laptop and her personal stationery box, zipped it all up, and pulled the handle.
The wheels hummed softly against the floor as she rolled it down the hallway.
Her husband passed her on his way to the kitchen, brushing a kiss against her neck. He poured himself a coffee, then reached for a travel mug.
“Did you do your morning routine?” he asked, keeping his voice gentle.
“Meditation and writing practice. Checked off.” Jacquie smiled as she answered.
He pulled out the creamer, frothing it the way he always did for her on training days. “Taking Sparks with you?”
“Yes.” She sighed. “I should suit him up. Did you walk him this morning?”
“Of course. Last thing you need is a Bull Terrier cyclone in the middle of your session.” He chuckled, sliding the frothed creamer into her mug and sealing the lid before handing it to her.
She kissed his cheek. “Thanks. I’ll get him ready. He knows it’s work when I do it.”
At the back door, the red and white Bull Terrier lay sprawled on his back, legs in the air, snoring.
“Sparks.” Jacquie called. A snort. She tried again. “Sparks, time to go to work.”
The magic word. Sparks scrambled to his feet and sat at attention, tail wagging, ready for his vest.
By the time Jacquie walked into the police station with Sparks at her side and her training kit rolling behind her, the dog was all business.
“Can I help you?” asked the desk sergeant.
“Yes. Jacquie Tradson. I’m the trainer today.”
He escorted her to the station’s training room, already set with coffee, tea, water, soda, and snacks.
“Perfect. Thank you.” She smiled, and he nodded before heading out.
Gradually, participants filtered in, police, paramedics, firefighters. A couple carried the quiet weight of defense service.
Jacquie waited until the last chair filled. “Morning, everyone. Before we begin, one rule. What’s shared in this room stays in this room. This is a safe space.” She moved around, handing out contracts. “Please read and sign to confirm confidentiality. On your desk, you’ll also find a journal, your Shift Notes book.”
She leaned against the front table. “Here’s our flow for today. First, what makes a story. Then, why we write them as humans. And finally, how writing helps us build resilience, especially when facing operational stressors.”
Her eyes moved around the circle. “We’ll do small writing exercises throughout the day. You’re welcome to share, but keeping your words private is just as valid.”
“I should also introduce myself. I’m Jacquie Tradson. I’m an ex-firefighter, from a family of both firefighters and military personnel. I’m also an author, which is why I believe so strongly in the power of words and storytelling for resilience. And this,” she gestured at the Bull Terrier now wagging hopefully near a paramedic’s chair, “is Sparks. He’s a trained therapy dog. He loves a good pat, so feel free.”
She paused, letting the space settle.
“Alright. Who’d like to start with a quick introduction? Just your name, your service, and what you’d like to take away from today’s session.”
* Author’s Note: Sparky is a fictional character! I hope one day to have an amazing Bull Terrier Mini just like him! This story was originally published on Jacinta Marshall-Crouse Writes. If you would like to check out more short stories of Romance, Thriller and even Fantasy / Sci-Fi, feel free to head over to that Substack account and Subscribe!