The fireman stepped off the elevator, same as he’d been doing for the past few months now at Rampart. He’d grown quite fond of the little ones on the cancer ward, driven to them by their courage. Nothing, not even the job he performed on a routine basis, could compare to what these young ones faced on a daily basis. That’s why, when young April asked Marco for a special favour, he couldn’t turn her down.

“Morning Marco,” The floor nurse greeted the him with a warm smile, nodding over to the day room filled with anxious children. “They’re waiting for you.” A sparkle in her eye made Marco a bit nervous as he nodded his acknowledgment.

“Thanks Sandy,” he replied, “you uh...you promise to keep...” Sandy nodded before he could finish his sentence, grinning now at the seemingly nervous fireman as she crossed her heart.

“Go on now, don’t how much longer we can keep them distracted.”

Once more Marco nodded, clearing his throat as he headed for the sunny day room. His countenance changed as one of the children spotted him.

“He’s here, he’s here!” the small boy he had come to know as Danny excitedly cried out to the room. Marco could feel his cheeks warm as he shifted a small black case from one hand to the other, welcoming the outpouring of children into his arms.

“I told you I would be.” he smiled, patting the shoulders of his young friends as he made his way over to a single chair n the middle of the room empty just for him. Looking around he saw his friend April, seated in her hospital bed, her eyes shining.

“Hey,” he said softly as he approached, glancing up at the IV that hung from her bedside, “See ya brought a friend” he joked, relishing the smile she returned in reply.

“I brought it,” he nodded to the black case, “You sure you want me to do this?” he questioned as he raised it for her to see. “They might not let me back in after this you know,” he grinned as his tone played with the bright eyed nina. Once more she nodded her answer, leaving Marco to do the only thing left to do.

With a feigned sigh he placed the case on her bed and opened it. “If you insist.” he winked taking out a small ukelele to the delight of the children who had gathered round him.

The fireman opted to sit on the edge of April’s bed as the crowd gathered on the floor in front of him, leaving the chair empty. With a few strums to tune the instrument, Marco looked at the smiling faces. After and exaggerated clearing of his throat he began to strum a tune, his mind free from the cares of the station. Right now, as far as he was concerned, he was on the tiny little island of Mookie Pookie as he began to sing in an accented voice.

“There’s a tiny little island and they call it Mookie Pookie in the middle of Maka-laka Bay,” he began. Hearing the giggles, he continued on, smiling as he strummed, “where the birds and the fishes and the animals play, and a turtle named Gert does the hula all day.”

One little boy in the back stood up, waving his arms to and fro, much to his delight as he continued on.

“But when the sun goes down, everybody gathers round, and they listen to the coconut band play the lullaby that everybody knows,” he stopped long enough to imitate knocking a beat on a nearby child’s head, "And this is how it goes.” he waited a beat before he turned to April.

“Wouldn’t ya like a little kiss, mwah.” he blew a kiss to the giggling girl, “maka-laka, what a kookie mookie pookie lullaby.”

He continued amongst the further erupting giggles from the group as he turned to them.

“Just a little kiss like this, mwah,” he blew one to the crowd, “maka-laka what kookie mookie pookie lullaby. If you give a little kiss to me, I’ll give it back yes sir’re. And that’s the maka laka, what a kookie mookie pookie lullaby.”

Marco's eyes closed briefly as he set the mood, swaying unconsciously in time with the rhythm as the youngsters looked on in.

“Just hear the music play, just feel the palm trees swing and sway. You’re sure to lose your blues and close your eyes and snooze to the music of this lullaby.

While Marco was “channeling” his perfect vacation spot, Captain Stanley and his men were standing outside the day room doorway, in the here and now, much to the chagrin of Sandy, who had crossed her fingers as she had crossed her heart just moments before.

“He’ll never let me hear the end of this, she whispered to the man in charge as they continued to watch Marco, now totally engrossed in his song.

“Who says he has to know,” The Captain grinned back, making her feel more at ease. With a nod, Sandy glanced to the four other men who were as entranced as the children around Marco. She stifled a laugh as she returned to her duties, wishing she could be at the station with them to see what antics they would pull on their fellow fireman. Stanely returned his attention to the day room.

“In their pajamas made of silk, they drink a glass of milk and they eat a cookie ookie or two. Then down in the sand they lay and the band begins to play. Wouldn’t you like a little kiss..mwah...maka laka....just a little kiss like this.”

Cap’s grin widened as the group joined in at the end of the song, “If you give a little kiss to me, I’ll give it back yes sir’re.” their tiny voices rising above Marco's. “And that’s the maka laka what a kookie mookie pookie lala, maka laka what a kookie mookie pookie lullaby.” Marco strummed out the last notes with a bittersweet ending. His face shone with as much delight as those around him, laughing as he held his ground from the arms and kisses that threatened to smother him as April watched on with a satisfied smile. He turned to her, not seeing as the five men quietly left the doorway. All he saw was the adoration she held for the man and that’s all that mattered.

****************

“He’s coming, he’s coming,” Chet’s voice warned as he quickly headed back inside the kitchen, sending a flurry of men scurrying about to regain their positions. Ever since the incident at the hospital, they had all been walking around with “maka-laka” on the mind and Johnny and Chet had decided to do something about it. Having spent some time on one of the Islands himself, Dr. Brackett proudly offered to volunteer some of his, souvenirs for “the cause.”

“Guys,” Mike mumbled as a figure stepped into the door looking a bit haggard.

“Morning Marco,” Roy greeted first as Marco approached, “You uh...you have a nice weekend?” he smiled brightly, a twinkle in his eyes.

“It was alright,” Marco answered as he strolled over to the couch. “What the?” he stopped short of the site before him.

In the middle of the day room, spread across the floor was a makeshift beach, complete with sand. Two blow up palm trees stood on either side of a beach chair that was strategically placed beside a small blow up pool of water. A colorful beach ball floated lazily in the middle. Upon closer examination of the bottom of the pool he could make out shells and little plastic....

“Mermaids?!” he voiced aloud.

Marco frowned as he turned, the strumming of a ukelele catching his attention from behind him. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the site of Chet and Johnny, side by side, each in a grass skirt, coconut shell bikini tops over their button up work shirts as they swayed to the rhythm Chet provided for them.

From the doorway, Cap leaned, arms folded across his chest, a wide grin growing as the scene before him played out. Across the room a similar gesture was being spread between Mike and Roy as Chet and Johnny broke out into song.

“Wouldn’t ya like a little kiss,” they sang teasingly to the grown man before them, who’s mustached twitched nervously as they approached.

“Hey now,” Marco held up his hands to stop the forward motion. But they continued forward stepping before moving aside to let Mike present Marco with a shirt louder than Chet himself.

“You’re attire for the afternoon sir,” Mike grinned as he held the shirt up for Marco to see, “I can’t say much for the color, but I suppose it’ll work.”

Marco reached for the shirt, unsure what was taking place as he watched Mike step aside, Roy taking his place.

“Best if you watch your carbohydrates.” he held up a wicker tray with a tall bamboo glass, a pink umbrella dotting the rim. Beside it a plate of homemade cookies. “Mike made them, but I won’t be far in case you need me.”

Mike frowned at the comment before looking back as a speechless Marco shifted the Hawaiian shirt over his arm to accept the tray.

“You, uh..., you wanna tell me what's going on?” he questioned apprehensively watching from the corner of his eye as Captain Stanley strolled out the door.

“Just thought you needed a little vacation is all,” Chet answered, still strumming away happily still donned in his skirt and bikini top, “thought since you sang so fondly of that island...”

“ Mookie Pookie,” Mike finished with a relished grin.

“Yeah that’s it..Mookie Pookie,” Chet repeated, “and we all know how hard you work, we thought we’d help out. You know, a vacation.”

“Just next time,” Johnny added removing the costume, “pick someplace a little less, foreign.”

Before Marco could answer, the sound of a rapid jungle drum beat made it’s way into the kitchen followed by two authentic Hawaiian drummers in loin clothes, behind them, four long legs in grass skirts.

A smile appeared on Marco’s face as the dancers shimmed and swayed in time to the drums.

“I don’t know Johnny," Marco replied with a sheepish grin, "I kinda like exotic.” He turned to the paramedic who’s attention now too was refocused.

“Ya know,” Mike informed, watching as intently, “I think Chet and Johnny better keep their day jobs.”

Captain Stanley made his way over to Marco’s side, not surprised at how easily his men were caught up in the show before them.

“You heard?” Marco questioned softly, aware of the Captain’s presence.

The man nodded silently.

“She, uh...,” Marco swallowed back his emotions, not paying attention as the four others advanced themselves to get a closer look leaving him alone with Capt. “She would have been twelve.”

Once more Captain Stanley nodded, sympathetic of his man's hurt.

An outburst of laughter caused Marco to turn his attention back to the performance, Chet now in the middle of the Hawaiian ladies, trying his best to keep up. A chuckle escaped Marco’s lips. He watched for a moment more before shifting the shirt in his hands.

“Well,” he sighed as he straightened with a grin, “Guess I better start my vacation.”

The Captain grinned, nodding his head, “Guess so.”

With a pat on Marco’s back Captain Stanley watched as one of his own headed off to change, leaving a sing song trail behind him.

“There’s a tiny little island and they call it Mookie Pookie....”