CHAPTER ONE: THE PARKING LOT
It was 14:20
on
Saturday afternoon. The Sun was shining in the September sky, and the
temperature was a warm 27º Celsius in the parking lot outside Piermont
Hall.
Eric saw the
disaster happen. A tot broke away from her parents and darted between
parked vehicles. Just then the driver of a pickup truck swung the truck
door open, into the child’s face. The kid fell down and began screaming.
Eric reached
into
his pocket and retrieved his telephone as he returned to his car to get
his first aid kit. The 9-1-1 dispatcher answered just as Eric returned
to where the child lay. The driver had emerged and was apologizing
profusely. The child’s parents were horrified.
“9-1-1
Emergency.
What is the location of your emergency?” the dispatcher asked.
“University
of
West Dakota at Talleyville, Piermont Hall parking lot, one three five
North University Avenue, Talleyville.” Eric recited, then he stood up
to look for a section sign on one of the overhead lights.
The nearest
one
said, “T23.”
“Section
Tango
two
three.” Eric continued, as he opened the first aid kit and poked around.
“What is the
nature of your emergency?” the dispatcher asked.
“Request
ambulance. Female victim approximately three years of age has been
struck in face by pickup truck door when swung open. Child is conscious
and responsive, bleeding from nose and left eye. Repeat, request
ambulance. Pickup truck license plate Alpha Foxtrot Zulu five two
seven, West Dakota. Driver remains on the scene.”
After
terminating
the call, Eric cried out, “Could somebody please bring some ice cubes?”
“I have some
ice
cubes in the freezer in my dorm room.” one student volunteered.
“Well, they
won’t
do us much good sitting in your freezer, now will they? Could you
kindly go get them?” Eric asked her.
“Yes, I
will.”
the
woman replied, and ran to the building.
Eric used
gauze
to
wipe up the blood, and then took another piece of gauze to hold the
girl’s nose closed to stop the bleeding. The driver continued
apologizing, mentioning that he couldn’t have seen the child
approaching. The girl’s parents spoke comforting words to her.
In two
minutes,
the woman returned with ice cubes. Eric accepted them and held one onto
the facial cut under the girl’s eye. Eric and the parents took turns
speaking comforting words, as the sound of sirens began filling the air.
When police
and
the ambulance arrived, Eric turned first aid duties over to them.
“Thanks for the ice cubes.” he said. “What’s your name?”
“Sarah.” she
answered.
Eric told
the
cop
what happened, as did the driver and the girl’s parents. Then Eric
walked away.
En route to
the
dormitory, some classmates greeted Eric, “Good work, dude!”
Eric looked
back
at the scene and shrugged, “Yeah, I guess.”
HOME PAGE
CHAPTER
TWO:
THE COMPUTER
CHAPTER THREE:
THE LOUNGE
CHAPTER FOUR:
THE CAFETERIA
CHAPTER FIVE:
THE PARTY
CHAPTER SIX:
LUNCH
CHAPTER
SEVEN:
MELISSA
WORRIES
CHAPTER EIGHT:
MELISSA’S PROJECT
CHAPTER NINE:
THE TEMPLE
CHAPTER TEN:
RECRUITMENT
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
THE PLANNING
CHAPTER TWELVE:
OPERATION UNDERWAY
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN: OPERATION MOVED
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN: GLORIA
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN: THE DISCUSSION
GLOSSARY
Copyright
2007 Tom Alciere