The Accident, Part I

Getting ready for the funeral director’s meeting was his next move on his game plan for the evening, but that all changed when the phone rang. Answering it with his usual greeting, he was unprepared for the panic he heard in her voice on the other end.

               

                “I need you. Please, please come.” All his parental instincts kicking in, he nodded his head, though she couldn’t see it.

                “Where are you?” he asked, as he heard the panic and fear in her voice.

                “Um. West Blvd. and Denison, no wait. Um West Blvd…I’m by the rapid station on West Blvd. Please come.” He heard her voice break. Already pulling on his coat and grabbing his phone, he quickly assured her he was coming, transferred the phones and left. Something was wrong, and she needed him.

~

                Pulling up to the traffic light at the boulevard and Detroit, he saw why she had called. Her precious blue Ford Explorer sat in the middle of the street facing the wrong way. Looking out the window, he saw her near the car, several fireman surrounding her, as she strained to see the silver paneled van in the distance. As the light turned green, he went threw the intersection and pulled into the rapid station parking lot where he parked the van and got out. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly before getting out, knowing that she was going to need him as level headed as possible. Walking over to the cross walk, he began to survey the damage. Her car was smashed. Not terribly, but the front end would need some work. Another car appeared to be dented, while a third one was missing the front end. As he waited to cross, she final caught sight of him and breaking free ran over to her. She’s walking, he thought to himself. So that’s a good thing. Coming towards her, he reached out his arms as she went right into them, her head resting on his shoulder. Closing them around her, he sighed. She was safe, and his tachycardia heart rhythm could final begin to slow down.

                “What happened?” he questioned her gently as she tried to fight back her tears. She was shivering, despite having her heavy winter jacket on, and that caused him to hold her just a little bit tighter. His only concern at that moment was to see if she was hurt.

                “I don’t know. I was heading to my meeting for basketball. I rounded the corner and the car got away from me. My parents are going to kill me.” She said, still shivering, as he led them back to where everybody was standing. “This is something my brother does. Not me. I’m the good one.” She cried. Reaching the cops he sighed.

                “Are you her father?” he was immediately questioned, but he shook his head. “I’m her boss. What happened here?” he asked in reply, as he was filled in, not letting her out of his sight. As the officer finished, a paramedic came up to her.

                “You okay? Are you sure you don’t want to go get checked out?” he asked her, as she shook her head. All she wanted was a bottle of aspirin, a hot shower and a warm blanket.

                “I’m…I’m good. I’m okay.” She said shakily as he looked at her.

                “Maybe you should go get checked out.” He suggested but she continued to shake her head.

                “I’m okay, really.” She answered, as he smiled, trying to calm her down.

~

                 “You need to sit down at least.” He insisted, as she looked at him. “You’re freezing. Let’s go sit down.” He repeated, as she looked nodded at him, her body going into a state of controlled shock. Leading her back to the van, he opened the door, and she climbed in. Closing the door, she let her tears flow. Standing right outside the door, he sighed, as he heard the faint sounds of her crying through the glass. She was scared, and in shock and at that moment in time, the closest thing she had to a parent. Watching her brother and his friend fix the car enough to drive, he silently climbed into the driver’s seat and lead them to her house. As she finished her call to the insurance company, he opened her door and helped her out of the car.

               

                “Thank…thank you.” She said shakily as he smiled at her.

                “You’re welcome. Go inside, rest. And go to your thing tomorrow and have a good time okay. Don’t let this ruin that. Everything is going to be just fine, alright.” He said, as she shook her head and her brother and his friend led her into the house, one on either side. As they went in, he climbed back into the van and drove back to the funeral home. He had missed the director’s meeting, but he didn’t care. He knew he was needed elsewhere that night.