Firefighters: A Short Story
Within a few minutes, the sound of sirens rushes across the school parking lot. The heat from the pavement causes the emergency vehicles to waver surreally, as if they're an illusion speeding toward me. I stand numbly next to the wreckage as the firefighters hurry forward to free the lady trapped inside her car. The kid who rolled off the side of the bleachers screams as the paramedics lift him onto a stretcher. His leg is twisted at an odd angle. It's definitely broken.
Coach points to me, and I'm cornered by a pair of medical technicians. They quickly begin triage and seem confused when they wipe away the dust and find that I'm perfectly unharmed. I snap out of it enough to convince them I'm not suffering from shock. While they're distracted I sneak away and make my way toward the crew working on the crushed car. The firefighters are holding what looks like a giant pair of pruning shears, and are clipping metal away …show more content…
I take a step back and my foot wobbles on something uneven in the dirt. I look down and see a screw as big around as my thumb and bent in the middle. I stoop down and roll it around in my hand. I've never picked up two souvenirs in the same week. A pair of hands grasp my elbows and a firefighter ushers me away from the growing pile of car scraps. Ben takes me from the firefighters grip.
"Are you okay? What did they say?" He asks.
"Let's just get out of here," I whisper, starting off toward the parking lot.
"Wait, we can't just leave. Don't we have to talk to someone? The paramedics?"
"I've seen them, I'm fine. Let's go," I say.
Ben doesn't say anything as he leads me to his car, but keeps eyeing me cautiously, like he expects me to break down and cry or something. He drives home too carefully, slowing his car to a crawl as we make corners. When we pull into my driveway he jumps out of the car to open my door for me. He gently grips my elbow and tries to lift me out of my seat. I twist my shoulder, pulling my arm out of his
Coach points to me, and I'm cornered by a pair of medical technicians. They quickly begin triage and seem confused when they wipe away the dust and find that I'm perfectly unharmed. I snap out of it enough to convince them I'm not suffering from shock. While they're distracted I sneak away and make my way toward the crew working on the crushed car. The firefighters are holding what looks like a giant pair of pruning shears, and are clipping metal away …show more content…
I take a step back and my foot wobbles on something uneven in the dirt. I look down and see a screw as big around as my thumb and bent in the middle. I stoop down and roll it around in my hand. I've never picked up two souvenirs in the same week. A pair of hands grasp my elbows and a firefighter ushers me away from the growing pile of car scraps. Ben takes me from the firefighters grip.
"Are you okay? What did they say?" He asks.
"Let's just get out of here," I whisper, starting off toward the parking lot.
"Wait, we can't just leave. Don't we have to talk to someone? The paramedics?"
"I've seen them, I'm fine. Let's go," I say.
Ben doesn't say anything as he leads me to his car, but keeps eyeing me cautiously, like he expects me to break down and cry or something. He drives home too carefully, slowing his car to a crawl as we make corners. When we pull into my driveway he jumps out of the car to open my door for me. He gently grips my elbow and tries to lift me out of my seat. I twist my shoulder, pulling my arm out of his