School Days

by Ed Nelson

  He said, “Good, my butt is getting cold.”

  We’ll get you warm in a minute.

  “I don’t need that I will just right the bike and ride home.”

  Then it struck me the guy had not seen his ankle and didn’t understand how bad it was. He would certainly go into shock.

  I asked him his name. “Sam Butler”

  “Where do you live Sam,” I asked.

  I was trying to keep him engaged until help arrived.

  “We are new to the area. I live out on Ludlow Road.”

  “I know the area. How far out?”

  “Right outside the city limits it’s just past Dr. Irwin’s veterinary clinic.”

  About that time Mary returned with a stack of blankets. She must have collected six of them.

  With the help of two other guy’s we lifted him without moving his ankle around too much. At least he didn’t scream in agony. Mary then wrapped the blankets around him. His pupils were dilated. If not in shock he was going fast.

  “Sam do you know your telephone number.”

  He gave it to me. Fortunately Mary Giles had pencil and paper and wrote it down.

  “Sam, I will call your parents while they take you to the hospital.”

  “Why do I have to go the hospital?”

  “Sam you have broken your ankle pretty badly.”

  At that he tried to look, but I gently kept him from leaning over to see. I could hear the ambulance siren in the distance. Another three minutes and the ambulance people were there. They didn’t mess around after one quick look they had him on a wheeled stretcher and out of there.

  About that time Sergeant Woodruff of the Bellefontaine Police showed up. He homed in on us that were at the scene.

  “What happened?” he asked in general.

  About six kids started to talk.

  He pointed at one, “You first.”

  He had a little notebook out and wrote each kids name down along with their phone number. He also took down Sam Butlers name as the driver of the Moped. Everyone made a point that he was chasing people and acting crazy on the bike.

  When it was Mary Giles turn we found out her family didn’t have a telephone yet. I knew that a lot of people hadn’t put them in yet, but I was surprised her family didn’t have one because they weren’t poor. The sergeant wrote down her address instead.

  Everyone was telling him the exact same story so he stopped that line of questioning.

  “Okay I see someone had him wrapped in blankets for shock what other treatment was he given?”

  At that point everyone looked at me.

  “Sergeant there wasn’t anything we could do at the scene, without making it worse. I looked at it and didn’t touch, or turn anything.”

  “Good job, I’ve seen more damage done by people trying to help than you can imagine. Now who made the phone call, whoever called gave the information and hung up before they heard his name.”

  Bill Barnett and his twin Bob were standing right there so they waved their hands and told the Sergeant it was them. Since they were nine years old they deserved a little slack.

  “Good job on the call, it is a good thing you made it.”

  Bob spoke up, “Ricky gave us dimes and sent us to make the call. He even told us to dial the operator.”

  The Sergeant didn’t say anything but did look at me and nod his head.

  “Now I have to get to the hospital and find out the kids phone number.

  Mary spoke up, “I have it right here, Rick had me write it down.”

  The Sergeant looked at Mary and said, “Busy little beaver isn’t he?”

  That could have been nasty but it wasn’t. He was smiling when he said it.”

  “Sam is lucky that Rick knew what to do.”

  “Rick, how did you know what to do?

  “Boy Scouts first aid training.”

  Denny spoke up then, “He is getting his Eagle next month.”

  The Sergeant shook my hand and said, “Welcome to the club I earned mine before the war. Of course it was a lot harder in those days!”

  I guess I had a funny look on my face because he burst out laughing.

  “I always wanted to use that line. I don’t think the Scouting program has changed at all.”

  He picked up the Moped and started wheeling it to his cruiser.

  As he wheeled it away he said, “I will call the parents and let them know what happened. Good job everyone.”

  A couple of us helped him lift the Moped into the police cruiser trunk.

  Just as the Sergeant climbed into his cruiser, George Weaver from the Bellefontaine Examiner showed up. The Sergeant didn’t stop for him. He just waved as he drove away.

  Mr. Weaver looked around and made a beeline to me.

  “Okay Rick what are you involved with this time.”

  I gave him my best Charlie Brown voice and said, “Whys everybody always pickin on me?”

  He chuckled and then asked, “Seriously what happened.”

  I told him about Sam Butler breaking an ankle by tipping his bike on the ice.”

  “What sort of fool would ride a Moped on the ice?”

  “Sam Butler?”

  Mary Giles was standing there and she broke in with, “Rick is the hero he knew what to do.”

  Mr. Weaver looked at me, “What did you do?”

  “Sent for help, wrapped him in blankets. Not much. You don’t mess around with a compound fracture. He may never walk right. Anything I would’ve done would make it even worse. So I really did nothing.”

  “You never do Rick, you never do.”

  ‘This isn’t going to be in the paper is it?”

  “Probably just in the day’s report of ambulance runs.”

  Mary broke in, “You should have Ricks picture in the paper!”

  Mary was a couple of years behind me in school. I think she was in the seventh grade. She was as cute as a button but I think I was seeing a case of hero worship or worse yet infatuation.

  “Thanks for the kind thought Mary but having your picture in the paper isn’t always a good thing. It might look good, but not all people see it that way.”

  Mr. Weaver speaking from his years of experience said, “You’ve got that right.”

  You could see that Mary wasn’t buying it. I would have to watch myself around her. Of course when I was a senior she would be a sophomore. Yes, I had better watch myself. I wonder what she would look like after she attained her growth and filled out.

  That event took the fun out of the day so Denny and I went home. I spent the rest of the afternoon reading. Today I was sailing aboard HMS Lydia. I had read the books so many times I wasn’t worried about reading them in order.

  Besides I wouldn’t have to worry about the author’s continuity error. In the second book whose events occurred after the first book he had my sailor five years younger than in the first book.

  I suspect that was a calculated decision made after the success of the first book. This way the sailor’s career and advancements could be in war time.

  Chapter 37

  Christmas Eve I woke to a light snow. We would have a white Christmas. I couldn’t help it. I put my White Christmas album on the stereo. I didn’t turn it up very loud, but while I did my exercise it put me in the mood.

  Dad fixed pancakes for breakfast. It was one of the few times of the year we had the traditional breakfast food for breakfast, usually they were for dinner. We also had bacon, eggs, toast, orange juice and coffee for those who wanted it. It was one of our family traditions.

  We also gathered in the living room and put the last touches on the Christmas tree. Other families had theirs up and decorated for weeks. We had the bulbs and lights on, but we now strung the construction paper chains, the buckeye ropes and popcorn strings we had made.

  Mum hung the aluminum icicles that she insisted on calling chaff. She really made me wonder at times. Dad performed the finishing touch of putting the angel on top of the tree. Mary plugged
in the lights and we now had the official Jackson family Christmas tree. It was beautiful.

  It kept snowing lightly all day. Since the ground was frozen, by ten o’clock everything was covered. We had two inches of fluffy powder by noon. Denny and Eddie bundled up and took off with a broom and shovel.

  Mum had given strict orders that they were to clear the steps and sidewalks of Mrs. Cobain’s and Ferguson, both widows and friends of the family and to take no money. Then they were free to make as much as their little capitalist hearts desired.

  I did our drive way and walks. I thought about going back in the house with my hand held out, but then decided I like having a hand.

  We loafed around all afternoon. I thought about taking the time to sew all the patches and badges on my scout uniforms which had arrived, but decided I wasn’t up to that. There was something like eleven different items to be attached.

  At least I wasn’t in a leadership position anymore so that was one less badge to sew on. Now that was interesting, at one time I wanted to be a leader so bad and was so proud when I made it, now it was one less badge to sew.

  Church service was at five o’clock. Services would last for about one hour then there was a potluck dinner afterwards. Mum was told not to bring anything, so she only baked a cake. I’m sure there is a rulebook somewhere.

  We all dressed a little early. Mum and Dad looked very professional middle class in their new outfits. I thought I looked spiffy in my newest suit and tie. I had also picked up a dress overcoat on my trip to Lazarus and a new hat.

  The coat was a Chesterfield in a black herringbone with a plush velvet collar. The hat a black Homburg and my gloves were a pair of thin black leather driving gloves. My shoes were black Florsheim Imperial wingtips. I had thought about a cane, but that might have been over the top.

  It really felt good dressing like an adult. The seniors at school dressed like this every chance they could. I should do the same. For freshmen dressing up was khaki pants, a white shirt with buttoned down collar and a vee neck sweater. It really helped if they were all clean.

  We arrived at church a little late and it turned out a good thing we did. The church was standing room only. After we stacked our coats and hats on a table since all the hooks were taken in the cloak room we stood along the wall.

  The reason it was a good thing we were late was that there were two groups, those that came every Sunday and had their regular places to sit. Just like in school if we didn’t have assigned seating we would sit anywhere, but from then on that is where we would sit.

  The other group only came on Easter and Christmas. Since this was a special event for them they would show up early to get seats. The regulars would show up at the normal time thinking their seats would be available. I’m not sure if the looks exchanged or comments muttered were a sin or not. If they were half the congregation was on its way to hell.

  I was really surprised to see Cheryl Hawthorne and her mother Cynthia. The man with them in the uniform of a full colonel in the U.S. Air Force must be her father, Jim. I should’ve worn my cowboy hat.

  The service went well. The scripture read was the Christmas Story. The sermon was how mankind always has hope. The music was the best part. When four hundred people sing, “Joy to the World the Lord has come,” you have to feel something. Mary became tired so Mum took her out to the lobby.

  At the end of the service Dad went out to the car to retrieve the cake for the dinner. We met Mum and Mary coming out of a class room that had been set up for tired kids. Mary was now wide awake and had made two new friends.

  When we went downstairs we were all encouraged to sit at a table. Cheryl and Cynthia were waving us over. They had saved seats for us. There would be nine of us at a ten person table. Cheryl introduced me to her father. It was maneuvered around that I sat between him and Cheryl.

  We shook hands. At least he didn’t deck me. Though after I had that thought I realized I was probably six inches taller and forty pounds heavier. It would’ve taken him a lot of decking!

  We were just sitting down when a voice came over the indoor loudspeaker. An airman in class A uniform was standing at the microphone.

  He said, “Colonel I have an urgent report from the radar station.”

  My heart sank I remembered the last time something urgent happened out there.

  He continued, “Radar operators have identified an incoming flight from the North.”

  I felt even worse. Would it be Tu-95 Bears with nuclear weapons?

  “It appears to be a sled being pulled by eight tiny reindeer.”

  I thought I was going to throw up the relief was so intense. Mum, Dad and I exchanged quick looks. Dad shook his head slightly.

  The place went into an uproar, every kid in the room was dancing and yelling, like it was Christmas Eve and Santa was on the way or something.

  I looked up and Cheryl’s Dad was looking at me. He had a very satisfied look on his face.

  He leaned over and whispered, “That must have been some night out at the base. I still can’t find out exactly what happened, though I’m beginning to get an idea.”

  “Sir I have been requested not to discuss any of those events unless directed by the Department of Justice.”

  “That’s the only way you didn’t end up in jail. The FBI and Air Force blew it, now it has been buried deep.”

  “Sir, you are putting me in a bad position.”

  “I know it son and it will stop right here. It was driving me crazy, Tom Manning is a good officer, he would really have had to do something wrong to get relieved of his command. Not having the troops armed is one thing. Not having them armed when it was needed is another.”

  “He and everyone involved was transferred out to places where I couldn’t contact them. They are in Greenland or Alaska. You can tell some fencing has been replaced. There are brand new signs up that state no unauthorized weapons are allowed on base. I won’t push you on this, but it looks like you did a whole lot more right than wrong that night.”

  I turned away to face Cheryl. I had to end this conversation! She had been listening to our exchange.

  Speaking to her Dad she said, “Mom and I were right, he is okay.”

  Now it was the Colonels turn to bail out of a conversation, “We will talk at home.”

  Fortunately, just then the airman in uniform joined us at the table as our tenth person.

  The Colonel told him, “Well done.”

  The Colonel introduced Jim Markus to us. It turned out Jim attended church here on a regular basis so the Colonel asked him to participate with the announcement. I had to wonder what the Colonel had in mind when he set it up. He couldn’t have known we would be there could he?

  A few minutes later Mum was talking to Cynthia Hawthorne and

  I heard her say, “I am so glad I called you earlier today. I didn’t realize how hot it would get in here. We would have been so overdressed.”

  I guess you don’t get to be a full Colonel by being stupid.

  We all filed through the dinner line and helped ourselves to all the food. I went back twice and then had a big slice of apple pie for dessert. Next, Santa was on the agenda. All the kids were given a present.

  I was kind of surprised to still be considered a kid. I received a small finger nail file kit. Every kid over age thirteen was given the same type of kit. Are they trying to tell us something?

  Cheryl asked me if I was going caroling with the youth group.

  I gave a quick look to Dad and he nodded yes, so I told her, “Of course.”

  She squealed like girls tend to do and said, “Oh good we have all the regular carols and we thought we would do some goofy stuff like, ‘Rock and Roll Cowboy.”

  “You have to be kidding me. Have I been set up,”

  I asked in put off tone of voice?

  “Big time buster,” she said with a smile.

  “I have come to hate that song and regret ever doing it.”

  The Colonel started roaring, “
You’re that Ricky Jackson?”

  He was laughing so hard that I thought or hoped that he might choke

  Cheryl looked at her Dad who was still sputtering.

  “Daddy, I’m sure that Ricky will be glad to take you out and play golf someday. He could really use your help with his game.”

  He nodded, but now looked confused. Heck, I knew the inside stories and I was getting confused.

  Cheryl and I edged our way out. Mum asked what time I would be home. Cheryl told her it would only be a couple of hours at the most.

  We had fun caroling and didn’t sing that song.

  We were only out for an hour then spent half an hour having hot chocolate at our last stop which was at one of our groups home. By the time I walked Cheryl home and gave her a very light goodnight kiss I returned home in exactly two hours.

  Mum made the comment, “I think I like that girl. She keeps good time.”

  I responded, “I like her also.”

  We had the kids Christmas exchange before we went to bed. We did this so those presents wouldn’t get lost in the morning rush. It also took some of the edge off of the excitement.

  Mary loved the stuffed wolf toy I gave her. I wondered how long it would be around. It would probably be in the closet in six months and the Salvation Army bin next year.

  The boys opened their Etch-a-Sketches and were working like crazy. They are cool. I wish I had one. I was really surprised with what my brothers and sister gave me. They obviously had help from Dad.

  Denny gave me a civil war rucksack, Eddie a canteen and Mary a housewife which is what the soldiers called their sewing kits. They were all I needed to complete my outfit.

  Tonight my sailor was in Copenhagen. He attended a party and was very hungry. All they had were small plates of finger food. So he ate them till he was full. When they opened the doors to the dining room he realized they were what the French called Hors d'oeuvre. He now had to eat enough of a meal to show good manners! Lady Barbara Wellesley thought it was funny.