No Trespassing
Page 9
“Oh, I’m okay, I guess. I’m living,” he said, laughing through coughs.
“Yeah,” Parker said, laughing along with him uneasily. “I’m really sorry I hit you with the pole. Oh, and for stabbing you.”
“It’s okay, kid. I know you were just doing what you had to do to protect you and your friends.”
“No hard feelings?” Parker asked, reaching his hand out to him.
“No hard feelings at all,” Petey said, shaking his hand. “I’ll see you around.”
“You will see me on Monday after school. Same time? Same place?”
“I’ll be there,” Petey said. He watched as Parker went over and joined his brother and his friends. “They are such sweet kids,” he said aloud. “I just wish they weren’t so nice to me.”
“Excuse me, Sir? You’re gonna need to go to the hospital for examination.”
“I can’t go there,” Petey replied.
“Are you refusing medical attention, Sir?”
“Refusing? I can’t afford it.”
“You are an elderly person, I’m pretty sure the state insurance will cover you and any medical bills that you may receive.”
“I hear you,” Petey said, climbing down off the gurney.
“Where are you going, Sir?”
“I told you, I cannot afford the hospital. Heck, I can’t even afford to sit up on your fancy paramedic bed. I’ll be just fine,” he said. He took three steps and doubled over in pain. The female paramedic ran over to him and helped him back to the ambulance.
“Look, Sir, I don’t care what you say. You are going to the hospital and you are going now,” she said. With the help of another paramedic, she was able to strap him on the gurney and put him in the back of the ambulance. She quickly hooked up an oxygen mask to his face for precaution. As the ambulance rode away from the ashes that were once Grady Hospital, Petey noticed that Parker’s mother and the other parents had arrived. His eyes zeroed in and locked in on Elaine. She looked all too familiar. As he dug into his thoughts he remembered who she was.
How on earth could I ever forget such a beautiful creation of God? he thought to himself. He remembered the last time he had seen her. He was walking past her when Grady Hospital was still open. She was the only nurse with brunette hair. She had freckles on both cheeks and brown eyes that matched her hair perfectly. Her skin was fair and her face reminded him of a cherub. He also remembered that the last time they locked eyes, she had tears in hers. She had shed enough tears for the both of them, as she apologized thousands of times for his losses.
After 45 long years, Petey finally shed a tear for the loss of his family. He had not only lost his wife, but his first and only child as well. And it was all his fault that he had missed out seeing them for one last time. He treated his company as a top priority rather than his wife and child. He walked around with regret all of these years. He laid back on the gurney and closed his eyes.
I’m sorry, he said to himself as his apology went up to the heavens to his wife and son. He felt relieved to finally be able to do that after all this time. The ambulance went over several speed bumps and turned so many corners before they arrived at Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lakewood. That was over thirty minutes from where he slept every day.
“Okay, Sir, we’re here,” the female paramedic said. “We just have to wait a few moments so they can get you a bed ready. Is that okay with you?”
“Sure, it’s fine. I’m just happy to have somewhere warm to sleep tonight.”
“Okay so can you tell me your name, Sir?”
“It’s Willie. Willie McNair.”
The paramedic froze in the middle of writing down his name on the paperwork. She looked at him and he stared back at her with the most evil grin she had ever seen in her life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
American author Rachelle Jarred is entranced by the magic of written words. She's had an unflinching love for writing since she was seven, and now lives her dream of being a published author and a poet. Writing is more than just her career; it's her way of life.
Rachelle prides herself on exploring multiple fiction genres. With sizzling hot erotica, blood-cuddling horror, and scintillating suspense, she has enticing packages for every book lover. She is looking forward to diving into children's stories in the near future.
She was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and currently works full-time as the CEO of BluGem Publishing where her books are published. Between her writing career and her life as a mother of two, Rachelle enjoys spending time with her loved ones and always makes time to help new authors find their way in the writing industry. She currently resides in Prince George’s County, Maryland.