by Ed Nelson
I was brought to America when I was three in 1947 and hadn’t been back, so I didn’t know my English grandparents.
Dad’s talking was interesting enough to get me to Janet’s house without throwing up. I think that’s why he did it. When I went in Mr. Huber was waiting. I remembered him as a nice friendly man. The person I met looked like he wanted to tear my head off.
Dad lent me moral support by waiting in the car, thanks Dad.
Mr. Huber took me out to the kitchen for a Man to Man talk. When we got there all of a sudden he relaxed and was the Mr. Huber I remembered, a smiling friendly man. What really got me was I now was taller than him.
He said, “Ricky I had orders to scare you to death so you would treat my daughter with respect. You will won’t you?”
“Yes sir,” I replied.
“Good, now that is over tell me about beating Urbana in golf.”
I described the match as best as I could. He then said, okay let’s join the women; and please try to look a little frightened. Maybe hang your head down till you get out the door. I did and was glad to escape.
When dad asked, I told him how it went.
He snorted and said, “Just be glad you weren’t any older or he would have been cleaning a gun while he talked to you.”
I wondered if I would ever be issued a handbook on life, it sure would help.
I cheated on my reading that night; I reread an old favorite, “A Study in Scarlet.”
Tuesday I woke up to a downpour, it was the nasty cold fall type of rain. There would be no running today. Dad hadn’t been called to work for several days, so he loaded us kids into the car and drove us to school. Having an attached garage was really neat that day. The garage on Detroit Street wasn’t attached and was so stuffed with junk you couldn’t park a car in it anyway. We would have drowned getting to the car.
Thinking about that garage made me wonder, there was a stout work bench there, were we going to leave it? I asked Dad during the drive and he told me he intended to move it to our new garage. There was plenty of room in the garage as we had only one car.
He was just waiting for the time and a nice day for him and Uncle Jim to move it. My Dad has four living brothers all local, Ross, Gene, Jim and Wally. Dad fell between Ross and Gene. Jim and Wally were half-brothers. This gives me a lot of cousins but I’m the oldest, so I don’t have a lot to do with them.
At school the place smelled of damp wool as the radiators heated up and dried all the wet coats. It was cool now, but would be roasting before the day was over. Mr. Harper the school janitor continuously mopped the floor, as we brought mud in. He normally wasn’t the most cheerful person; today he wore a large frown.
Since they couldn’t wait outside today, sneaking a smoke or just talking, students were milling around in the halls. Fortunately I was large enough to push my way through to my locker. Some of the smaller freshman just seemed to push in place getting nowhere.
I took pity on a classmate, Linda Harvey and helped her and two friends through the crowd at the door. A quick, “thanks” and we separated.
Homeroom was full early and noisy. My homeroom teacher, Mr. Watkins stood by the door and watched the class while also doing hall monitoring. Pretty soon announcements came over the school PA; among these, no golf practice today. After the announcements we all stood for the pledge and prayer.
The bell rang and it was time to go to our first class. I was caught up as usual on all my work, so I spent time keeping ahead. The day seemed to take forever; I think it had to do with the rooms getting warmer all day long. Those radiators kept putting out the heat. After lunch everyone appeared sleepy, even our teachers!
By the time school was out it had stopped raining, so I walked downtown with the intention of getting something to eat at Don’s Hamburgers. It was a general hangout for kids after school who could afford it.
Only freshmen and up were seen there, and this was my first visit. I wanted to see how the elite of Bellefontaine lived. Somehow I don’t think John Wayne or Elvis would be overwhelmed by the ambiance.
The busiest intersection in town was Main and Sandusky, US 33 and US 68 met there. If you were passing through Bellefontaine you used these roads. Travelers didn’t know how dangerous crossing this intersection could be. When I was the paperboy on this route I saw near misses several times a week.
I was waiting for the traffic light to change. This is about the only light in town that people waited for before crossing. I watched as a long distance truck slid through a red light; he was coming down Sandusky Street with its long hill, he applied his brakes, but the road was wet and he just slid into the intersection.
It collided with a south bound car and tore it up pretty bad. He had hit the front end and spun the car around so it was now facing north. The engine compartment was open with the hood bent right over the roof of the car. Smoke was starting to curl out; a fire could start at any moment.
I ran over to the car to see if I could help. There were two people in the car. I later learned they were a married couple from Kenton, Ohio. They were John and Marge Sutton. That didn’t matter at the time.
He had hit the steering wheel pretty hard and she had broken the windshield with her head. They were both unconscious. As I was looking in the window I noticed that now flames were coming out of the engine.
In Scouts we were taught not to move injured people if we could avoid it. This time moving them couldn’t be avoided. I got her out of the car, carrying her over to the library. The library was right at the corner and had a small lawn which was raised above the side walk level. I laid her in the grass and ran back for her husband.
By now the car was really starting to burn, but I was able to get him out of the car. Seat belts weren’t required and were only used on race cars, so I was able to get them both out of the car without any problems.
He was very heavy, so I put him in a fireman’s carry and got him away from the burning car. As I carried him I saw people just standing there like they didn’t know what to do.
By the time I got him to the library lawn his wife was coming around. I looked back and the truck driver had gotten out of his truck and wasn’t moving away, he was too close to the flames so I led him to the others. He must be in shock because he went with me with no resistance. By this time other people had arrived. Dr. Costin’s office was across the street so he and his nurses had come out and were just starting to examine the Sutton’s.
Chapter 25
There was really nothing more for me to do, so I walked on downtown with every intention of going to Don’s. I wondered if I would go into shock like I did after the Colorado bank robbery, but apparently only killing people did that to me.
Walking by Wingers Plumbing I had a thought and went in. I asked Mr. Winger at the counter if they carried adjustable shower heads. He didn’t know what I was talking about.
After I explained what I was looking for he pulled out catalogs from Moen and Delta. They didn’t have anything like that. All shower heads were made to send out a stream of water straight in front. What direction you aimed it when installing was where it went.
Mr. Winger laughed and said, “That sounds handy, you should invent one.”
I thanked him and left.
At Don’s there was one good thing, ‘Rock and Roll Cowboy’ had been removed from the juke box, that thing had run its course.
I had a hamburger, fries and a coke. While I was eating at the counter several kids came in and talked about the big wreck downtown. Two people were hurt, but no one was dead. A car caught fire and burned completely. Some guy ran into flames ten feet high and got the people out. The fire department had put the fire out, but traffic was a mess.
I thought about what those kids had said, there were no ten foot high flames when I carried the people out. If it got out that I did it, would I have to go through the hero worship then shunning that occurred after my summer vacation. Neither the hero worship nor shunning was an experience I wanted t
o repeat.
There weren’t any of my classmates to talk to at Don’s. All the tables and booths were filled with juniors and seniors. Eleanor Price was there but didn’t say, “Hi”, I’m not even certain she had noticed me.
I went on home. I had already read my chapters ahead and worked the problems in the back of the book so I didn’t have much to do till dinner.
So I started to read another book, this one about the injustice of being wounded in World War I while being an ambulance driver. He makes many bad decisions and ends up alone. What a sad useless story with no point other than life isn’t always fair and war is bad. Bill Samson had taught me that lesson.
At dinner Dad told Mum about a big wreck downtown. They were looking for the person who had pulled the passengers out of the burning car. He made it sound like fifteen foot tall flames and a gas explosion. The hero had just walked away and they didn’t know who he was.
Now I had a decision to make, but I didn’t want to talk in front of Denny or Eddie, they would blab it all over their schools. After dinner as I helped with dishes, the other kids had moved to the TV so I let Mum and Dad know I was the one who pulled the people out of the car. I also told Dad the flames had just started and weren’t that strong, and the gas tank hadn’t blown up, at least while I was there.
They asked why I had left and I explained they were being cared for by professionals, so there was nothing to do. I explained that I had time to think about it, and that my last brush with fame had some problems that I would prefer to avoid. They weren’t real happy but were willing to let it all go.
That lasted for all of about two minutes; then the doorbell rang. It was the police.
Dad answered the door and they asked if Richard Jackson was home. He called me to the door. They didn’t look like they were here to sell me a ticket to the policeman’s ball. When I identified myself, they asked if I was at the earlier scene of the accident. There wasn’t any way I could get out of this. Someone had recognized me and given them my name.
“Yes, I was.”
I had been told by Elvis and Tab in Mexico when dealing with the police to only answer their questions and don’t volunteer anything. I didn’t know if that only held with Mexican Police but I decided not to take any chances.
“We know you pulled the Suttons out of the vehicle.”
“I didn’t know their names.”
“Did you actually see the accident occur?”
“Yes, I did.”
“What happened?”
“The truck was trying to stop for the red light, but the road was so wet, he just slid into the intersection.”
“Did he appear to be speeding?”
“Not really, it looked like he had enough clear distance to stop if the roads weren’t wet.”
One of the policemen was taking notes as I was speaking.
“Why did you leave the scene?”
“I had helped all that I could; the team from Dr. Costin’s office was there, so there was nothing else I could do.”
“You certainly saved their lives. For your information both will live. She has a lacerated scalp and is being kept under observation for a possible concussion. He has broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder and definitely a concussion. They would never have gotten out before that fire if you hadn’t helped.”
“I’m glad I could.”
“You shouldn’t have left the scene, but since we have been so busy this has been our first chance to interview you, so there is no problem. If something like this ever happens again please stick around.”
The cop then relaxed his demeanor, “Rick you are a hero here, I know about your notoriety recently and can understand why you are trying to keep a low profile. However, the law is pretty sticky about leaving the scene, so please be careful in the future.”
“I will Officer Wilgus,” reading it off his name badge.
They thanked me for my time and turned to go. The officer whose name I had missed; started laughing.
“At least we got here and are done before George turned up this time. Half the time he beats us to the person.”
Reporter George Weaver had just pulled up. As he came up the walk Dad invited him in. He was now like a friend of the family.
“George, took you long enough, there should be some coffee on.”
George said, “I have been at the hospital checking on the accident victims, a Sutton family from Kenton. The truck driver is being charged for going too fast for conditions. Can I have milk instead?”
This was all in one breath.
“So, you’ve heard about Rick’s latest?”
“Yep, you might have to keep that boy locked up at home.”
As this banter was going on we had moved to the kitchen and sat down. Mum got busy with the coffee for Dad; and milk for George. Apparently I was on my own. As I was mixing a glass of Tang I asked, “How did they know it was me?”
“Ricky you have been going to Dr. Costin’s since you were five years old, how would they not know it was you.” There went the last thin chance of keeping things quiet. I patiently answered Mr. Weaver’s questions.
When he asked me how I knew what to do I gave credit to my Boy Scout training. It then came out, from a proud Mum that I had my first aid merit badge, and had completed my Eagle requirements and was just waiting for the award, which would be after the first of next year.
We talked about my leaving the scene. George thought for a moment.
“I will present the truth. The police knew you were the hero. They didn’t have time to talk to you so they interviewed you at home later.”
That was very interesting. What Mr. Weaver was going to write was absolutely correct, but far from the whole story. I wondered how many other things I heard and read were like that.
That night I couldn’t get into reading. I kept wondering about what I had read in my history books. Were they telling the truth, but not the whole story? I had read somewhere that the winners write the history books. This put a whole new perspective on what I was learning at school.
Chapter 26
Wednesday I had a preview of what school would be like when Tom and Bill said, “Hello Hero,” as I came out the door.
At least they were being nice about it. My recent experiences had taught me that everything wouldn’t be seen in a good light.
“Hi guys, all I did was to help get them out of their car before the fire spread. The fire was just starting and I was never in danger.”
Tom said, “How can you be so calm about that? I would have stood there too long wondering what I should do. I probably would’ve run into the library and called the fire department.”
Bill helpfully added, “I would’ve crapped in my pants.”
“Not a pleasant thought Bill,” I replied.
That started an argument between Tom and Bill half way to school about when it was acceptable to crap your pants. Finally they asked my opinion. I considered it for a minute and finally came out with, “I guess when there are no other options it is okay.”
They wanted examples. “Well if the guy has a gun and you don’t and he is pulling the trigger and your feet are set in cement so you can’t move, why the heck are we talking about this anyway? It’s just plain stupid!”
This high toned conversation got us to school.
Of course by the time I was in my homeroom the car had not only burned and exploded plus the library was half gone. There was even damage to the Kennedy Funeral Parlor across from the library. Before lunch the exploding car would probably be launched high enough to be spotted by the radar station on Campbell’s hill.
The word had gone out that I was the one who pulled the people out of the car. I tried to explain to everyone who would listen that it wasn’t that big of a deal. The story just kept going around and around. It reached its peak at noon in the cafeteria.
People kept coming up to me asking questions about risking my life. I couldn’t take any more. I stood up on a table and got every ones attentio
n. I started talking before the teachers on duty could get to me.
Once I said the whole story was wrong they slowed down to see what I would say. I gave the story as it really occurred. The flames were just starting and I was never in danger.
Yes, they would’ve been in trouble if I hadn’t got them out. I wasn’t some superhero, just a guy that moved two people from point A to point B at the correct time. Now let it rest, please.
When I shut up silence reigned. I started to get down from the table then the applause started, it kept going and going. Then someone started chanting, “Go Bellefontaine.” Even the two teachers were clapping. I left my lunch and walked out the door, kids were touching me as I went by. I marched out the door and walked up the hill and went home. These people were crazy.
Mum wanted to know what I was doing home so early. I didn’t even know what to tell her, the world didn’t seem real. I just walked by her as the phone started ringing.
Mary was in the front room and saw me, “Oh good Rick, you’re just in time for tea.” She had a tea party set up with her dolls. I spent the rest of the afternoon at the party.
Dad got home about three o’clock, I could hear him and Mum talking in the kitchen. Mary was tired of playing tea party so she told us the royal audience was over we commoners could now leave.
Not wanting to be thrown into a royal dungeon I bowed to her Majesty and took my leave. Mum really has to quit reading the stories in that magazine to Mary. Some are fact and some are fiction, I can see the future Queen on the phone now, “Off with their heads!”
Dad was waiting in the kitchen. He gestured that I should sit down. Mum was nowhere around.
“Rick I hear it was rough for you at school today.”
