On Luck

[micropolitan guy]

I think I'll figure that out first, just what the options are. If there is a paid lunch available, then that's probably easiest, right? Just write a cheque for the rest of the year and don't say anything to mom? Maybe you're right.

Find out what's up, put something on the board or just give me your address via a PM and I'll throw in $20, that should cover a couple weeks. Maybe we all can fund a couple lunch programs there.

We've all had people help us along the way. It's cliche but it never hurts to pay it forward.

 

[Tweener]

I don't think that's true. A lot of people wouldn't have gone to the lengths detailed here, but I believe most people would have stopped initially at such a scene.

Because this was described as a small town, yes. People would have stopped. Not many would have stopped in a bigger town, from my experience.

 

[Tweener]

It was $40! I was just writing up an invoice for Lizzy's mom.

I was just thinking what I would have done if my ex couldn't have picked up my eldest yesterday. Not sure how that would have played out. Still feel bad I missed swimming.

Thanks for sharing. Restores some of my faith in humanity and the world we live in. There are still good, thoughtful people out there. I know that wasn't your point, and my heart breaks for the girl and her family, but I'm glad to hear that some stil see and understand how the world works and have a desire to change it.

 

[Dyno]

Because this was described as a small town, yes. People would have stopped. Not many would have stopped in a bigger town, from my experience.

In early December, I was walking down the street in DC and about a half block in front of me, I saw a woman standing by herself fall to the ground. A few people closer to her than me saw it happen, too, and kept walking. By the time I got to her, a man and a woman had stopped to check on her. She was conscious and talking but seemed a little out of it. I stayed to see if I could help and ended up being the one to call 911 and flag down the fire truck. By the time the paramedics arrived, a few other people came by to see what was going on, but I couldn't believe how many people saw the initial fall and did nothing.

 

[typefitter]

In early December, I was walking down the street in DC and about a half block in front of me, I saw a woman standing by herself fall to the ground. A few people closer to her than me saw it happen, too, and kept walking. By the time I got to her, a man and a woman had stopped to check on her. She was conscious and talking but seemed a little out of it. I stayed to see if I could help and ended up being the one to call 911 and flag down the fire truck. By the time the paramedics arrived, a few other people came by to see what was going on, but I couldn't believe how many people saw the initial fall and did nothing.

I wonder how many people think that someone else will come along and deal with it.

I do think people are more likely to look past an adult than a child. Lizzy's actually older than I thought she was at first. I would have guessed 10 or 11 from when I first saw her. No one was going past her.

One thing I forgot to say about Lizzy, and this helps explain in part what kind of kid she is: When she first came to, she started yelling "Fire!"

I had no idea what she was on about and thought she was just confused, but she said later that she'd heard somewhere that people come when you yell "Fire!"

No idea if that's true.

 

[typefitter]

Thanks for sharing. Restores some of my faith in humanity and the world we live in. There are still good, thoughtful people out there. I know that wasn't your point, and my heart breaks for the girl and her family, but I'm glad to hear that some stil see and understand how the world works and have a desire to change it.

Most people are good. I really believe that.

 

[Dyno]

One thing I forgot to say about Lizzy, and this helps explain in part what kind of kid she is: When she first came to, she started yelling "Fire!"

I had no idea what she was on about and thought she was just confused, but she said later that she'd heard somewhere that people come when you yell "Fire!"

No idea if that's true.

I've heard that, too. That people sometimes ignore "Help!" but will pay attention if you yell "Fire!" instead. No idea if that's an urban myth or if there's some evidence behind it. Interesting that she actually remembered to do it.

 

[WriteThinking]

Thank you, but that's not my point. (I hope that doesn't seem like my point.) No one, even on their worst day, is driving past a 13-year-old girl laid out bleeding in the street. I refuse to believe anyone would do that.

I feel like I will be a bad person if today is the last I see of Lizzy. I feel like now the test starts.

No, if today's the last you see of Lizzy, you'll know that have done right by her in this instance.

And no, the test doesn't start. You just have some added perspective, and a reminder that every chance meeting is a potential opportunity.

 

[WriteThinking]

Oh, and perhaps the way to look at it is that it was you who got lucky...

 

[ICanRowCanoe?]

That read like fiction, which I think is both a testament to you as a writer and how screwed up everything is/was. Wow.

My kids attend a pretty financially diverse school district. One kid never had a snack at snack time. We started throwing a second one in our kid's lunch. She'd just kind of casually note she had an extra and the kid would always be happy to have it.

On the other hand, there have been kids we've coached at the Y who we've tried to build a relationship with when it was obvious there was some **** going on in their lives, and it hasn't always panned out. In your case, I think you're going to feel more peace of mind if you make some effort to connect with Lizzy going forward.

 

[QYFW]

I've heard that, too. That people sometimes ignore "Help!" but will pay attention if you yell "Fire!" instead. No idea if that's an urban myth or if there's some evidence behind it. Interesting that she actually remembered to do it.

Doesn't work in a theater, though.

 

[Big Circus]

It's not close to the same level of stakes as type's story or any others here, but when I was in high school, I was driving around one of the main, heavy-traffic streets near my neighborhood and pulled up behind my grandmother, God rest her soul. She was probably in her early 80s and drove an old-ass car, as grandmas often do. Not a beater by any stretch, but old - probably a mid-80s Buick Skylark or something along those lines, not something you'd think of as terribly reliable 13-14 years down the road. I gave her a quick honk and wave, since the light was green, then realized something wasn't right. I put on my flashers, threw it in park and walked to up check on her. Thank God, she was fine, but the car had died and she'd been stranded there for 10 minutes or so. No one had stopped and she wasn't comfortable getting out on a busy road. I got her in my car, drove her to her mechanic - two blocks away! - and he went and towed the car. No telling how long she would have sat there if I hadn't pulled up. Lame-ass story, I know, but the discussion made me think of it.

 

[typefitter]

Took pictures of the scene for Lizzy's mom to make her case with the school for her to take the bus. Have a meeting at her school on Monday to see what we can do about lunch.

So, progress.

Her blood is all still there, frozen on the ice. I have to drive past it twice a day to get to school. I have to say, I'm really looking forward to the next thaw and a good hard rain. I wonder how many people have gone by that puddle and thought, Jesus, what happened there?

 

[Songbird]

Bring a big bottle of bleach tomorrow and pour it over the stain(s).

 

[Southwinds]

I think I'll figure that out first, just what the options are. If there is a paid lunch available, then that's probably easiest, right? Just write a cheque for the rest of the year and don't say anything to mom? Maybe you're right.

Find out what's up, put something on the board or just give me your address via a PM and I'll throw in $20, that should cover a couple weeks. Maybe we all can fund a couple lunch programs there.

We've all had people help us along the way. It's cliche but it never hurts to pay it forward.

I'm in.

Good for you, type. I stop all the time to help people in distress and always wonder afterward why I'm the only one.

Hell, a meter maid (? He was a man) was walking down the street the other day and dropped a bag with some receipts in it. Two people walked by. I picked it up, yelled after him and gave it to him. He was shocked. I realized afterward it was probably the first time he'd ever been chased and not berated.

Anyway, I wrote this just to have an excuse to want in on the school lunch funding program and couldn't just type "I'm in."

 

[MTM]

My barber told me a story about coming upon a crash. He stopped to help get the driver out of the car but everyone else who stopped was filming the incident with their phone. Glad you were there to do the right thing.

 

[typefitter]

Bring a big bottle of bleach tomorrow and pour it over the stain(s).

It's, um, frozen. I live in an icebound hell.

Sorry about the picture. I just hope the school sees it and puts her on the ******* bus with no arguments. I get that you have to draw a line somewhere, but **** them for making her walk.

EDIT: Apparently I've reached the anger phase. If anyone wants me to take down the picture, say the word and it's gone. Venting.

 

[Songbird]

Place looks barren, like Virginiatown in McGarry County.

The photo could be a painting.

 

[typefitter]

Place looks barren, like Virginiatown in McGarry County.

The photo could be a painting.

She fell in a very bad spot. Middle of a big long hill. School is at the top. Houses at the bottom. Just trees in between, where she was. The sidewalk ends on the north side of the street and picks up again on the south side. That's why she was crossing. But the melt from the previous day's thaw was running down the hill and then we had a flash freeze. Just ****ing ice everywhere.

 

[Buck]

Not really close, but once during late 1980s or early 1990s, I was courier for a bank.
I was driving and saw some kids fishing in Haddonfield, NJ.
One kid had fishing hook stuck in his face. I took him to the ER, but I didn't stay with him.