Inspired by - 9. Prompt 35 - Bus Accident

“I swear to God, if his head wasn’t attached I think he would forget that too,” muttered Arlene as she drove toward the high school. TJ had been in a rush and forgotten his project on the kitchen table. She was just about to leave for work when she spotted it. Knowing he would get an ‘F’ if it wasn’t in today, she grabbed it on her way out the door. Sometimes he is just like his father, forgetful. If I am late for work, I'm going to kill him.

Arlene turned on the radio and checked her time. I should have just enough time to drop this off and get to work on time. She was just turning onto the highway when the news program broke in to make an announcement.

“All traffic on 27 is at a standstill after a terrible accident. People are asked to take alternate routes from exit 23 to exit 24. It appears that a school bus was hit and flipped on the way to the Marcus Avenue High School. Police have stated that there are injured and possible dead. More details will be given as we get them here at the station. Once again all traffic on 27 is at a standstill. Police are asking that everyone find alternative routes between exit 23 and exit 24 so emergency vehicles can get through.”

Arlene pulled over to the side of the road. Rapidly she dug through her purse and pulled out her cell phone.

“Come on, come on, and pick up the phone TJ. I know you aren’t supposed to take it to school but you never go anywhere without it,” she cried desperately into the phone. Please, God, let it be another bus, just let TJ be alright.

Beep. Arlene’s phone had an incoming call. Without even a moment’s hesitation she ended the first call and took the second.

“Hello, TJ?”

“No Arlene, have you heard anything?” came the desperate voice on the phone.

“George, I haven’t heard a word. I was just calling TJ. Did you hear about the accident?”

“Yes, but they aren’t saying which bus or who was on it. I called the school but couldn’t get through.” The edge in her husband’s voice wasn’t doing much to reassure Arlene that their son was going to be okay.

“I’m maybe five minutes from the accident site. I’m going George. If I find out something I’ll call,” she said almost absentmindedly as she dropped the phone back into her purse and started the car.

The police were redirecting cars as she got close. She could see the bus up ahead and the ambulances sitting there being loaded. Even as she approached she could see the helicopter sitting on the roadway also being loaded with people.

“I’m sorry but no one is allowed past here,” stated the officer as he tried to redirect her with the rest of the cars off the roadway.

“I think my son is in there,” Arlene said desperately.

“I’m sorry, Ma’am but no one is allowed to get closer. If you think your son is here please head directly to the hospital. It is where all of the injured are headed to.”

Seeing he wouldn’t budge Arlene pulled into the traffic and as soon as she possibly could she turned off on to the side of the road. It took all of a moment to turn off the car and find a way down to where the accident was. Arlene was soon running down the embankment, she slipped and fell but nothing would halt her as she headed toward the bus and news of her son.

“Joe, stop that woman. I don’t need anyone coming over to do a looky-loo for kicks,” stated the Sheriff as he spotted Arlene.

Officer Joe took off at a run to stop Arlene who had paused by the ambulance that was being loaded with yet another accident victim. Not far away she could see that students were laid neatly out but no one was paying them any attention. She feared those were the student’s who hadn’t survived. She refused to think her son was among the dead.

“Has anyone seen TJ? My son was taking the bus to school today! Does anyone know if he is alright?” she called as she raced closer toward the bus. She slowed momentarily as she rounded the end of the ambulance before trying to run onward again.

She had barely taken five steps from the ambulance when Joe grabbed her.

“Let me go. I have to find TJ. I need to know if he is alright,” she cried as she tugged and scratched trying to get free.

“Ma’am we can’t let you get in there. Too many of the students are seriously hurt; you running around here is just going to make it harder to get help to them,” stated Officer Joe as calmly as he could. He realized this was one of the many parents who were desperate to find out what had happened to their children.

Arlene began to cry. Instead of pulling away she broke down in the officer’s arms.

“Excuse me, but did you say you were looking for a TJ?” questioned a small woman in an ambulance worker’s outfit.

Arlene nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She desperately was hanging onto the officer for support.

“Is he a tall guy with brown hair and brown eyes? Is he wearing a blue tee shirt?”

“Yes, that is TJ. The shirt has a smiley face on it,” Arlene said with trepidation. Slowly, she pulled away from the officer and on unsteady feet followed the woman.

“I have your son over at my ambulance, Ma’am,” she said nodding at the officer who followed slowly behind them.

“Is he alright?” The fear in Arlene’s voice was evident to everyone within hearing range.

“He has a broken arm, some small contusions, and cuts from the broken glass. He was one of the lucky ones. One of the survivors told me that your son broke his arm catching one of the smaller students who would have been tossed out the window when the bus flipped.”

As Arlene neared the back of the ambulance she could see rear of the bus and the car that had slammed it. The small car was totaled and the roof of the bus had been pushed in. Hearing how her son had survived she was amazed to think anyone had lived after seeing the condition of the accident site.

Looking inside her heart leaped as she seen her son all wrapped up on a gurney. He sat with an odd smile on his face. Arlene was glad he was alive but was worried till the ambulance drive indicated he had been put on something for his pain.

“Hi, Mom. I think I might miss class today. Oh, and I forgot my assignment at home. Sorry.”

Arlene gently took her son’s hand and laughed. My son is alive.