I've been wrong before
and if I live to see the morning, I'm sure I'll be wrong again - but I've may have never been as wrong as I was today. I was coming off the interstate exit this afternoon on the way to see Ryan when I heard a LOUD boom and then I see coming toward me a huge SUV -- sideways. I slammed on my brakes and the SUV came to a stop about 20 feet from my bumper. I quickly grabbed my cell phone to dial 911 and a blanket and ran to check on the occupants of the vehicles.
The truck driver seemed OK and the other driver was a very frightened kid. She looked about 17 and she had her brother and cousin with her. None of them looked over 18 or so and the brother was obviously mentally challenged. He was holding his hand, saying his chest hurt while rocking back and forth. I was reasonably certain his chest hurt from having both the seat belt restrain him while an air bag slammed into his face and chest.
The cousin in the back seat appeared OK and the poor little girl driving was silent with shock. I covered her up and assured her everything was going to be fine. She was worried because it was her grandma's car and her family was going to be mad at her. I told her that her family wasn't going to be doing anything like that - they were going to be praising God that everyone was OK.
I think that was where I was wrong. She gave me a look that obviously said, "You don't know my family." And she was right about that, but I got a quick glimpse into her life when I called her mother to tell her about the accident while we waited for the police and ambulance.
When I got her on the phone the conversation went something like:
Me: Is this -----?
Woman who doesn't deserve children: Yeah.
Me: Well, mam, I'm with your daughter and she's been in an accident. I don't think anyone is seriously hurt but an ambulance has been called and will be here in just a minute to check them out thoroughly.
Woman who doesn't deserve children: Was the car hurt?
Me: (no doubt in a disbelieving voice) Yes, mam, the car appears to be totalled. It will have to be taken away on a flatbed wrecker.
Woman who doesn't deserve children: Whose fault was it?
Me: Mam, I think that will be up to the police to figure out. Since the car isn't driveable, will you be coming to pick up the kids?
Woman who doesn't deserve children: No.
Me: Well, then mam -- (in a voice that was probably bordering on hostility) Where would you like me to take your children?
Woman who doesn't deserve children: Wherever they want to go -don't matter to me.
And then ......... she hung up.
The cousin was able to contact his mother to come pick them up and I went on my way after the ambulance arrived. Ryan probably wondered why I held him a little bit tighter today and a little bit longer than usual. Even as I held him I couldn't shake the image of what that poor girl was going to go home to tonight while I could hold my son and thank God he's going to be alright.
