What Sam witnessed in the front parking lot reminded him of the Columbine images he saw on television news coverage. M-Mtek employees were filing out with their hands over their heads while being ordered to sit on the cold curbs to the rear of the front parking lot. Many were frantically calling and texting on their cell phones. Some were ignoring the armor-vested officers loud directions to keep their hands on their heads, walk single file to where they were directed and sit on the ground with their hands still over their heads until further notice.
The town had positioned its new armored personnel vehicle directly in front of the main entrance. It was acquired through the auspices of the federal government's program to dispense of them to municipalities. Thanks to Bernie, they were finally getting a chance to deploy it.
All of a sudden Jermaine slumped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Sam grabbed him just in time to avoid his head from coming to rest in a slush hole.
Sam scanned the parking lot to see if there were any EMT’s or ambulances available. Seeing one, he barked out an order to Peg to go over to the closest one and ask them for help with Jermaine who was starting to go in and out of consciousness.
Without a word and still with a frightened face, Peg obeyed his order and took off in the direction of the nearest EMT rig. Sam kept his arm under Jermaine’s head and began talking to him.
“Hey, buddy, hang in there. We got help coming for you. Can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can,” Sam pleaded.
Jermaine gave Sam a weak squeeze with his left hand. It was better than nothing.
Sam tried to comfort Jermaine by repeating that Peg had gone for help He told him he was sorry he didn’t have a coat or blanket to throw over him. He asked Jermaine to excuse the cold, wet parking lot where he had decided to collapse.
“Jermaine, we got a big mess on our hands, here, but were going to get you out of it,” Sam said softly while he witnessed the complete tangle of public safety vehicles and staff that had descended on the M-Mtek plant. He thought how he had become numb to disaster sights from the many news accounts of them when he heard the whine of an ETM siren advancing toward him and Jermaine.
Peg got out of the yellow and white EMT truck still showing her sea legs while the crew jumped into action. Jermaine showed slight signs of awareness of what was happening to him.
Sam was grateful the medics arrived so soon. He knew from his firehouse volunteer days that the early minutes are the most important when dealing with symptoms like Jermaine was displaying.
As the ambulance pulled out with sirens blaring, Sam went over to Peg to ask her how she was doing. She looked up at him and said, “I told you should have dumped this joint years ago.” Sam took that as she was feeling better.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to get to my car. It’s right in the middle of the action,” Sam told his wife. “What do you think. I could use a blanket. At least you got to bring your coat to the party.”
Peg looked down at her phone and announced to Sam that Mimi was messaging her. She read it to him: “Sam call you? It’s on TV. Bernie OK? Not calling me. Going crazy. Call me.”
“What do you want me to do,” she asked, Sam?
“I’ll do it. Give me your phone. She’s got to know what’s up. Better I tell her than the police. Sooner or later they’ll probably let her come over here,” Sam offered.
Sam speed-dialed Mimi. Seeing Peg’s number, she came on in one ring. Before she could say a word, Sam started with, “Mimi, Sam, here. There’s bad news. Word has it that Bernie’s holed up in a third floor conference room and has hostages. It’s not official yet but that’s what we got from Jermaine who was near the action. Jermaine fell ill and had to be taken to the hospital. Are you hearing anything on the TV?”
There was a long pause and then Mimi said softly, “No. But I believe it. He’s crying out for help.”
“Mimi, I’m going to give you to Peg, now. I’m going to try to get to someone who knows what the real deal is going on here. Keep your strength, OK? And don’t believe everything you see on TV. Here’s, Peg.” Sam handed the phone to Peg giving her a negative head shake.
….......................................................................
American Shutdown by Benjamin F. Campanelli
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