Unwanted Rescue

 Morning light warms his cheeks as he reaches high above his head in a stretch and yawn. Ice monster of the night has retreated with the darkness, leaving warmth in the air for a great day. Papa made a skylight again, leaving space for him to see the sky through the overhanging sheets making the fortress. Sam slept on a palette of leaves and trash he shared with his mixed terrier Captain. She has looked after him for half his life. Before Mama left this world, Captain would always let her know if Sam needed something. If Sam was hungry, Captain would howl. If Sam was afraid, Captain would chase her tail to make him laugh. Sam loved Captain more than anything. He never had many toys like other kids, but having his very own regal pet sister made all the difference. Sam had only three fingers on one hand due to an accident when he was a toddler. Captain would help anytime Sam depended on his hands to carry or hold things by sharing the load. Sam could usually feel her snuggled at his knees each morning, keeping him warm, but she must have left the tent to potty further in the brush.

Sam sat up, looking through the cracks of the folds, tuning out the sounds of traffic overhead on the interstate. He reached for his canteen of water to drink and found it full. Papa remembered today. Sam smiled as he gulped down his water, letting it flow down his chin and onto his chest. He rubbed his fingers on the excess wetness to clean them before eating the bread Papa brought home from the bakery last night. Sam loved collecting late at night when the workers went to toss perfectly delicious rolls and bagels. Papa did not like him leaving though. Papa says he could be in danger if people see him, but he hasn’t had any problems. His Papa worries too much.

Ice monster seemed to have breathed on the bread all night, desiring to steal it but too afraid of Papa’s wrath. What was soft and chewy 10 hours ago is now hard and stale. After the second bite into his bread, Sam became concerned for Captain. He called after her and she didn’t respond. He stood, circled the camp, whistling after her. “Captain! Here, girl… where are you?” He paced, his heart quickening. She has never left off like this. Would Papa take her with him? What should he do? Sam ran into the make-shift tent, searching for his side satchel half filled with small smooth rocks, gadgets, and finds from his scavenging. Papa will not return until nightfall, Sam knew he’d be back with plenty of time to spare, Captain, and hopefully something he can sell.

Sam hummed an adventure tune as he kicked the small pebbles from the loose asphalt with his stringless shoes. He looked under bushes, around trees, and called after Captain for what felt like hours before seeing a flash of tan and brown a block away. Sam carefully crossed the street and ran to the area he saw Captain. He was standing between rather large buildings where people lived and worked. He stood in the shadows of the buildings standing together lined with dumpsters, broken glass, and lost socks. Sam walked slowly, catching the shimmer of a penny here and there, collecting them into his satchel. Sam stopped when he saw a woman, lying silent half behind a dumpster against the brick back of the building.

“Missus?” He spoke quietly, scared to rouse her when he saw the blood caked on her hands, clothes, and face. What happened to her? Why are her clothes torn at the inside of her leg. Had she been shot? Sam inched closer to see if he could hear her breathing. Short, raspy breaths exited her mouth, but shallow nonetheless. He tried to move the dumpster, but his under grown eleven-year-old frame was not strong enough to budge it even a few inches. Exasperated, he gently shook the woman’s shoulders, “Missus, help me help you. Better you not be under this dump dirt.” She just moaned and leaned against him as he half dragged her legs from underneath. He noticed the stench of rotten bananas and a dead rat and felt light-headed looking at the open gash on the woman’s head where hair jutting in and out of broken skin on top.

A door slammed shut around the corner. Sam ran towards the noise, assuring the injured woman he’d return. Sam sees a lady walking quickly to a yellow car with a flat front wheel. He started after her, she would know what to do with the hurt woman. The lady had somewhat of a strained look in her eyes, as if she had been crying. Sam watched her look at her car and make a dramatic sigh. He could hear her talking to herself as he approached, “Scuse me, Missus.” He waited patiently to be acknowledged, just as Papa told him when talking to adults. He fidgeted, feeling a sense of urgency but sensing the Missus wanted him to leave. He tried smiling to show he meant no harm, but he saw her backing against the car away from him. “What?” She spoke distracted, digging in her purse while keeping a steady eye on him. He took a slight step back before beginning, “Can you spare a moment? I found a woman who seems hurt real bad just around the way. She needs help.” He watched her look past him as if she saw something or was looking for something to appear. He turned to see if it was Captain, but it was not.

“Call the police.” Missus acted like she wanted to be away from him. “They can help, I’m sort of in the middle of…” Sam reached out to grab her hand and show her his heart. He looked up into her eyes, pleading she just come and see after this woman. She fell silent, looking at the deformity of his hand before he pulled his three fingers back. Papa told him people would look at him strange, but he did not expect to feel like possum scum with an extra eye on his face. His gaze fell. “Police no come. I try—please.” He felt too much time was passing. He turned his back on the nervous lady to check on the wounded woman. When he heard Missus follow him, he gasped in relief, smiling to himself. He knew Missus was a nice lady. Why else would she be sent to him through the doors of this enormous building? He saw the woman hurting, doubled over in pain, and vomiting on the concrete. He turned to the nice lady and asked, “Can you help her?” He was not asking if she had the ability to help this woman. He was asking if she would get started already! Missus went digging into her bag and found her phone and dialed. Sam watched and listened as she spoke, “Hello operator, this is Tessa Courtland. I have a woman here, she’s badly hurt. How soon can an ambulance be sent to zone 6, 20 north, 16 west?” She paused, listening. “A young boy found her. He’s alone.” Another pause. Sam shifted on his feet. He didn’t want to get caught up here, he just wanted to make sure this woman got help. He needed to find Captain.

Missus touched his shoulder, asking his name. “Sam, missus. Son of Saayid.” Missus nodded, mouthing the words thank you as she wrapped up the call and began to perform first aid assistance to the woman slipping in and out of consciousness.

“Where’d you learn to be doctor, Missus?” He watched close, mimicking movements.

“I’m no doctor, Sam. I just know how to patch wounds and stop blood… as should you.”

“Papa teaches me everything I need to know. Sometimes I don’t listen, but I know why I should. That’s good right? Everyday, Papa tells me to keep watch over our fortress and keep the wild animals out of our chambers. But today, Captain left. I have to find her.”

“Captain?” Miss Tessa turned to look at Sam between repetitive words of comfort for the woman about the pain subsiding and help coming soon.

“She’s like sister. She watch me when little and I watch for her now.”

“Ahhh, I see. Dog or cat?” Miss Tessa began to rock the woman gently, keeping her relaxed, but awake if possible. Sam felt confident she was able to take care of the woman. He rose to leave.“Dog. I’m going to find her now and go home. Thank you, Missus.” In turning to leave, Missus grabbed his arm gently and asked him to stay. “Just until help comes, please.”

Sam settled in, personifying his smooth rocks from his satchel, recounting the adventure of the day. He became thoughtful and asked Missus, “Will Papa know I left? I can get back okay right?” Missus just smiled and took a deep breath. Missus and Sam were both distracted by the sound of the alarm and bright red and white lights closing in on them.

Medicine men came to put the woman on a stretcher. She should be okay. Sam smiled, glad that even though he’s been off course from finding Captain, he could help save the day!

He gathered his pebble people from the ground and looked up to see blue and white lights pulling in behind the hospital van. A man and woman in matching navy blue outfits start walking toward him. Sam backs away slowly, remembering a dozen things his Papa has warned him about grown ups who try to make things better but ruin everything instead. He turned to run, but they must’ve foreseen this as they sprung right to him, grabbing him by the arms, asking him to be calm. Sam knew he had made a mistake to stay with Missus. He writhed and shouted for his release."I need Captain, I can't leave her!! Let me go! Why are you taking me? I only helped!” I fought, kicking and lashing, crying knowing his Papa would be so sad he disobeyed. Worst, Captain is still out there.

All he wanted was to help and now feels punished for trying to be the hero. Sam’s entire body shakes from the force of his anxiety. He watches Missus begin to cry from the backseat of the car that catches bad people. Maybe she realizes she was wrong. Maybe he’ll be released. He sunk into the seat as the car rolled away, not counting on good things, planning his escape.

-Interrelated story to: What Makes a Day Good?

@keilawrites