The busy city awoke to Monday morning, ready to face another hectic week of work and life. Like most city dwellers on such a weekday, John started off on his daily trek to the school. John had spent the weekend with his parents something he always did, for he was never so happy as when he returned home. The love he felt from her parents, would tide him over to the next weekend. Unlike most people, John never disliked Mondays. It just meant he was one day closer to Saturday. It was with these thoughts, that he walked down the sidewalk, on his way to work.
However, when John came to the stoplight, his thoughts changed course. This day had started like most others, but somehow, something felt different. Then it came to him.John looked around for the panhandler who had chosen that place as his spot.He had grown accustomed to his silent presence at the stoplight. He would greet him with a smile and drop lose change into his cup. The man would nod and look down, never saying a word. John had observed his long, unkempt brown hair.He had noticed his beard reached the top of his faded blue jacket. John saw he always wore the same pair of worn sneakers - ones with duct tape wound about them, to keep the soles in place. To his horror,John even observed he never wore slippers, no matter how Hot it was outside
But today, the spot where he always occupied, stood empty. Every day, without fail, he had always been there. John looked at the other people that waited at the stoplight. Most of them he recognized, for they too, made the same route to work, every day. As the light turned green, John saw none of them had noticed the missing member of their daily gathering. He looked at his watch. Yes, he had a little time before School. For the first time in months, John did not cross the street with the others when the light turned green. Instead, he searched the side walk on either side of the stoplight. It was then, he saw a dark alley separating two tall buildings near the panhandler's spot.
By nature, John was not intrepid. However, his concern for the stoplight panhandler, and His desire to not be late for work, propelled him forward in action not typical of a generally, thoughtful young man. In his haste, though, he remembered to pray before entering. "Safety is of the Lord," he reminded himself. He wrinkled his nose, for everything smelled of foul odors, and rotting trash. Cardboard boxes were piled up high against trash cans; a small stream of water ran down the black asphalt. John slowly walked to the end of the alley.
By nature, John was not intrepid. However, his concern for the stoplight panhandler, and His desire to not be late for work, propelled him forward in action not typical of a generally, thoughtful young man. In his haste, though, he remembered to pray before entering. "Safety is of the Lord," he reminded himself. He wrinkled his nose, for everything smelled of foul odors, and rotting trash. Cardboard boxes were piled up high against trash cans; a small stream of water ran down the black asphalt. John slowly walked to the end of the alley.
As he turned to leave, John noticed a huddled form crouched between two trash cans. He gave a sudden start, but the form did not move. It did not seem to be aware of his presence at all. John took a step closer, careful not to make any noise. As dark clouds softly parted overhead, a ray of light fell upon the huddled form's face, revealing the stoplight panhandler. His eyes were closed, and his arms were wrapped around his torso. The faded jacket was no longer blue, but soaked in a dark red substance. Alarmed John knelt down beside him on the damp asphalt. John bent down and put his ear up to his chest. His heart was beating, but it was very faint. This man was dying. John jumped to his feet, and dashed out of the dark alley. He had to find a telephone, quickly.
No one noticed the boy as he frantically ran down the streaked gray sidewalk, searching for a pay phone. Across the street, he spotted a secondhand bookstore. John quickly crossed the street, forgetting to look before he did so. A yellow taxi screeched to a halt, narrowly missing John. The driver stuck his head out and yelled at him in a language he did not understand.
"Sorry!" John called back. he opened the bookstore door and ran to the counter. "May I use your phone? It's an emergency!" he hurriedly asked an old man sitting by the cash register. The old man looked up sleepily.
"Just so as it's not long distance," he replied grumpily. John nodded as he grabbed the telephone receiver. His fingers trembled as he dialed 911. To his disbelief, the number was busy.
"Please, God, make them answer!" he urgently pleaded. The old man opened his eyes again, curiously observing his anguish as one would passively watch television. John's heart pounded loudly in his ears. The sound reminded him that with every passing moment, the stoplight panhandler lost more blood. "Don't let him die, God!" he prayed outloud. After what seemed to John to be an eternity, a voice answered.
"Sorry!" John called back. he opened the bookstore door and ran to the counter. "May I use your phone? It's an emergency!" he hurriedly asked an old man sitting by the cash register. The old man looked up sleepily.
"Just so as it's not long distance," he replied grumpily. John nodded as he grabbed the telephone receiver. His fingers trembled as he dialed 911. To his disbelief, the number was busy.
"Please, God, make them answer!" he urgently pleaded. The old man opened his eyes again, curiously observing his anguish as one would passively watch television. John's heart pounded loudly in his ears. The sound reminded him that with every passing moment, the stoplight panhandler lost more blood. "Don't let him die, God!" he prayed outloud. After what seemed to John to be an eternity, a voice answered.
************TO BE CONTINUED**********************
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