Midseason Crash
It wasn't supposed to go down this way. Truly it wasn't. But the mountain had been slicker than anyone had anticipated after Cleaves Mills received its fourth snow storm, and it was only mid January.
A large group of patrons gathered around in a circle as two paramedics went to work on 14 year old, intermediate snowboarder Jack. The paramedics carefully maneuvered Jack's feet out of the snowboard's foot braces which was considerably more difficult thanks to the bigger, wider and thicker high top basketball sneakers Jack chose to wear.
The young adolescent groaned as a throbbing shot of pain overwhelmed Jack's legs that were straightened out and he was pulled onto a travel board.
"We hiked to the top of the mountain. We thought it would be fun to ride from top to bottom. Alex and I made it down without a problem, but when Jack went to do a jump off the make-shift hill, a sledder came flying down the hill and crossed his path," Robby explained to Sheriff Walt Bannerman.
"And that's when he crashed?" Walt asked as Robby and Jack's other friend, Alexandria, both nodded.
"Jack lost control just as he reached the hill, lost his balance and tripped on his board and went spiraling down the rest of the mountain. …Mangled his legs pretty good," Alex explained as she watched the two well trained paramedics carry Jack up the mountain, past them, and into the ambulance that was waiting at the top.
"Your friend's going to be taken to University Hospital if either of you want to find a ride and meet him there," Walt explained before he turned to follow the paramedics. "Thanks for the tip, John." He clapped the resident psychic, Johnny Smith, on the shoulder, who met him at the scene moments after the accident happened.
Johnny smiled and nodded. Another incident put to rest before anything major happened that would have possibly ruined the 14 year olds life for good.
"Good thing you guys chose to wear helmets," Johnny complimented Robby and Alex. "Your friend could have been in a much more dire situation than he was."
"Well, you know what they say… First rule of snowboarding; strap a helmet on your head or you'll end up dead or stuck in a bed. Second rule; layers, layers, layers! Baggy and easy-to-move-around-in clothes for optimal body manipulation and balance." Robby shrugged as he sighed.
"How are we supposed to explain this to our parents? Especially Jack's?" Alex wondered.
"I think they'll understand that accidents happen. Besides…" he reached out to lay a comforting and reassuring hand on Alex's shoulder. "…Think your friend, Jack, will be up and around before you know it. …Give him a good week or so."
Alex and Robby both nodded, Johnny clapped Robby on the shoulder a couple of times before making his way over to Sarah and JJ. Good thing he decided to change his mind at the last second and accept Sarah's invitation of watching JJ go sledding down the hill with the rest of the neighborhood kids.