I do a lot of driving, mainly urban and small country lanes. I constantly have to dodge cyclists, both young and not so young, blithely pottering along without a care in the world. This story came to me while driving home on a busy road and encountering an adult cyclist.
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It was a beautiful day, Jean thought she'd spend some time in the garden when she got home from shopping. She was almost home, musing on what needed doing in the borders and whether or not she could get Lucien to cut the grass for her after lunch, when the tinkling of cycle bells broke through her thoughts. She stood aside to let the riders pass,
'Morning Mrs Blake!' Two boys chorused as they flew past her, keeping their eyes on the road.
'Morning boys! She called back, grinning at them. Michael and his best friend, Will could be seen cycling around most of their free time and in the holidays, to and from friends and the lake. They were no trouble and were sensible on the roads.
She lost sight of them as they rounded the bend near her home and had gone back to thinking about her garden when there was a shriek of car tyres and a horrible crashing sound, together with screams. A car shot past her, damage to the front bumper and a light missing, but Jean was more interested in the boys, who she had an awful feeling had been involved. She ran as fast as she could and as she rounded the bend a dreadful sight greeted her. Michael was on the floor, not moving. Will was sitting up, rubbing the back of his head.
'Will!' She shouted, 'Will, are you alright?' She stopped and crouched down by Michael, she found a pulse but his legs were twisted in the most unnatural way and his head was bleeding.
'Uh.' Will groaned, 'I don't know.' He grunted.
'Can you stand?' She needed him to be able to walk at the very least.
'Yeah.' He thought for a moment, 'Yeah I think so.' She helped him up, he wobbled against her then shook his head and blinked.
'Will.' She took his shoulders and turned him to face her. 'Will I need you to go to Dr Blake. He's in the house. Tell him we need an ambo and the police.' She looked at the boy, he was pale and shocked, but she daren't leave Michael.
'Will, can you do that?' They were all of a hundred yards from the bottom of the drive, even if he had to crawl he had to get there. 'Will!' She shouted at him.
'Uh, oh, yeah, get Dr Blake.' He turned and staggered towards the house. She watched him, praying he would at least get to the door.
She turned her attention to Michael, and taking her coat off she laid it gently over him. She knew she shouldn't move him, just keep checking to see he was breathing and keep him warm. She stroked his forehead, running her hand over the top of his head,
'Michael, I don't know if you can hear me, but help will be here soon.' She spoke gently to him. 'Hang on, Michael, please hang on.' She pleaded, tears now running down her face. It seemed like hours before she heard a car slowly coming towards her. She looked up, Lucien, thank god! He was beside her in an instant.
'The ambo's on its way.' He said lifting the coat and taking a quick survey of the lad. 'What happened?'
'Not sure.' Jean wrapped her arms round her, suddenly cold. 'The boys came passed me, they rang their bells and shouted 'morning', then I lost sight of them. I heard the crash and a car shot by me. It had damage to the front and a broken light. Lucien, the boys were on the right side of the road, it had to be deliberate.' The sudden thought hit her and she gulped.
'Well, he's in a bad way.' Lucien said, 'his legs are broken, his back could be damaged, he must have taken the full force.'
'He was slightly in front of Will.' Lucien draped his jacket over her shoulders, she was in shock. 'Where is Will?' She looked around.
'He's in the car. You go and sit with him.' Lucien stood up and kissed her quickly before resuming his care of Michael.
Jean picked up her shopping, the least important thing at the moment but a moment of normality, and went to the car. Will was sitting in the back seat, staring into space. Lucien had wrapped him in a blanket, but he turned to Jean as she sat beside him and put her arms round him.
'Mrs Blake.' His voice was small and frightened. 'Michael...'
'Dr Blake is with him.' Jean pulled him close, comforting as only a mother can.
'The car...' Will needed to explain, '...it came straight for us, turned into us.' He started to cry. Jean just rocked him and stroked his head.
The eerie silence was broken by the sound of sirens as the ambulance and police came down the road. Lucien helped them lift Michael onto the stretcher, trying not to move him too much, keeping his back straight at least. He told the ambos to wait a second while he went to his car.
'Jean.' He poked his head into the car, 'How do you feel about driving Will to the hospital if I go with Michael?' He was unsure she was in a fit state to drive but he really wanted to stay with the more seriously injured boy. As he was talking Charlie came up behind him.
'How about I drive, doc?' He suggested, 'Jean looks a bit shocked.'
'Thank you, Charlie, I think that would be a good idea.' Lucien reached in and squeezed Jean's hand, smiling tenderly at her. She returned the smile, weakly.
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Jean and Charlie helped Will into the hospital where Lucien ordered x-rays and an examination by a colleague. He went with Michael into a cubicle and started to examine him from top to bottom. He ordered x-rays, cleaned and stitched wounds, arranged for Will to be settled in a bed. He had a fractured skull and concussion. Jean sat with him, nursing a cup of sweet tea. The boy's parents had been phoned so she was just waiting for them to arrive.
'Mrs Blake, Mrs Blake.' She turned to see a doctor with Will's parents.
'Oh, sorry, I...' She had been miles away, trying to piece together what had happened.
'That's alright.' The doctor spoke gently, Mrs Blake was obviously still in shock. 'Why don't I arrange for you to be taken home?'
'No, thank you.' Jean smiled, 'I'd like to wait for my husband.'
'He's in surgery with the other boy.' The doctor smiled, 'it could be some time.'
'I'll wait, thank you.' Jean clearly wasn't thinking straight and Dr Blake had said, that if at all possible, he'd like his wife taken home.
'Mrs Blake.' Will's mother spoke, 'thank you for looking after Will.'
'I hope he'll be alright. He's such a lovely polite boy.' Jean said, as she left the room.
The doctor went to make a call after settling Jean near the nurse's station. She was still staring into space when a voice drifted into her ear.
'Jean.' Alice sat next to her, 'Jean.'
'Mmm...oh, hello Alice.' Jean turned and almost looked through her.
'Come on. Lucien has asked me to take you home.' Alice put her arm round her friend.
'I want to stay.' Jean sounded petulant.
'I know.' Alice was gentle, 'but Lucien is going to be a long time. He wants you to go home. I'll stay with you until he gets back, however late.' She smiled and gently encouraged her to go with her.
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Lucien had given Alice his car and house keys when he had first spoken to her before he went into surgery. He knew Jean would not want to leave without him. She drove Jean home and settled her in the living room. Lucien had told her where she would find a blanket.
Jean pulled the blanket round her, 'I just can't stop seeing Michael lying there.' The tears really started to fall and she leaned her head on Alice's shoulder. As much as Alice was unused to this much contact, even with a friend, she put her arms round Jean and let her cry.
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Alice handed Jean a cup, hot chocolate with a measure of Lucien's whisky. She hoped it would make her sleep. Jean sipped it, noticing the kick of the whisky, but she did finish it. Alice took the cup off her and then made her lie down on the couch, covering her with the blanket. Exhausted, Jean fell asleep, which meant Alice could go and call the hospital to see how things were going.
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'Hello, Alice.' Lucien sounded tired, 'how's Jean?'
'Asleep on the couch.' Alice smiled, his first concern was for his wife, 'how's Michael?'
'Well, he'll walk again.' She heard Lucien heave a sigh of relief, 'it'll take time and he may have a limp or an awkward gait. His spine survived, although there's bruising. I'm going to be here a while, until he comes round at least. Can you stay with Jean? I know it's an imposition but...'
'I'll stay as long as necessary. I'll leave the door unlocked just in case I fall asleep, too.' He heard a slight smile in her voice.
'Ok. And thanks Alice,' Lucien finished the call and went to sit by Michael's bed. Once he came round from the anaesthetic and Lucien was satisfied he was not in pain he would go home.
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It was almost midnight when Charlie drove Lucien home. They entered the house quietly so as not to disturb Jean and Alice, who was probably also asleep. They both smiled at the sight. Jean was curled up asleep on the couch and Alice was asleep in the chair, her feet tucked under her. she didn't look very comfortable. Lucien scratched his head and tried to think what Jean would do with an unexpected guest. He went to their room and grabbed a fresh pyjama top out of his drawer and his spare robe. Back in the living room her gently woke Alice, putting his fingers to his lips so she wouldn't wake Jean. He whispered in her ear,
'Guest room. Here, hope these'll do.' He handed her the improvised nightwear and she smiled her thanks. He showed her to the guest room and bade her goodnight, it was about all he could do.
In the sitting room he looked at Jean and smiled. She looked so sweet, even with the remnants of tears on her face. He gently picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, where he undressed her just enough to tuck her up in bed.
'Lucien?' She murmured, more in her sleep than anything.
'Shh, Jean.' He kissed her, lightly, 'go back to sleep.'
He undressed quickly and slipped into his side of the bed and wrapped his arms round his lovely wife and soon joined her in sleep.
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So, how will Michael fare and who mowed them down?
