Chapter 11: The girl from the parade
Takes place a year before show events
" Wait." Steven says in confusion. " You can't participate with us?"
Today is the annual Beach City parade. Everyone that owns a business gets to participate in the parade. This year is the year their dad's car wash business is going to be in the parade. Which is very exciting.
" Sorry Steven." His sister apologizes. " I can't be in the parade with you and Dad this afternoon because I'm needed as security at the parade."
" But…." He starts. " You said you would try to get off of work around then."
"I did said 'try' Steven." Bex corrects him. " That doesn't that I would be able to. I told you from the start that there were no guarantees on that one."
" But I hardly get to see you." He says in disappointment. " You're always working and you never have any time for me."
He sighs in frustration. Bex can tell how much he looked forward to this. She really is sorry about it more than anything, but she has a job to go to.
" It doesn't mean that I don't try to get some time for you." She sighs.
" But you could try harder!" He exclaims.
Bex sighs in frustration. She really does feel bad for not being able to be in the parade with her brother. She did try to talk to her boss to see if she can go, but you can't always get what you want. Steven has to understand that, but then again he's eleven. He's not always going to understand life situations.
She thinks of the best solution she has to tell him.
" Hey. I'll tell you what." She starts. " I'll make sure I'm watching you when you guys down the street and later on we'll grab a bite. Does that sound like a fair enough compromise?"
Steven smiles in response.
" Alright. I need to go to work right now. I'll see you and dad later in the parade. I won't miss it for the world" Bex tells him as she ruffles his curly hair. " I promise you that."
She heads to her car and gets in.
" Bye Bex!" Steven calls out as she drives out of the car wash to her job.
" Alright everyone!" The captain of the precinct says as the entire precinct meets up for a meeting before the parade. " Remember where you are assigned and if anything happens, you know what to do."
" Right!" Everyone including Bex says.
" By the way we have a transfer from another coastal city. He'll be working as a private beach security guard but he'll be working with us for the day. Meet Doug Maheswaran."
The guy looks to be around in his late forties or fifties by the looks of it. No older than Bex's dad. He's wearing an aviator's jacket over a jacketless suit and tie.
" Just Maheswaran." He says.
" Well it's a last name basis here anyway. Alright. Maheswaran you'll be working with Officer Universe." The captain says. " That's the tall one with the pink hair that's apparently natural.
" Oh great." Bex groans. Besides Tesson, anyone who has more years on them tend to look down on her and basically insult her skills. Which is why she tends to not like partnering up with people.
Maheswaran goes over to Bex.
" Alright. The parade will be starting in twenty minutes. Have your radios on and on you at all times."
" Yes Captain!" Everyone shouts in response.
Bex and Maheswaran go over to where they are assigned. Which is one of the corners of street.
People who came to see the parade start to crowd the sidewalks. Only several metal fence barriers separates them from the two officers.
" So is this parade well known or something?" Maheswaran asks Bex as they watch the parade start up.
" Well. Many people from nearby towns like to come up here as a daytime vacation spot during the summer. It's where this town usually get it's business from. It's busy as heck, but rest of the year it's pretty quiet." She explains as she waves at the Fryman family float.
" My wife is still adjusting to the change of pace. We usually stay in more busier coastal towns, but I got laid off due to budget cuts." He says.
" I'm sorry about your circumstances." Bex apologizes.
" It's not like we're terrible. My wife's a doctor, so money isn't the real issue here." He says. " It's….kinda hard to explain."
" You're want to feel useful. I get it." She says. " I grew in a very complicated household. I get what you mean."
" Well my wife and daughter should be here now watching the parade." He says.
" My dad and brother are actually in the parade." She chuckles. " He owns the local carwash. Speaking of which."
They see her family's float come by. It was only a tarp and a banner with the name over the van and Steven is sitting on top of it. With soap bubbles in his hair.
" Hi Bex!" He waves. She smiles and waves back.
" That's your brother?" Maheswaran says in shock. " He looks way younger than you."
" Twelve years to be exact. My dad explained it best." She says as she points to him. " He was a happy event." She points back to herself. " I was a happy accident." She says.
" I shouldn't have even asked." He says before the two of them here some commotion.
" Stop! Stop!" Bex hears Pearl scream as they see a some strange thing shove through the crowded sidewalks. Causing a few screams.
" What is that?!" Maheswaran shouts.
" No." Bex says as she figures out there's a monster here.
Luckily she sees the gem manage to chase the monster away from the parade, so no one is in real danger of that. But now there's a major problem coming.
The pushing and the fights is one thing, but combined with overcrowding and anxiety in people, it could only lead to disaster. The people are pushing and shoving suddenly. They are trying to get out of the dangerous situation. All at the same.
Bex pulls on her radio.
" Captain. We need to immediately stop the parade and bring down the barriers to decompress the situation." She orders.
" It could start a riot. It can be dangerous." He says.
" It's already dangerous. There could small kids in there that could get seriously hurt." She says.
" Alright." He says before ordering everyone on the radio. " All officers open the barriers and stop the parade."
The alarm from an old intercom system blares. Stopping all the cars and floats in there places.
Bex and Maheswaran go straight to the metal barriers and take away before people start flooding on the street.
" Connie!" Maheswaran yells. " Priyanka!"
Bex searches through the crowd for anyone in distress. People are moving so fast, it's dizzying to her.
She then hears someone screaming. It's a young girl.
" Help! Help me!" The girl screams in the crowd. Bex can't see her but she has an idea of where she's at.
She starts pushing and shoving people towards the young girl. She has an idea where she's at. She must have been knocked to the ground and with everyone rushing around, she's being trampled on.
She hunches over and reaches her hand out toward her direction to see if anyone will take it. It wasn't long before two hands grab it tightly.
Bex pulls her in and she is off the concrete and in her arms.
" It's alright kid. I got you." She assures her as she carries her.
The girl says nothing as she is still in shock. A bit banged up but she's fine.
It was long before the crowd eventually dies down and the situation is handled. Bex made the right call to decompress the situation by opening barriers.
" Alright. Everything is under control now. Let's find your parents." Bex says as she sets the girl down. She looks no older than Steven she realizes and has pretty brown hair with round glasses. " What's your name honey?"
" Connie." She says. I'm Connie Maheswaran."
" Hey." Bex realizes. " I know you're dad. Luckily for you I have an idea where he is." She smiles.
" Good." Connie says while breathing shakingly.
" Connie!" Her dad shouts. The two of run over and embrace each other. " You scared me and your mother half to death."
" I'm sorry dad." She says. " I tripped and I couldn't get up with all those people. The officer managed to pulled me out of there."
Bex looks up to see his wife come over to her. She's an older version of her daughter without the glasses.
" Thank you for helping Connie. I thought something bed would happen to her." His wife says.
" Luckily it didn't. It was no problem Mrs. Maheswaran." Bex says.
" It's Dr. Maheswaran." She corrects her. " But I'll let it go. After what you have done for us."
" Right." Bex says as she surveys the area. " Well you guys better get going before anything else happens. I need to check on my family."
The family nods as they head out. Bex walks over to the van and sees her brother slid from the roof of the van with a starry look in his eyes.
" Steven." She says. But he doesn't respond as he runs from her and picks up a glow bracelet from the ground. " What's up with you?"
Her dad gets out of the car and says, " Looks like he's got a crush on someone."
She smiles mischievously, " Oh really?"
" Shut up." He says.
" Is she cute?" She jokes with him.
" Stop it. I'm not listening to you!" He covers his ears.
The only thing that the two adult could do is laugh in response.
Chapter is up and ready for read. I thought this could be a good chapter to add since I could see this happening. That's all I have to say for this chapter.
Next one will be a day on her job as a police officer. Since this her story, I figure I will alternate between her life outside the gems and some of the events that happens in the show. I won't be doing a version with her for every episode. Maybe I'll add pieces of the episode to her life, but not the whole of it.
Please Review. See you later.