Jerry was lying face down on the concrete. He was sure there was gravel in his perfectly combed hair. He couldn't believe it! He should be sitting in a library examining an ancient text, sipping a cup of tea, relaxed and quiet, discussing books with other scholars. Instead, here he was, face down in the gutter (figuratively speaking) and ducking bullets while trying to teach some culture to the masses. It just wasn't fair!
As he heard what he was sure was a barrage of bullets flying over his head, he managed to open his eyes to see what was happening. Thank goodness the cameraman was still standing and filming the action. The cameraman, Stan, grinned to himself, there had been one shot fired, and it was aimed at the law enforcement officers, not the newsman. Stan was able to capture the entire incident on film and it was amazing! As a shot came from an upper window of the building, the FBI agent, almost at the same time, brought his rifle to his shoulder, aimed and pulled the trigger, firing a single bullet up to the window. Stan's camera quickly moved from the agent to the window, as if following the bullet. The camera was then able to capture something metal falling from the window. As the object fell to the ground, viewers could see that it was some type of a rifle.
As it hit the ground, the FBI agent jumped to his feet, began shouting at the other agents, making hand signals, and headed toward the building. The agents converged on the building, entering through all the entrances they could find. Agent Booth and two other agents ran up to the main door, opened it and disappeared inside.
Parker and his classmates were glued to the television screen in the classroom. He seemed to be in shock as he watched his dad enter the building, and wondered if he was ever going to come out again.
Mr. Brown, the teacher, looked around the room. The students were all quiet, some seemed to be shocked at how quickly the action stopped. They watched the screen for a moment, looking at the back of a building, no noise, no people, not even any birds flying around. He then looked at Parker and asked, "Parker, has your dad ever been in the military?"
Parker answered absently, as he was still thinking of what he had just witnessed. "Yes, he was an Army Ranger." Mr. Brown nodded his head and addressed the class. "I'm sure you all noticed the hand signals that Agent Booth was using. He was sending a message to the other agents so that they could all know what was happening."
The students seemed to relax minutely upon hearing that these agents all knew what they were doing and hoped that the outcome would be positive for Parker's dad as well as for the other agents.
As the television droned on with the studio anchors rehashing what happened for the third time, Mr. Brown and his students were able to take a minute to calmly examine what happened.
Jerry and his cameraman slowly made their way to the front of the building. Their part in this drama was now other as the "real" news people were in front of the building shouting questions to the FBI agents who had come out of the building with one handcuffed man who was quickly placed into a car which then sped off … :to the next step in this unfolding drama" the news reporter was saying into the camera.
Jerry stood in the background, mentally polishing his resume and planning his job search with a new vengeance. He NEVER wanted to be in the line of fire again! He wanted buildings with ivy-covered walls, stately walkways, and a quiet campus. And this time, he was going to find it!
Parker and his classmates were again watching the drama unfolding outside of the front of the building, looking intently for any sign of his father. He finally saw a familiar figure exiting from the building through the front door. "Dad!" His dad looked up, saw all the cameras pointing his way and quietly turned to walk the other way.