Emerging Compassions

Chapter 32: Saving Jimmy!

(Cindy's POV)

Shortly after school let out, I flew outta there as fast as I could, with the help of the jetpack Jimmy had made me that past Christmas, no less. I just couldn't take the mockery anymore, which was strange for me, since I usually am opt to retort back to any teasing or nitpicking that may be aimed in my direction. This time, however, was different; the argument Jimmy and I had the previous evening had started it, but all the rude comments, name-calling, mockery, and whispering negatively behind my back really did it in for me. They called me things I'd rather not mention, but I will say that 2 of them rhymed with "door" and "glitch". I was so utterly humiliated and let down by those words that I finally ran off when school let out, practically in tears, without a word to anyone, not even my best friend Libby.

I searched for the remotest place I could think of first, and the Andes of South America came to my mind first, so that's where I headed. I found what seemed to be the tallest peak there and settled on the crest, far away from anyone who'd mock me even more. It was rather cold that high up, but I didn't care. I just hugged my knees and cried my eyes out in humiliation...

It wasn't long before I heard a faint yet familiar distant whirring; it sounded like Jimmy's hovercar in the distance. He must've been concerned when he learned I ran away, so he pursued after me. Exactly HOW he knew where I was located was beyond me. But I didn't care about that at the moment; I just lifted my head up to see that he really was fast approaching me. He landed on a ledge not too far down from where I was, and I couldn't help but notice that Carl, Sheen, and Libby had tagged along, too. I then just let out a sigh of defeat and lowered my head again, still humiliated beyond belief.

I could faintly hear their voices, but I couldn't care less at the time. They're probably just here to mock me like the others at school did... I thought bitterly to myself, a tear or 2 streaking down my cheeks. That's when I heard it: a faint cry for help. I lifted my head up to listen better, and that's when I knew who was in trouble: Jimmy! !

I stood up to get a better view, and saw him dangling from the ledge he'd landed his hovercar on! With that, I hollered down to him, "Hold on, Jimmy! ! I'm on my way!" I activated my jetpack and began the rapid descent to come to his aid.

It seems as though I wasn't quick enough, because when I landed on the ledge and stooped over to grab his hand, it slipped and he began plummeting down the mountainside! It wasn't long before I saw his right arm get badly damaged from a side collision and, before I knew it, his body flipped 180 degrees and his head hit a boulder at a dangerously high speed, knocking him unconscious. Then his body flipped over again, and his shirt collar got caught on a branch sticking out of the mountain.

I reactivated my jetpack and zoomed down to his aid. I wrapped both my arms around his waist and lugged him back up to where his hovercar sat. He was rather heavy for my taste, but I didn't care. I hurried back up and laid him gently in his hovercar. I rapidly motioned for Libby, Sheen, and Carl to hop in with me, saying, "We've GOTTA get Jimmy to the hospital, and FAST! ! !"

They quickly hopped in and I took the controls, lifting the hovercar off the ledge and rapidly forward towards the nearest hospital. After I set the coordinates, I set it on autopilot so I could tend to him the best I could.

"Oh, no! Poor Jimmy! !" Carl wailed, almost in tears.

"NOOOO! ! ! ! He was so young! !" Sheen exclaimed.

"Calm down!" I informed them firmly, "He's only unconscious; he's not dead." I then looked in the front compartment of the hovercar for a bit, then I found it, the first aid kit! I grabbed it and used whatever supplies I could to bandage his head up and splint and wrap up his arm with my somewhat limited first aid knowledge. I could easily see a blood stain become visible on the bandage I'd just wrapped his head in after putting antibiotic ointment on it.

A few minutes later, I saw him slowly open his eyes about halfway and heard him mutter, "Where- Where am I?"

"You're in your hovercar on autopilot, well on your way to the nearest U.S. hospital. You would've nearly died falling down that cliff, Jimmy, had I not saved you!" I gratefully told him, gently caressing the part of his face that wasn't injured with my hand.

Clearly remembering the spat we'd had the previous evening, he said, "Cindy, I'm so sorry..."
"Ah, don't mention it. You were bound to mess something up eventually," I gently reminded him with a light chuckle.

"I only came after you cuz I care about you, Cindy...," Jimmy told me, reminding me why he went after me.

"I know, and I commend you for that," I added, giving him a light kiss on the lips, then put in, "And thanks."

Goddard, who'd been with us the entire time, repeatedly licked his master over and over, clearly worried about his well-being. Using his arm that wasn't damaged, he reached over and patted his head reassuringly, saying, "Don't worry, boy. Cindy can handle this."

He just licked his master's face once more with a whine, then settled down for a nap.

"Aw, that's sweet...," Carl noticed, obviously touched by Goddard's actions.

I then looked at the others to see what they were doing. Libby was listening to her music as usual; Carl just yawned and slouched down for a nap; and Sheen was avidly playing his handheld UltraLord video game. Figures. I then turned my attention back to Jimmy, remaining at his side for the rest of the way to the hospital.