One long day, Page 3
Jed Richards
As the Doctor and Doug rolls Darryl into the hospital on the gurney. Constable Richards gets back into the ambulance and head down the road to the service station to fill up on fuel.
13)? Port Augusta Service station. 3.20pm. 37 degrees.
Service station attendant walks out to the ambulance and gives a nod to the constable. He starts pumping petrol from the bowser.
Attendant.
Saw you come through this morning Constable. Been busy up there?
Constable Richards.
You could say that. We had an accident this morning and family feud this afternoon. I havent had time to eat yet. Do you have any sandwiches inside?
Attendant.
Sorry constable. There is a packet of crisps and a coke but thats about it.
Constable Richards.
Thatll be fine thanks.
14)? Road to Quorn. 3.30pm 38degrees.
Constable Richards is driving along eating his crisps and trying the radio with no success.
15)? Tuckers house. 4.15pm. 39 degrees.
Dawn Tucker is standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom crying. She is watching the mascara run down her cheeks. She opens the mirror cabinet and grabs an orange medicine container. She unscrews the lid and swallows the contents in one dramatic tilt of the head.
16)? Quorn Police station. 4.45pm. 39 degrees.
Constable Richards drives the ambulance into the shed again. He locks the shed and takes the short walk back to the Police station. He enters the station and Norm is still sitting at his chair whilst Mrs Nettle is listening to the phone. She covers the handpiece.
Mrs Nettle.
Hello constable. You better take this. Cmon Mr Tucker. Ill make you a cuppa in the kitchen.
Constable Richards.
Thankyou Mrs Nettle.
He takes the phone from Mrs Nettle and waits for them to leave the room.
Constable Richards.
Constable Richards. Can I help you?
Constable Richards listens intently.
Constable Richards.
Dawn Tucker? Ill be right around.
Constable Richards hangs up the phone and enters the kitchen where Mrs Nettle and Mr Tucker are sitting at the table with a cup of tea.
Constable Richards.
Norm, you better come with me.
17)? Tuckers house. 5.00pm 40 degrees.
Norm and Constable Richards arrive at the house in the Ambulance and Norm runs into the house. Constable Richards follows. Beryl is holding a face washer on Dawns brow, but Dawn is unconscious. Constable Richards pushes past Norm who is now quietly sobbing. Constable checks her breathing and her heart rate.
Constable Richards.
She is breathing. All right Norm, help me lift her and well put her in the ambulance.
Beryl is still quiet, but runs ahead to open the door. Constable Richards lifts Dawn from under her armpits and Norm carries her legs. By the time they get Dawn to the ambulance Beryl has run ahead and opened the rear door. Dawn is loaded into the back and Beryl hops in next to her holding a wet face washer on Dawns brow. Norm is left standing on the sidewalk as Constable Richards enters the drivers side door.
Constable Richards
Well take Dawn to the hospital Norm. You wait here and Ill let you know as soon as I have any news.
Norm nods and watches the ambulance drive off. The neighbours are in the background. Norm turns around and sees the neighbours staring. Head down, he pauses and then slowly walks inside shutting the door behind him.
Constable Richards watches Beryl dabbing at Dawns brow in the rear view mirror as he drives south again.
18)? Port Augusta Hospital. 6.30pm. 36 degrees.
The ambulance pulls up at emergency and the doors remain shut. Constable Richards walks up to the door and knocks. A Nurse comes to the door and after a quick discussion with Constable Richards calls over her shoulder. A gurney comes out together with another nurse and they move to the back of the ambulance. The conversation takes place as the nurses roll her into the hospital and along a corridor.
Constable Richards.
Good afternoon Sister. We have a young lady that has taken a few tablets. Here is the bottle that they were in. She was unconscious when we left Quorn, but on the way down she regained consciousness. Shes a bit groggy though.
Nurse Hall.
You say this was the bottle the tablets were in?
Constable Richards.
Yes Sister. Well, it was the empty bottle next to her on the bed when I arrived. I am only assuming its the bottle.
Nurse Hall.
Well check into it. Lets get her comfortable.
Constable Richards walks out of the hospital alone. Looks up at the hot afternoon sun, pauses and walks across to the car.
19) Road to Quorn 7pm. 35 degrees.
Constable Richards is back in the ambulance again and this time the afternoon sun is behind him. The familiar ride is long and lonely and Constable Richards is stained from sweat and dust and is looking quite tired after such a long day.
20) Quorn Police station. 8.30pm dusk. 33 degrees.
Constable Richards parks the ambulance in the designated shed and takes the short walk back into the police station. He unlocks the door and walks straight over to the telephone. He turns on the lamp and starts the paperwork required whilst making the phone calls to reassure the patients families are informed with the latest news. Time passes.
Constable Richards stretches in the chair and leans over and turns the lamp off. After a brief tidying of the papers on his desk, he heads out the front door and locks the station. Constable Richards takes the short walk home to his miners cottage. It is the third house along from the Police station. He passes Mrs Doris Higgins and her husband Tony sitting on the front porch he acknowledges them but keeps moving. Tony looks anxious to talk with the Constable but just by looking at him realises that it is better to remain quiet and let him pass uninterrupted.
21) Constable Richards Mines cottage. Kitchen. 9pm. Early night. 33 degrees.
Constable Richards has arrived home and immediately he boils the jug in preparation for a hot cup of tea. Prepares some toast and sits down at the kitchen table. He is exhausted and falls asleep.
Constable Richards is asleep with head in his arms on the table. The toast is half eaten and the mug sits just out of reach. He wakes with a sudden jerk and screaming, falls from the chair on to the floor. He is squirming and arching on the floor whilst holding his stomach and his groans are very loud. He is obviously in great pain and his face is grimacing. Tony Higgins hears the Constables screams from the porch and he comes running to the constables door. Tony rushes through the front door and into the kitchen. Doris, the slower of the two, is only seconds behind him.
Tony Higgins.
Doris, come quick. The constable is having some sort of fit.
Mrs Higgins.
Out of the way Love&. and move that chair to make some room. Now, Where does it hurt love?
Constable Richards. (Still in great pain and with a grimaced face)
Its my guts. Its burning.
Mrs Higgins.
Looks like you may have some gall stones that are playing up constable. Quite a case of it by the looks of it. We better get you off to the doctor dear.
Doris turns and talks to Tony who dashes out of the room. As Tony is leaving, Doris moves over to the sink and grabs a tea-towel and wets it. She moves back to Constable Richards and places the damp tea-towel on his brow. He is till grimacing, but quietly now.
Constable Richards is sitting up on his kitchen chair now still in pain. Doris is holing his arm steadying him on the chair when Tony rushes back into the room.
Mrs Doris Higgins.
Tony, Come and help the constable up.
Tony rushes around the chair and holds the constables other arm. The both lift and help the constable walk through the front door. As Constable Richards walks through the front door his grimacing
face looks up. The Ambulance is parked out the front under a street lamp. Constable Richards looks heartbroken at the thought of another trip to the hospital.
22) Ambulance. 10pm. 30 degrees.
The ambulance drives off south heading into the dark with the lights flashing.
The End.
Written by Jed Richards.
A fictional story based on the true events of Constable Chris Richards.
