Innovation
By
Roy walked next to Johnny as they walked down the hall of the ER. Johnny had his hands in his pockets and was whistling. Roy smiled and shook his head..
“You do realize when he realizes what you did, you won’t have a moments piece?” Roy tried to bring Johnny back to reality.
Johnny kept whistling and added a skip to his step.
Roy sighed deeply and said a prayer.
Both got into the squad and waited a moment.
“You know Roy at the time I didn’t even think about what I was doing.” Johnny leaned his head back. “I just knew I had to stop the bleeding...You know how scalp wounds bleed.”
“I know but.......”
“Roy there was nothing else available. We were trapped. I had to improvise.”
“But when you got out you should have changed to a regular pressure bandage.” Roy turned in his seat to give Johnny a no nonsense look.
“I tried but everything happened so fast. Then the reporter took the picture before I could do anything.” Johnny lifted his head back up and looked at Roy and smiled, “I know he’s never gonna let me off the hook about it, but ...”
Roy started the squad and as he started backing out, “ Johnny if I were you I’d hire a bodyguard.”
*********
The next morning Chet was relating his harrowing experience to the nurse who had brought him breakfast.
“So, Johnny and I are trying to put down the fire. Suddenly, Johnny must’ve felt the floor start to give.” Chet’s arms flew as he explained the situation. “Then like a shot Johnny grabs me and pushes me into this room just as the floor goes.” Chet closed his eyes and shook his head. “That Gage can drive me nuts but man he’s good at what he does.”
“So, that’s how you ended up being trapped in the ladies room of the theater?” The nurse asked holding a newspaper in her hand. She was desperately trying not to laugh.
Chet looked at her. “How’d you know it was a ladies room?”
“Oh, you’re famous Mr. Kelly. You made the front page of the paper.” The nurse handed Chet the paper. The nurse quickly went for the door. “But frankly I prefer Kotex,” She added as she laughed and ran.
Chet wore a confused look on his face. He rubbed the bandage that covered the laceration that ran across his entire forehead. He opened the paper and looked at the huge picture.
There was Johnny leaning over him. Taking care of his IV and monitoring his vitals. Chet noticed the makeshift bandage on his forehead.
Chet saw some writing on it. He wondered what Johnny could have found in the ladies room to stop the bleeding.
Chet’s eyes grew wide as he started making out the words. “GAGE YOU’RE A DEAD MAN.”
The strip of paper was still there on the bandage. “Stay Free Maxi Pad.
