Page 6 - Tank

Bam!

It was the best way to describe the sound. A sound so loud it drew everyone’s
attention. This awful sound the product of an unbelievable sight. A huge, misshapen
man had stepped in front of a speeding Humvee. When the cops asked those around
what they heard the answer was similar. Bam! Whomp! Kaboom!
The way those described the sound brought the cops to one conclusion. The man
stepped out in front of the Humvee on purpose. The reason this hulk of a human
stepped in front of the Humvee was simple. He wanted to stop it.
All those gathered around the man stared. Marveled at the wreckage of both the
vehicle and the Humvee. One of those who witnessed it called it a miracle. Shook
his head. Looked away as a tear fell from his cheek.
One of the cops moved in closer to the man. At least what they considered as a
man once. A man with a young girl by his side. A young girl who would not be
moved. Each time the cops tried to remove the girl she screamed. She kicked and
hit and even bit one of the officers.
The young girl held fast to what those who looked could only guess was once a
hand. It took the little girl’s momma to get her to let the man go. To let the EMT’s
do their jobs. Though few assembled believed the man would make it to the
hospital alive.
A gurgle was heard. Then another. All those gathered looked towards the man.
Watched in horror as blood spurted from his mouth. A mouth destroyed in the
carnage of the wreckage. A mouth no one expected to work after what the Humvee
did to him. Most marveled the man was even alive.
A lone speaker described what he’d seen. Each looked at the man as the young girl
slipped back beside the bloody mess they called the victim. Held his hand as she to
listened to the story.
The speaker told the audience about how he noticed the young girl dressed in her
Sunday best. Watched as this girl let go of her mother’s hand. As she stepped into
the crosswalk directly into the path of a Humvee. A Humvee which sped up the
minute the girl entered the crosswalk.
The speaker spoke like he was watching a horror movie. Your mind saw what was
happening, but your body couldn’t move.
Several of the others described the scene the same way. They’d been transfixed.
They could see what was happening in slow motion. Saw what was going to happen
but couldn’t do anything to stop it. Not even scream for help.

The cop shushed the crowd. Encouraged the man to continue his story. The man
brushed away a tear. Told them all about the little girl as she entered the crosswalk.
As the Humvee picked up speed. As she turned towards the vehicle knowing it was
going to run her down.