Conversation Monday night:
setting: in a local pizza place, close to downtown in the early evening, around 5:30. The street in front is very busy with end of workday traffic.
GIRL AT CHECKOUT: "OmyGosh! Y'all look! A wheelchair! In the street!"
BOY AT COUNTER: "Woah, that's crazy!"
[I look up quickly from staring at the newspaper. And, see a dark skinned elderly woman rolling in her chair down the busiest street in the city]
[dial tone. beep, beep, beep. beeeep. Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring. Click.
dial tone agian. beep, beep, beep. beeeep. Ring, ring, ring, ring]
MAN: "Yes, uh, there is a lady rolling down State street. Could y'all please send someone out to check on it? [pause], Yes, and, yes, there's a retirement home real close by"
[pause]
MAN: "Uh, Operator, uh, Ma'am, there is an ELDERLY Woman ROLLING down STATE STREET in TRAFFIC. She could easily be hit by a car. YES, YES Ma'am, I would most definitely consider this an urgent emergency."
[girl and boy still standing at the counter frozen in an elongated stance, gazing out the front window. I walk to the glass door, and step outside]
