April Fool’s Day !!

It was a very fine morning as I got up very early, planning on how I was going to prank my friends and my favorite teacher because it was April fool’s Day after all! I was traveling with my neighbor and his son, in their car which was a normal practice to carpool between them and us. I got off from the vehicle and as I was on the cross walking…. BANG!! it went and I was on the ground. I was struck by a car in front of the school. It was 7.55 am. I remember that I was in excruciating pain and shock…I just didn’t know what had happened. I knew, I hadn’t made a mistake. In a moment, I saw a huge ambulance come by, making very loud siren sounds that are still ringing in my ears. Lots of Police officers in Police cars, an enormous red fire truck with all those fire officers getting off and coming towards me. I was surrounded by lots of strangers. I was only thinking of my Mom and Dad. I shouted “Mom, I want you”, “Dad I want to see you” with tears rolling down my cheeks. But there was a sweet nurse in clean clothes who was feeling my head and said “Don’t worry Son! Your parents are on their way”. Then, I overheard a conversation between the Police Officers and I understood the reason for the accident had been that the driver was on a call on the cell phone and did not see me till it was too late.

No sooner My Mom and Dad arrived I cried louder and louder saying “Mama I didn’t do anything wrong”. My Mom got into the ambulance and sat beside me. She as weeping gently, but she kept kissing me and comforting me. She assured me that I am going to be all right. She said softly “Darling, don’t worry! Everything’s going to be fine.” “I hope so” I muttered in much pain. When we finally arrived at the Emergency Room and trauma unit, I felt that they have already been waiting for me. They looked prepared and put me on a stretcher and rushed me in with my Mom and Dad running along. I was so frightened for my life. Never had I experienced anything like this before. The emergency Unit was so cold with high air conditioning. Soon there were lots of Doctors and nurses surrounding me. I didn’t understand anything. My only comfort was that my Mom didn’t leave me and I didn’t feel lonely. Meanwhile lots of tests were being done and there were monitors to check on my condition. Suddenly, I started to vomit and brought out blood. There was blood all over the sheets and bed and over my shirt and the white floor. The Doctors and my Mom looked very worried. After that I was rushed into the operating theater and I can’t remember what happened after that.

Since the accident, I am still suffering despite all the operations, tests, injections, therapy and counseling. I have a few problems with my vision where I don’t see perfectly without spectacles. Even with spectacles, I cannot focus for a long time. I also suffer with severe migraine headaches almost daily for which I am taking medication. But ‘Thank God!’ I am still going to school. My Dad says that my operations were successful. I received a lot of gifts and flowers from my classmates, teachers, friends and neighbors. And the day I arrived home after one month in hospital, there was a board brightly decorated saying “Welcome Home” It was such a surprise!!! My whole room was decorated with green balloons as that is my favorite color. The dining table in the living room had so much of sweets and cakes, especially chocolate cake which is my favorite again. My family made me happy. “It’s nothing like home” I thought. But however, I must say that my parents’ hope that April fool’s day will never fall on a school day again as my accident is still a nightmare to us.

I want to tell the whole world and to all the little boys and girls, be very careful when you cross the road even though you are on a crosswalk. Parents, please keep your eyes on your kids, especially the small ones. Because this nasty accident happened to me when I was on a crosswalk. As a rule, we actually need to look thrice (Once to the right, then to the left and again to the right) whether the road is clear. But I say thrice into 2. It is worth it, rather than facing an accident and suffer rest of your life.