VIRTUE: Self-Sacrifice

VIRTUE: Self-Sacrifice

         She glides down the street on a well-worn skateboard, right foot steady in front and left foot steady, then a step down with a long push back. Her eyes mark a path along the sidewalk ahead as she navigates pedestrians. Her silky black hair flows behind her as the morning air brushes her pristine complexion. She races toward the Second Avenue terminal with a glow on her face, grinning in glee. This is her favorite part of the day.
         A train whistle blows its tune in the distance, and a willful child darts in front of her. Abruptly she redirects the board. The child scurries away. Another block down and she hits her mark, grabs the board and runs down steps to the subway. Paying for a pass, she quickly finds a place in line for the eastbound A-train.
         Onboard she takes a seat and removes her backpack. With a zip, zip, the pack opens. She grabs a bright red apple and a textbook on anatomy and physiology. Biting into the apple and sucking up its juices, she uses this time to refreshen her memory.
         The train lurches to a stop and she traverses the crowd, finding the stairs to the street above. Slinging her backpack in place, she drops her board and begins making her way down another sidewalk toward a large stately brick building, the Eleanor Roosevelt School for Girls.
         At the corner, she waits for the walk-sign to flash. Then down the curb, she proceeds across the street. Suddenly, the crossing-guard pushes her back and a broken down Ford truck runs the light, striking the guard and tossing her like a rag doll into the air and onto the sidewalk. A hush falls as anguish permeates the intersection of bystanders. The girl with the board kneels before the now broken doll, shouting, Call 9-1-1. In the absence of a pulse, she starts CPR. The crowd forms a protective barrier around her and the fallen guard.
         In minutes, the paramedics arrive in a flurry and take over CPR. The young crossing-guard is transported by ambulance to Washington General while policemen set up yellow tape and begin questioning witnesses. By mid-morning, truck driver and the girl with her skateboard give statements, the scene clears and the corner assumes a vacant normalcy.

Word count: 379