The Call Every Mother Dreads.....

It has been a really tough week and somehow, some way I have come through it. I woke on Monday morning and had a bit of a 'head in the hands moment' ; i.e 'should I actually get out of bed this morning?'. Funny isn't it, how some days start like that and you just know that you should just retire gracefully and go back to bed. Ignoring the warnings in my heart, I duly put the face on, trotted to the doctors to have the normal amount of needles stuck in me, then the police station. Long story, just idiotic, territorial people who have no understanding of the law that love to leave badly miss spelt notes on my car for parking in 'their space'. Ho hum, just one of those things.

I was so glad to get home at about 2.30 pm and pondering a little nap. I decided against it as The Git was due home at four and changed into my 'scruffs'...fleece and black trousers, fur lined slippers, hair up in clip, glasses on end of nose. It was the first day back at school after half term. I had expected Josh and Dan to go on the bus but Dan turned up with his bike, Josh got on his and the last words I said to my son were 'Helmet'!

My land line rang at 15.56. My little boy crying on the end of the phone.

"Please come mummy, I have been knocked off my bike".

There is that moment in time when you hear words such as these, the roar of your heart fills your ears and the blood supply is strangely cut off from your legs. This was that exact moment in time.

Another voice.

"Hello my name is Mandy, I am so sorry but I just knocked your son off his bike".

I somehow managed to ask where she was and despite her insisting Josh was okay, I asked her to call her ambulance. I drove there very slowly, fearing that in my haste, I would knock an unnamed child off their bike! I arrived on the scene to find one very upset and shaken Community Staff Nurse (Mandy, who had inadvertently forgotten to tell me she was a nurse, when she rang) and one little boy limping and very happy to see me.

Dan and Josh had been 'taking the long way home' from school and had spotted a nice clear driveway. Their plan was to ride to the top of the drive, get some speed up and turn a sharp right to go up a hill without pedalling. Plan failed miserably as according to Josh he could not turn quick enough and free wheeled straight into the path of Mandy. I guess she did not stand a chance. Luckily she managed to stop, just as his wheels went under her car and he was thrown clear. Thank god for his helmet. I have to say thank you again to Kath for posting her pictures of her son Iain's wrecked helmet on FB last year because, I have NO DOUBT that his helmet saved his life. It was due to those pictures that I called my son 'Helmet' instead of 'Josh' every time he went out of the door for months and months, I literally drummed it into him.

Police and Ambulance arrive. Stupidly it is the same crew that picked me up when I shattered my elbow. Yeah.... and I was doing housework that day so in my scruffs again. Only difference being that they did not have to cut 'em off me this time round. I was so relieved to see them because I knew I could trust them. Josh had a lot of bad bruising and as I speak is still struggling with his leg which is badly swollen but thank you God, Allah, Buddha, Ganesh etc.... I have my beautiful boy back and intact, albeit a little shocked.

After checking him out, I put my arms around Mandy (who works for my Doctors surgery) and hugged her, telling her it was not her fault and not to worry, as I would be taking no further action. At that moment, another nurse arrived from her work to support her and started to question 'why the boys had been there in the first place?'. I was so shocked, I really did not take any notice of her but it seems that whilst not a witness to the accident, she had something to say.

The Ambulance crew were fantastic (yet again, thank you so much xx) and brought both boys and bikes home behind me (note, it is always good to write a thank you letter, which is how I got to know Ali, Paramedic, in the first place). The neighbours piled out and hugged me, rare in the place that I live but it was heartwarming.

Josh has been off school this week, I have burst into tears about five times a day since, but managed yesterday without any hysterical outbursts. So I guess we are both healing. I telephoned Mandy, asking how she was and very concerned for her welfare. All Mandy wanted to talk about was her scratch on her bonnet and her dent in her wing and how it would cost her £350 to repair. As my friend Marie would say, "there is nowt queer as folk"!

If Mandy wants to drop a bill then let her, she does not have access to this blog, but push me into a corner and watch me fight for my child, lets play! Suffice to say I rather hope common sense prevails.

Thank You for listening.

Muse xxx