Emma's Fear

Emma had been frightened of Eddie for as long as she could remember, she couldn’t remember the exact reason, but her Dad reckoned it was because she had demanded to watch a Harry Potter movie that her brother Andy had borrowed and she had become scared stiff of the pale baddie. He looked vaguely like the baddie, but Emma was quite firm in the belief he actually was the baddie, but as time passed she forgot the detail, but remained fearful of him.

Eddie was Emma’s Dad’s best friend, which meant the two men were often together, but whenever Emma caught sight of him she quickly disappeared – at first she hid behind her mother’s skirt, but now she was too big to do that.

Emma’s fear of Eddie grew the day of the barbecue. Her Dad lit the old charcoal burner using some starter blocks and despite being told not to go near it, she was curious to see if there were any flames.

Eddie spotted her venturing too close to the burner and rushed to grab her arm! Emma did not like him touching her so she struggled, but he was too strong and took her to Dad – and he growled!

It never entered Emma’s head that Eddie had actually protected her.

There was excitement in the house when the country school Emma and Andy attended announced that there was going to be a visit to the museum in town and that lunch would be at the new pizza restaurant! They would be allowed to wear mufti on condition that they paid a gold coin for the earthquake appeal.

Dad as usual asked who was going to pay for the trip but it was all covered by the concert the school had put on when Emma had sung Tomorrow her favourite from Annie. The parents had clapped when she curtsied!

It was an early start because the bus was due to leave the school at 7:00am sharp, they said if anyone was late, it would be too bad for them, but nobody was - of course they would have waited, it was that sort of community.

Mrs. Crenshaw always drove the bus, she had been driving  since the school bus service began, and they used to say she had worn out three buses, this old Bedford was the forth. The old girl had a steep climb out of the valley before top gear would be engaged along the easy flats towards town.

The kids were singing Rolling, rolling, rolling, the mustering song, when Emma who was sitting right behind Mrs. Crenshaw heard her say, ‘Oh, I do feel queer!’

The Bedford left the road and plunged down the steep bank! The kids and their teachers realised immediately the danger! Among the screaming, yelling and utter chaos, the kids hung on. The bus didn’t go far off the road because it came to rest against an old Manuka tree. The rear door sprang open, an invitation for everyone on board to hurriedly exit the vehicle, some kids scrambling over others in the rush to safety.

Emma wasn’t frightened though. She stayed behind worried about Mrs. Crenshaw who she realised was unconscious.

The Manuka tree’s roots gave way a little and the bus rocked, just balancing there with the two people inside.

Mrs. Stern, the head teacher stood at the rear door and called to Emma, ‘Are you alright Emma?’

‘Yes, I’m fine,’ she called back, ‘but Mrs. Crenshaw is not.’

‘Someone has called the Volunteer Fire Brigade, I can hear the siren going.’ Called Mrs. Stern. ‘Do you want to stay with Mrs. Crenshaw?’

‘Yes of course,’ replied Emma. ‘I can’t leave her!’

Mrs. Stern herded the last of the school children up to the road just as the fire engine arrived, the Fire Chief, identified by his white helmet, ordered that the bus be secured with a rope to its rear axle and anchored to the fire engine which was full of water so could easily hold the weight. While that task was being performed the Chief asked Mrs. Stern if anyone was hurt and if anyone was still in the bus.

The Fire Chief quickly had the facts and he climbed into the bus, which rocked with his extra weight. The floor of the bus was pitched steeply, but he easily reached the pair and asked Emma to help him ease Mrs. Crenshaw free.

It was an easy rescue but Emma thought the Fire Chief was very brave.

‘You are the brave one, Emma.’ He said, and removed his white helmet.

For the first time Emma realised that her hero was none other than Eddie, Dad’s best friend.

That day, little Emma had grown up. Anyway Eddie’s not at all like Draco Malfoy.