“Roy, man, you just don’t get it! I’m tellin’ ya, if everyone would chew gum, the world would be a better place.”
Young paramedic, John Gage, slid out from under the ‘office’ on wheels that he shared with his less-than-enthusiastic partner. He looked up at Roy DeSoto, who was leaning under the hood of the squad of Los Angeles County’s Station 51.
“Okay, Johnny, I’ll regret this, but how will gum make the world a better place?”
The dark-haired man reached into his jacket pocket and handed his partner a pack of cinnamon gum.
“Here, just try this…it’s good for everything. Roy, it makes you forget your problems. Let’s just say that you and Joanne got into a big fight. Instead of stewing over how to make up with her, just chew a piece of gum. When she finally cools off, give her a piece too and everything will be good again.”
“Ole wise one, let me get this straight. If Joanne and I have a fight and I hand her a piece of gum, all will be well?”
“Well, theoretically you’ll need to have a piece too. See, you’ll both be enjoying the gum so much that you’ll forget what you were fighting about.”
Now on his feet, John Gage, reached into the squad’s glove box and threw Roy another pack. With his crooked grin and head turned sideways, Johnny proclaimed that gum would be like a new start for Roy and Joanne.
“I have another scenario, Roy…even more proof that this really works.”
“Johnny, can’t we just work on the squad and enjoy our gum?”
“Yea, but just think about this…we’re out on a run one morning and you’re supposed to meet Joanne for a breakfast date. When we get back here, you’re already late and Joanne was really looking forward to it. Instead of taking time to brush your teeth, and comb your hair, just pop in a piece of gum and run your fingers through your hair. See? Gum can help ya out more than you’d ever imagined.”
“I like brushing my teeth and combing my hair. I’ve been doing that for years and I do not see a piece of chewing gum changing how I prepare for a date with my wife.”
********************
Roy was about to reply to his partner’s suggestion after giving it some additional thought. His first reply was instinct, but he had a million reasons why chewing gum could not possibly change how he dated his wife. Just as the paramedic began to state his case again, the klaxons rang out.
“Squad 51, child trapped with injuries, 922 Oakland Avenue, 9-2-2 Oakland Avenue, cross street Rose. Time out: 10:20.”
By the time Captain Hank Stanley answered the call, (“Squad 51, 10-4, KMG365.”) both paramedics were in the squad and ready to answer the call. After the captain handed Johnny the slip of paper containing the run information, Roy accelerated the squad toward the area specified.
“I hate calls that give the general info. Ya know, Roy? When we hear that a kid’s trapped with injury…well, that could mean anything.”
“Yea, we’ve been on enough calls to know that the situation can be as bad as our imaginations believe, or maybe we’ll get lucky and the kid will only have a scratch. That’s why it’s hard to train the rookies coming up. Ya pretty much have to live this job to understand it.” Roy glanced over at his partner who was helping watch traffic. “Oh, Johnny, don’t forget to put some gum in your pocket.”
“Huh?” Gage had a confused look on his face.
“Gum, Johnny, it could calm the trapped kid.”
“Ahhhh, you were listening to me all along. That’s a good idea, Roy. Gum could help a kid that’s scared. I’ll take an extra pack with me.”
*********************
As the squad screeched to a halt, John and Roy immediately heard a female voice that was filled with panic.
“Oh, I’m so thankful that you got here so quickly. It’s my son, Frankie. His hand is stuck in the kitchen sink and he says he’s cut. I can’t see anything so I’m not sure how bad it is…please hurry!”
Roy glanced down at the lady with a quizzical look. She read his face and went on to explain her son’s dilemma.
“See, my Frankie jammed his hand down into the garbage disposal. Oh, I can’t think straight, please just hurry. I’m just babbling. The garbage disposal was never on. He was throwing a small ball that landed in the sink and he put his hand down the drain and into the disposal to get his ball. I heard him scream and saw that he was trapped by the disposal. I called you guys and that’s all I know. Can you boys free Frankie’s hand?”
Suddenly alarm ran through Johnny’s mind. “Can he reach the disposal switch?”
“No,” she assured.
“We’re gonna do our best. Everything will be fine, Mrs…”
“I’m Mrs. Keen, Samantha Keen.”
“Well, Mrs. Keen, I’m Roy DeSoto, and my partner over there is John Gage. How old is Frankie?”
“Oh, he’s ten now and I keep hearing that things will improve each year, but Frankie still gets into stuff no one else does.”
“Uh, Roy, how about taking a little soap and maybe some cooking oil?”
“Sure, Johnny, that sounds good. We’ll have him out in no time, Mrs. Keen and then we can look at any injury he might have.”
*****************
As Mrs. Keen, Roy and Johnny entered the house, they were greeted by screams from a boy. He sounded more angry and afraid than a child in pain. His screams were oddly calming to the paramedic’s.
“Oh, you just have to help him. It’s not good for Frankie to be so upset.”
“We’re here to help him, Mrs. Keen, but we need for you to help us by remaining as calm as possible, okay? Here, I have something that will help with that.”
As Johnny fished through his pocket, Roy shook his head knowing that Johnny was about to offer the lady a piece of gum. Roy would need to quickly come up with something to get Johnny’s mind off his latest obsession.
“Is Frankie gonna be okay?”
“Okay, Samantha, here ya go.” He handed her a pack of gum. “When you feel stressed, just pull out a stick and it will help you to calm down. You know him best. Does your son sounds more angry or injured?”
“Yes, now that you mention it, I’d say he does sound more angry!”
As soon as the men reached Frankie, they attempted to calm him down. They knew that his hand would be easier to free if the boy was relaxed. Roy decided to work on getting Frankie’s attention. The blond-haired man was always very good with children. He had experience since he had two children at home.
“Hey there Frankie, looks like ya got yourself in a bind here, huh? My name is Roy and that man setting up the equipment over there is Johnny. We’re gonna get you out of this soon, and you’ll be good as new!”
Frankie watched the man very closely as he went over to his partner. These men seemed nice enough, but all he wanted was his ball and his hand free from the sink.
“Johnny, he’s wedged pretty tight in there, but I think we can get him out easy enough. Hey, Frankie, how old are ya?” Roy asked although he already knew. At this point, any conversation with the child would get his mind off the situation and help him feel at ease with the men.
Through tears the boy managed to relay that he was ten years old and that his hand hurt.
Johnny looked at Roy. “Watch this, I’m gonna work my magic with some bubble gum. When he starts chewin’, I’ll oil his arm up and he’ll be out of there before he knows what’s goin’ on. Ya know why I’m so sure about this?”
“Not now, Johnny, let’s just get Frankie’s arm out of that sink. I’m concerned that he might be cut.”
“Well, Roy, he’ll relax once he starts blowing bubbles and that hand will slide right out of the sink.” Gage gave his partner a confident look and a quick wink.
“Okay, Frankie, have you ever played in cookin oil that your mom uses to make fried chicken?” Johnny realized that the boy did not want to incriminate himself, so the young paramedic whispered to Frankie that no one would need to know. It could be their secret!
“Do you like bubble gum?”
“I love bubble gum, Mr…”
“Just call me Johnny. Now, Frankie, I’m gonna give you this piece of gum, but I need for you to promise me something.”
“What? I’ll do it, I promise!”
“It isn’t very hard at all. I just want you to practice and see how big you can blow a bubble with just one piece of gum. While you’re doin’ that, I’ll pour oil on your arm and hand, just like this.” Johnny poured a fair amount of oil on Frankie’s arm so the boy could see for himself that it wouldn’t hurt. “Okay, are ya ready?”
“I’m ready, but I need to chew the gum a little before you measure the bubbles.”
“Well, Frankie, I think that’s fair enough. Roy over there (Johnny nodded his head toward Roy) will be the official bubble measure man. Just let him know when you’re ready.”
John gleefully watched the boy chewing the gum and could feel his arm loosening. Both paramedics always made a great team, even on the first day they worked together. Roy had always had a sort of connection with kids that Johnny never quite understood, but this time it was Johnny who connected with the boy and Johnny was sure he now knew the secret…gum!
“Okay, I’m ready Mr. Paramedic, start measuring my bubbles.”
Everyone began to smile at the boy and noted how his mood had changed. As John liberally poured oil on his arm, Frankie could feel his hand begin to loosen, but he was enjoying the bubble gum and Roy’s measurements so much that he said nothing.
Man I knew this gum thing would work, but this kid is totally different than he was before he got the gum. I’ve really got hold of something here and even Roy has to agree now. I have proof in little Frankie here! Johnny smiled to himself and was thrilled to have something in the arsenal of paramedics that worked so well and was so simple. He wondered why no one had figured this out before him.
“Hey Frankie, are ya makin a fist with your hand that’s down the drain?”
Frankie managed to nod yes and the smiling paramedic asked him to let his hand and arm go free until they felt like they were floating.
“Now, Frankie, does anything hurt? Anything at all..I need ya to trust me and let me know.”
“My…hand…does…a…little.”
“Goodness, son, do not chew so hard when you’re talking to the gentleman.” Frankie’s mom was concentrating on his actions instead of his hand at this point. When a mom began to correct a child, everyone knew that the situation was under control.
“Frankie, you’re gonna feel me pulling on your arm. If it starts to hurt worse, you let me know, okay?”
The boy nodded and Roy watched his face closely to see if he was showing any sign of pain. The paramedic began to worry that the boy might be concentrating on blowing bubbles instead of his hand which could be good and bad. Before Roy could act on his thought, Mrs. Keen was applauding. Johnny had gotten the child’s arm out of the disposal, but he did notice a bit of blood on the boy’s hand.
“Okay, Frankie, let’s get ya over here and let Roy check ya out. We’re gonna look at your hand and arm, but it isn’t gonna hurt.”
Roy began getting the boy’s vitals and Johnny cleaned the small hand and began to check the cuts. Both men realized that Rampart would not likely need to be called for this particular case. As expected, Frankie’s vitals were fine and the cuts were all very small. Roy told the mom that she needed to be sure that Frankie was up to date on his tetanus shot. If he wasn’t, they would need to go to the family doctor for the shot. Otherwise Frankie was just fine, looking at his hand and arm.
“I can’t thank you guys enough. Oh, I love the gum idea. It worked perfectly for Frankie. Actually it worked for me too.”
John realized that he had the rest of the pack of bubble gum in his pocket and tossed it to Frankie. The young man had also retrieved the ball from the disposal and handed it to the boy also. The paramedic then looked at the boy and smiled. Frankie smiled back and thanked Johnny for the gum and for the rescue!
******************
As they headed back to the station Johnny was uncharacteristically quiet and Roy dreaded asking him what was on his mind. The older paramedic realized that the conversation was inevitable.
“So, your gum theory worked pretty well. I guess you had a point because it really calmed that little guy down a lot. I guess I’ll have to admit that you have something here!”
“Yeah, Roy, it did calm him.”
Roy began to feel concerned for his partner. John Gage was still quiet and after such a great idea, the partner he enjoyed would be going on and on about the gum.
“You okay?”
“Huh?”
“What’s on your mind, Johnny?”
“Oh, I’m gonna tell Brackett about my discovery and I’m sure he’ll want me to share this find with the rest of the paramedics. Roy, how should I begin my lecture? Fellow fire fighters and paramedics, or does fellow fire fighters, friends… Which do you think sounds better?”
“Well, I’d begin by asking if anyone can walk and chew gum at the same time.”
“What? Roy, this is important. It’s gonna change how we do everything. Why would you even think of something like that?”
Roy backed the squad into the station. As Johnny exited, he tripped and landed on his shoulder.
“Johnny? Are you okay?” Roy saw the fall and felt certain that his friend was injured.
“I’m fine. I still don’t get what you meant by walking while chewing gum!”
Gage got up, dusted himself off and began to work on his lecture.
Roy stood by the squad and smiled at his enthusiastic partner. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.
· The characters do not belong to me, but to the writers of the 1970’s television show, “Emergency.” I just enjoy giving them new scenarios and situations to work out.
*Click above to send Wanda CH feedback
The Gum Challenge Stories by Wanda CH
