Changes

Changes

Growing up, one of the funny things our father always said was “Call the police.” Well, he thought it was funny.

My brother and I, a year apart, spent a lot of time fighting over whatever was interesting that day. When it got serious our father always brushed it off with “Call the police.” To us it meant- “fix it yourselves, I’m not taking sides.”

It was irritating, especially for brothers who had many of the same interests! As soon as he said that, we knew we had to shut up and figure it out.

Granted, though, it was not appreciated back then, Teddy and I eventually found ways to take care of things ourselves as soon as we heard those words. Looking back, it probably taught us something we may not have learned for years, if at all. How to compromise. An extremely good quality to have as an adult.

One day, we were playing, and suddenly we both heard “Call the police!” Looking at one another, getting along very well, we both jumped up and ran to find Dad.

Getting to the door, we saw Dad trying to help get someone out of a car out front that had crashed into the bushes! We ran to the phone and actually did call the police! Seconds later we heard a loud explosion.

Running back, Dad and a woman were lying on the lawn as the car went up in flames! The police arrived, and a fire truck minutes later. Everyone was safe! Dad had saved her life!

Oddly enough, the very next time Teddy and I had one of our disagreements over who gets what, and Dad walked in, guess what he didn’t say! He had come up with something new, he yelled “Call the Fire Department!”