Hackensack Hero

Writer's cramp (29/1)

Prompt ▶︎

So, by way of celebrating the 24th anniversary... Three news stories:

Hero Medal For Boyscout - A boyscout saves a comrade from dying.

Write a story or poem which "fleshes out" that report, creatively telling the larger tale which the article describes. One of your genres must be EMOTIONAL.

Hackensack Hero

Wear this medal and bask in the fame,
You're a gold medal hero (gold medal hero), but,
It's just a badge that hides the shame,
Of a country boy, who's guilt-guilty

June fourteenth, lazy summer days,
No more chores, we were free to play,
Down by the river, on the bridge we stood,
Words turned bitter, as I knew they could,
Slow driftin' current, flowing 'neath our feet,
One small push, and the two did meet.

I wear this medal from the general's hand,
First in the state, but they don't understand,
Oh Hackensack Hero, who saved the day,
Not a country boy, who's guilt-guilty.

Was one of those fights that no one wins,
How could I know, he couldn't swim?
Down in the water, got carried away,
Fighting for his life, in the air to stay,
When he went under, didn't come back,
My heart stopped beating, world turned black.

I Jumped in the river and pulled him out,
Did he live? I had my doubts!
Breathed fresh air into broken lungs,
Hoping to undo, this harm I'd done.

Wear this medal, saviour of a fav'rite son,
I'm a Hackensack Hero they all told me,
If they knew the truth now, I'd be undone,
Just a country boy, who's guilt-guilty.

Hackensack hero... no,
Hackensack hero... don't say it's so,

Hackensack whispers, but the truth's held near,
Gold round my neck, can't show no fear,

A country boy
Who's guilt-guilty.