Dad
by Philip Rosanksi
"You look good kid" said his father with a smile. Then he walked into the living room and sat in his Lazyboy.
Mike knew there was only one reason that his dad would complement him. He either needed some of his money or time, both of which he had little of. Ever since his dad lost his job he slept in, watched TV and talked with his old friends. Getting up at seven in the morning was totally out of character. Mike though if he acted in a hurry he could get to his car without dealing with his dad.
He picked up his briefcase and rushed past his dad and into the kitchen. As his had touch the doorknob his fathers' voice boomed in from the living room.
"Hey Mike you got a minute"
"Damn" Mike said to himself.
He walked back and stood in the middle of the room looking at his dad as if he were on trial. "What's up dad?"
His father looked at him mean. "If you're going to give me some attitude then leave"
This just may be the right time to finally stand up to his dad. He always wanted Mikes help but could never find the time to help him.
"Actually I don't have the time dad" "What do you mean you don't have the time, I'm your father and you can give me some respect" he said sternly. "I tell you what, when you get home tonight start thinking about somewhere else to live"
Mike's dad picked up the remote and turn on the TV ignoring Mike. Mike went to his car and got on the highway. As he drove he got more and more pissed off at his dad. It seemed that he could never be an adult in his fathers' eyes and if he wanted him out of his house then that's just what he would get.
Mike turned around and did 80 back home. He was going to get what he could fit in his suitcase and live out of his car if he had to.
He flew up the driveway, slammed on the breaks and ran into the house. If his dad was in his way he was going to get yelled at just like he had done to Mike. Mike jumped into the living room ready to jump down his dad's throat. His father wasn't there so he went to down the hall and stopped in shock as he saw his dad.
His father was lying on the floor with his hand on his chest. Mike put his fingers on his dad's neck looking for a pulse. He has learned CPR years ago. There wasn't a pulse. Mike got the cordless phone and dialed 911. He put the phone between his shoulder and his mouth as he straightened out his dad's body. The phone rang and rang, wasn't anyone there Mike thought. Just as he was about to start CPR a female answered. "This is the emergency operator, how can I help you?"
"I think my father had a heart attack, send an ambulance" Mike said quickly. Then the phone fell down on the carpet. He pinched his dad's nose, pulled up his neck and gave him four quick breaths. He measured his dad's chest and found the right place to pump his heart. Taking both of his hands with the fingers interlaced he started pushing the chest down and releasing. While doing the massage he yelled into the phone. "My address is 25894 Mount Vernon." The words came out of his mouth in a rhythm matched to the pumping action. "Hurry, I can't hear you my phone is on the floor."
Mike continued pumping, giving breaths and checking for a pulse. Mike could only think of keeping his father alive. As long as he could act as his father's heart and lungs he might come back. All he wanted was for his dad to open his eyes stand up and sit in his big Lazyboy.
After about 20 minutes of nonstop action by Mike he could hear people at the side door he had left open. Three men came into the hall with boxes and oxygen. They moved Mike out of the way and attached a large plastic bottle to his father's mouth. Another man ripped open his shirt and continued CPR as the third opened up a defibrillation unit to jump start the heart.
The paramedic attached to large silver disks to the machine and put one on the fathers back and another on his chest. This wasn't like the TV versions where a doctor told everyone to stand back while he jolted the patient. This machine was automatic and talked in a computer voice informing the technicians as to what it was doing. The computer charged, jolted and recharged in a cycle. Suddenly it spoke and informed them that there was a possible pulse. The paramedics confirmed it and quickly put Mikes father on a stretcher and then to the ambulance. Mike sat in the front while they went to the hospital.
They went to ER admitting and wheeled his father in. Mike was taken to the waiting area and told that they would call him when they knew more. He sat there for an hour with one thought going through his mind. Did I kill him. I shouldn't have argued with him. I pushed him over the edge. For an hour nothing else existed for him but his own guilt. Then a doctor's hand on his shoulder brought him out of the trance.
"Are you Mike Williamson" said the doctor. Mike looked him in the face
"Yes, is my father okay?" The doctor let him know that his father was alive as he walked Mike back into ER. Mike didn't know what to expect, what would he say. He could see his dad on a bed with an oxygen mask breathing slowing. His father turned his head and look at Mike, took off the mask and put a hand on his chest. "Hey kid you finally got to break a couple of your old mans ribs" with a smirk on his face.
Mike knew everything would be fine. He leaned over his dad hugging him and said "I love you".