Poodllnotdisplayedbecauseithasnotbeenregistered.Askyourteacher/administratortoregisterPoodllatPoodll.com.1OfficerJonda'spulsequickened.Roadconditionsweredangerousonthatcold,darkwinterynight.Thefiercestormmadeithardtosee,butshecouldtellthecaraheadofherwasintrouble.Itwasswaying.Itwasnotswayingviolently,andwasstillbarelywithinthelane,butonthewindingroadinthefierceNovemberrain,itwasenough.Jondahadasixthsenseforaccidentsandlivedinterrorofthemeversincethatawfulnightsomanyyearsago.Shestillcouldn'tabolishtheterribleimageofthatteenagerscreamingforhelp,herhelp.Helpthatshehadbeenunabletogiveasshewasdrivenbackbytheintenseheatofthecarfire.
2Hersubsequentreportontheincidenthaddutifullynotedthefacts,asshehadbeentrainedtowritethem,factsthatdidnotincludescreamsorpain.Itwasstrangetotalkaboutthemoneway:astringoffactsforapolicereport;andtothinkabouttheminanother:burningmetalanddeeptiretracksontheslipperyconcrete,bitsofsafetyglasslikeprimitivecrystalsreflectinginpoolsofblood.ThesewerememoriesJondacouldneverreallyturnoff.Sheleanedonhertrainingforsupport,andthesedayssheneverignoredanysignsofthenextaccident.Shemadeagesturetoturnonthepatrolcar'sflashinglights,butherpartner,David,beathertoit;hetoohadsensedthedanger."Let'spullthatcaroverbeforesomeonegetshurt,"hesaid.
3Thebigcarslowed,butnotenoughtostopatthewarningsignasthedriverslammedonthebrakes.ThecarslippedofftheroadintotheDaltonRiver.
4Jondaquicklybroughtthepolicecartoahaltandgotout.YellingatDavidtocallforbackuphelp,sheslippeddownthesideoftheroadtothewater'sedge.
5Therainhadswelledtheriverintoaragingmonster.Itroaredwelloveritsbanks,rushingswiftlywithtreelimbscaughtintheragingcurrent.Andhalfsubmergedinthecurrentwasthecar.Asbigasitwas,theforceofthewaterhadheaveditagainstatree,thepassengerseatsubmerged,waterrushingoverthewindshield."DearLord!"Jondaprayed."Neveragain!"Thisistoomuch,toofamiliar,Jondathought.
6Thedriverwouldnothavehadtimetomakeitout,Jondaknew.Herflashlightbeambarelycutthroughtheheavyrain,butshecouldstillseethetrappeddriverscreamingandbangingthewindow.Andthecarwasfillingupwithwater.
7"David,Ineedthewindowhammer!"Jondacalledoverherradioandrushedtowardthecar.Bythetimeshewasatthedriverdoor,thewaterwasrushinguptoherwaist,andunbelievablycold,likeherlegshadbeenencasedinice.Ifshedidn'tworkquickly,shecouldlosethefeelinginherlowerbodyandcollapse.
8Throughthewindow,Jondasawthewomanwithwateruptoherchest.AworkbadgepinnedtoherchestidentifiedherasSandy.Andshewasold,65or70.Shewouldnotlastlongintheicywater.Hereyes,betrayingherintensefear,werelockedonJonda's."Saveme,"shescreamed.
9DavidcaughtupwithJondaandpassedherthewindowhammer."Ma'am,"sheyelledthroughthewindow,"Ineedyoutoturnawayfromtheglass!I'mgoingtobreakthrough!"Thewomanturnedherhead,andJondastruck.Theglass,thickastheoldcarwasbig,barelycracked.AndwithaheavyheartJondafeltthecarheave.Thecurrentwaslooseningitfromthetree.
10Jondastruckagainwithallhermightandthistime,mercifully,thewindowbrokeintolittlepieces.Waterrushedinandthecarheavedagain,soontobecarrieddownstream.
11Thewomantriedtospeakthroughhershiveringlips."TellmygrandchildrenIlovethem,"shemoaned.
12Jondaleanedinandwrappedherarmsaroundthewoman."We'renotgoingtoloseyou,Sandy!Putyourarmsaroundmyneckandholdon!David,grabmywaistandpull!"
13Withallherstrengthintheicywater,Jondagrabbedtheslenderwomanoutofherseatandthroughthebrokenwindow,Davidpullingatherwaist.Thecarheavedonelasttime,andjustasthewomanclearedit,itwasswallowedbythewater.
14ThewomanwascryinginJonda'sarms."It'sallright,ma'am,"Jondasaid,tearsstreakingdownhercheeks,unabletoletgoofthewoman."Wedidn'tloseyou!Wedidn'tloseyou!"shecried.Stiffandsore,Sandycried,"Thankyou!"
15Sincetheaccident,thetwowomenhavebecomeclosefriends."She'safantasticwoman,"Sandysays."Shejustrefusedtoletmedie.I'mforevergratefultoher."ButJondafeelsshehasmuchtobegratefulfortoo,becausefinally,sheishealedandfreeoftheacutenightmaresofherpast.