“Full Speed Ahead” (drama) 1 minute

Character: JACK
Description:  Jack talks to his best friend Ray about the horror of almost losing his son.
Gender: Male
Age:  39    

….I’m the worst father in the world…I just wanted him to learn how to ride a bike, my son.  All I did was turn my back for a second, to say hello to my nextdoor neighbor Sal…I didnt see it coming, I didn’t hear it coming, until it was to late…

When I looked back, it was too late for me to stop it.  All I was able to do was scream my sons name.  And than, the car hit him.  (beat)  The car kept going full speed ahead.  Never stopping.  I ran to my boy and blood was trickling out from his mouth.  I held him in my arms and before I could blink, Sal drove up next to me with his car and yelled for me to get in. 

We must have gotten to the hospital inside of two minutes.  I ran to the emergency with my son in my arms.  Every time I glanced to look at him, his eyes would flicker and roll to the back of his head.  Frightening, the most frightening experience of my life…

After an hour, pacing back in forth in the waiting room with my wife…a Doctor approached us and told us our boy was going to be allright.  He suffered minor injuries.  It looked worse than it was and when the Doctor told us that, I had to sit because my legs felt like jelly. 

My wife and I cried like two kids, holding one another tightly.  When I saw my son again, for the first time after the accident, he looked at me and smiled.  He told me that he was sorry.  I told him it wasn’t his fault, that it was daddy’s fault.  Then my son asked me if I could take him riding again and all I could do was nod and kiss my child.

…I still feel terribly guilty about the whole ordeal…