An old man in a ditch – Part I

Posted on January 31st, 2009 by Richard Catto 684 views

This is a short work of fiction by Richard Catto.

This is a story about an old man I hardly met in a ditch one day.

It all started on a rainy day in August. I was walking up Soddom’s Hill when I saw an old man lying in a ditch. I hesitated for a second, before deciding to take a closer look. I felt a little apprehensive as I contemplated what to do. What if he were dead? I didn’t want to get all caught up in something that had nothing to do with me and would just inconvenience and unnecessarily delay me.

I nudged the old man with my toe, and with enormous relief discovered that he was alive, because he gave a loud grunt. However, ironically, far from my troubles being over, they had only just begun, although I had no idea at the time what lay ahead of me.

The old man did not wake up immediately. From the smell of him I realised he had probably fallen down dead drunk. I was about to walk on, when he groaned deeply. I asked him, “Are you alright, sir?” and received a very incoherent reply. I caught the word “robbed”, which pricked my interest. “Did you say that someone robbed you, sir?”, I asked. “Yes!” came the more affirmative answer.

I decided to call the police and let them deal with the matter. With hindsight, I would never have made that call.

“Hello, is this 911 emergency?”

“Yes, sir”, came the reply, “how can I assist you?”

“I’d like to report that an old man is lying in a ditch on Soddom’s Hill saying that he has been robbed. Can you send someone round to take care of him? I think he might need to go to hospital.”

I ended the call, knowing that they would want to ask me a million and one other questions, none of which I was in the mood to answer. I decided to leave. I had done my bit and I wanted to get on with my life. However, at that point of decision, the old man groaned again and said rather weakly, “help me”.

How could I just walk away from someone who so obviously needed help, I asked myself? “What do you need me to do for you, sir?”, I asked the old man. He just groaned again and slumped back exhausted. I decided to use my initiative and see if I could drag him out of the ditch.

He was heavy and he stunk, that sweet, crisp stench of someone who has not bathed in a very long time. His leathered face told me that he was homeless. I wondered what he could have been robbed of.

I got my arms underneath his armpits and wrinkled my nose against the rankness of his odour. In the distance, I heard a faint siren and wondered if that was the promised help. I began to drag him out of the ditch, but it was slippery from the rain and I made very little progress. I stood up sweating. At the bottom of the hill I caught a flash of red lights and I decided to leave the man and see if it was an ambulance. It was. I stood by the side of the road waiting for them to arrive.

They screeched up and two paramedics alighted freshly from the vehicle.

“Are you the man who called 911 about a man in a ditch, sir?” a beefy medic asked me.

“I am”, I said, “he’s still lying there. I tried to get him out, but he’s too heavy for me.”

The medics tumbled down the short slope and began to examine the man.

After a few minutes, the medics called up, “Sir, did you know this man?” I said, “No. What do you mean by ‘did’?” “Well, I’m afraid, sir, that’s he’s dead.”

I was thunderstruck. Not a few moments ago he had been alive, and now he was dead? “That can’t be”, I said, “he was alive just a few moments ago.” “Sir, he’s not breathing and he has no pulse. I’m afraid there’s nothing more we can do for him now, except transport him to the morgue. You’ll have to come along to make a full report.” declared the medic.

My worst fears had come true. I was now embroiled in the saga of the death of a total stranger. I felt suddenly that my life had spun out of control. Events had overtaken me and I was not sure where this was all leading to. Like a lamb to the slaughter, I obediently climbed in the back of the ambulance with one of the medics and sat back to endure the drive to the County Coroner’s office.

To be continued…

Tags: fiction, Short story, writing
Filed under fiction |

2 Responses to “An old man in a ditch – Part I”

1. Relax Max Says:
   January 31st, 2009 at 10:03

   Interesting story. Can’t wait for the conclusion. Not to sound cynical, but this is not the Richard we all know and love. Or perhaps you have been wrongly and unfairly misunderstood. But you did say it is fiction. Anyway, it is interesting and I look forward to the point. There is always a point. Good stuff Richard.

2. Richard Catto Says:
   January 31st, 2009 at 14:49

   @Relax Max: The next part is up.

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