OnStar! May I help you?

OnStar! is here to help you ... even when you're not.

"OnStar! How may I help you?"

"I've been in an accident, and I need help!!," the voice cried out.

Debbie's lengthy training kicked in like she was a seasoned veteran: "Are you injured? Do you need medical assistance?"

The voice sounded a little calmer as if soothed by Debbie's professionalism. "No, I'm okay. I think I hit my head when the car rolled over, but it doesn't hurt. I swerved to miss a deer and went into a ditch. My car is on its side, and I can't get out."

"I'm glad that you're not hurt. We have your location on GPS tracking. I show that you are on Highway 101 just outside the Hoh Rainforest. A response team is on its way, and a medical team will be there to check you out just in case. Are your headlights or any other car lights on?"

The woman replied, "I turned everything off. I didn't want to run the battery down. Should I turn them back on?"

Debbie told her, "That was smart thinking. If you can reach it, try turning on your emergency flashers. This will make it easier for the response team to find you since you are off the road. Leave teh other lights off."

"Okay, they're working, thank God for small favors."

"The closest town is thirty miles away, so it may be another thirty minutes until they arrive. I'll stay online with you. If you start to feel any pain or any other problems, just let me know."

"Okay, I will," the woman replied.

Debbie knew that she needed to keep the woman alert in case things took a turn for the worse. She tried to engage her in small talk, "I show that the car is registered to a Dr. Jeremy Watkins. Is this Mrs. Watkins?"

"Yes, I'm Jeremy's wife, Melinda. We took the kids camping in the Olympic National Park, and I was running into town for a few things.

How much longer till the response team gets here? My head is starting to throb."

"They should be there soon," Debbie replied. The woman's response explains why they had not been able to reach the Watkin's home number. "Does your husband have a cell phone with him? Is there a number I can call so he won't worry?"

Melinda's response was no surprise considering her location, "No, I already tried. We haven't been able to get a signal since we got here. I'm starting to feel light headed."

"Melinda, I want you to do something for me. Touch the area of your head where you think you got hit. Feel around and see if you feel any moisture. I just want to make sure that you're not bleeding."

Melinda let out a short laugh and said, "I wouldn't even be here if I wasn't bleeding. Damn period wasn't supposed to start for four or five more days. That's why I'm going to the store. I was too embarrassed to tell my husband why."

After a short pause, Melinda starting talking again, "No, no signs of blood on my head."

"That's good," Debbie replied. "They should be there soon."

"Oh!! I hear a noise!! I think they may be here. Hello!!! I'm in here!!!"

"Hey!!! I'm in here!!! I don't think they here me. All I hear is scratching noise like they're inspecting the car."

"Melinda, try turning on your headlights."

"Okay, just a sec ........ okay they're on, but I don't see anybody. Hello!!!! Nobody's answering."

"I'll see if I we can reach them and ......," Debbie was cut short by Melinda's screaming.

"AHHHHHHH!!! What the hell is that?!?!?! Help me!! Oh God, what is that?!?!"

"Melinda, what do you see? Melinda!! What is it?!?!"

Melinda was sobbing now, "I don't know-ow-ow. It was big and hairy. All I could see was it's legs in the lights. Oh Go-o-o-o-o-d, tell them to hurry, please!!"

Debbie tried to reassure her, "They're coming as fast as they can. It's probably just a curious elk or moose."

"No, it had big legs, and I only saw two of them. I don't see it any more though."

"It's probably just a trick of the light. The response team is in your area. They are looking for the right spot. Keep all of your lights on until they find you."

"Okay. Thank you for putting up with me. I've probably just been imagining things."

Debbie smiled and said, "I'm happy to help."

A figure stepped into the light and Melinda screamed again, "AHHHHHHH!!!," and then started laughing, "I'm sorry I screamed!! There's a policeman out there. They're here."

Debbie wished her well and signed off. The policeman knocked on the windshield and called to her, "Mrs. Watkins, is that you?"

About 45 minutes later, the OnStar signal in Dr. Watkins car went off again.

"OnStar! How may I help you?"

This time a man's voice replied, "Yes, this is Sheriff Billings from Forks, Washington. I'm responded to an accident scene on Highway 101 reported by OnStar. Can you tell me if this is the correct vehicle?"

Debbie replied, "Yes, officer, this is the correct vehicle. Is Mrs. Watkins okay? Did you get her out?"

The sheriff replied, "We got her out, but she was far from okay. The EMT said that her head was crushed and her neck was broken. She died on impact. The smell of the blood must have attracted a lot of animals. There are some really strange foot prints around her car. Big ones!!"

Reviews

[Novel Minded_75]

Other than a few typos, the story held my attention, but the end was a bit flat in my honest opinion, yet it works for the genre
I have never had any experiences with On Star, so I have nothing to say about the response time.
Her whole reason for going to the store in the first place: priceless and ingenious :)

[C. C. Burl]

hey, this was pretty funny. I like how you used OnStar. I've heard so many radio ads for it already. :) good job, and I enjoyed it.

[Rebecca Rogers]

Good ol' Forks. Stephenie Meyer's made a name for that small town.

I thought the story was really good. At the end, when it says the OnStar signal went off forty-five minutes later, I would change that. Help for an accident usually arrives quickly. Just a suggestion, though.

Nice work! :)