[Write the Story] An EMT Jinxes Him/Herself by Hoping for a Quiet Shift

Prompt: An EMT Jinxes His/Herself by Hoping for a Quiet Shift

Words: ambulance, hamster, schooner, cane, whiz, outdoors, euphoria, cylindrical crisp, painting

Story

Lindy leaned back in her seat and propped her feet on the gurney while slowly nibbling her way through a Whiz Pop. She savored every bit of the cylindrical, cherry-flavored Popsicle.

“You know we’re still on duty, right?”

“Oh, pooh, Zeke, we’re having the best day. Just like I hoped for before we came on shift.”

“Oh, Lindy, you didn’t? You didn’t…”

Lindy waved her Popsicle. “A quiet shift!”

And with that, the radio blared, and they were off on a call, flashing lights and siren wailing.

First it was the hamster in an…unpleasant place. Then it was the naked guy at the festival outdoors with drug-induced euphoria. Those cases were followed by the teenager drowning in the schooner of beer, and the elderly guy who knocked himself out with a crisp salute with his cane.

“The next time you wish for a quiet shift, do it with another partner,” Zeke said as they disinfected the ambulance after the last kid ended up painting it with her stomach contents.

“You don’t really believe in all of this?”

“That’ you’re a jinx? We’ve had the worst day ever because you wished for a quiet day. WHO DOES THAT?” Zeke shouted and waved the cleaning wipes. “Every rookie knows that!”

“Well, excuse me for being optimistic.”

“Wishing for a quiet night is not optimistic it’s suicidal. Thanks so much.”

Word Count: 227

Written: 7/23/2020

Tags: fiction, flash fiction, jinx, medical, Piccadilly, Write the Story