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“Thank fucking god! This hour by myself has been horrendous. Do you know how bad it sucks to have to put people on hold?”
I know she means it because her hair is typically down and curled. Right now, it’s in a topknot and an energy drink sitting in front of her computer. So it’s going to be that kind of a night, huh?
We lost three people last month due to budget cuts. You would think that people with jobs like ours would be concrete from layoffs, but nope. It was either lay off three of our own or lay off police officers. I understand the reasoning.
“Jesus, how long do we have to work with a skeleton crew? They can’t expect us to be able to help people with only two people on a shift. That’s asinine.”
“Right now, all I care about is you putting on that damn headset and taking the call I’ve had on hold.”
I sit my bag down next to my desk, and get ready. Whoever is on the other end of this line is going to be furious. When you call 911, there is no reason to be put on hold.
“911. What’s your emergency?”
“For fucks sake. My father is having chest pains. I think he’s having a heart attack.”
“Okay, ma’am. Is he conscious?”
She scoffs. “Yes.”
My first thought is why she didn’t get him in the car and take him straight to the hospital instead of calling 911. Especially after being placed on hold.
“I’m sending an ambulance your way. They are about ten minutes out.”
She starts cursing under her breath. “I’ve already been on hold for ten minutes!”
Some people think 911 means you are going to get help faster, but that’s not always the case. If you are able to get to the hospital yourself, you should. Especially in life or death situations. Strokes and heart attacks are time sensitive and need to be assessed immediately. Ambulances take time to arrive.
“I’ll just put him in the car and take him myself. What the hell help were you anyway?” she says, right before she hangs up.
My jaw clenches. No need to be such a bitch. If people only knew how freaking hard we are working right now. They wouldn’t treat us that way.
The rest of the evening is call after call, with not much breathing room in between. Is everyone having issues tonight? I try to stay positive as the end of the shift nears. They are going to work us into the ground. A week like this is bad for my mental health.
At six in the morning, the next shift starts to arrive, piddling around to their desks, preparing for their gruesome day.
I pick up my phone, headset on my head, and click on Theo.
Me: About to be off work. Need company?
My plan is to get him out of the house, even if it’s just for an hour. He needs sunlight. I have a feeling there is more to the story about Nathan’s father and his, but not going to push for it. He has enough on his plate right now. Losing a parent is never easy. Especially under those circumstances.
“How’s it going with lover boy anyway? You haven’t said much about him tonight.”
His business isn’t mine to share, so I only tell her that he’s going through something. Of course she tries to pry it out of me, but I don’t.
“Things are going good. Not trying to rush into anything.”
She rolls her eyes. “Rush? You’ve been single for like twenty years, girl. Maybe it’s time to go all in. Just don’t scare him away. He seems to be one of the few good guys left in this god forsaken town.”
My headset rings and I press the button to answer.
“911. What’s your emergency?” On the other end is a woman sobbing. “Ma’am. Are you hurt?”
She tries to speak but keeps fumbling. “Can you give me your address?”
There is a lot of background noise, but I can’t make out what it is. She is talking to someone else, and then there is more crying.
“Ma’am, I need your address.”
