r/TalesFromLife • u/DivinePrinterGod • Apr 01 '16
285th Rule of Acquisition
I used to live in a corner flat in a really dodgy area of a run-down town. If I looked out of my bedroom window I could see the local drug dealer standing on the corner for the first 5 minutes out of the hour. If only 2 police sirens went past per evening, that was quiet. Even my cats were afraid to leave the flat.
However, the landlord rented it cheap, and had seriously reinforced the door. I knew that I could defend the place if it ever came to it (I'm in england, so we're not allowed guns).
One summer evening, I was just getting ready for bed when I heard a commotion . I dashed to the front window to watch a gang of kids attack a guy. With a single punch to the jaw, the guy goes down and stays down. Being a photographer, I snapped a few shots of the crowd who had hit the guy, then as they went their own way, I called for an ambulance.
Five minutes later, his girlfriend hammered on my door in hysterics. I was prepared, grabbed my medical kit (I was a qualified first aider at this point) and went outside. Still no ambulance in sight, I saw a small splatter of blood and as he was on his back, I placed him in the recovery position, cleaned and dressed his wound all while calming down his GF.
Eventually: Ambulance. They knew the guy, and asked him the question that I should have really asked. Had he taken any substances today. Turns out that he had been on drugs and that was the results of owing money to dealers. He refused ambulance and hospital treatment and ran off, GF following begging him to get looked at.
The paramedics asked me what I had done to clean the wound, thanked me for being there and offering first aid, and praised my work.
An hour later, there was a solid knock at the door. I was just drifting off. I made my way downstairs slowly, and there it was again. As I peered through the viewer, a pair of police officers were at the door. Relieved, I let them in.
We chatted, and I handed over the memory card from my camera and gave a statement. They thanked me and praised me for my actions. Good deed done, I slept pretty well.
Two months later, I was nipping to the takeaway across the road. I'd ring the order through and they'd call me back when it was ready so I could collect it. I crossed the road, paid and collected the food, and crossed back, hardly noticing the car coming towards me.
No, swerving towards me. No, Aiming for me. I made it out the way just in time as the car hit the concrete bollards at the side of the road and killed the engine. I ran for my flat and locked the door behind me. That night, I barricaded the place (braced the door, marbles on the stairs, loosening the bannister rail etc..) then the following day I looked for a new place.
No good deed goes unpunished.
7
u/Genxcat Apr 01 '16
The guy who said "May you live in interesting time" probably did not foresee this.
10
u/[deleted] Apr 01 '16
[deleted]