(58) Get hit by a car

I don't have any family around here. We never did anything special anyway. I'm not big on issues either, so I'll tell you a little story instead that might save your life.

This is a big city, o.k.?

Huge traffic, just huge traffic and all the rest that comes with it: skyscrapers, people, junk and noise. There's this man you see, he's walking his way with a briefcase under his arm, walking quickly, looking straight ahead to a big intersection.

Lots of people wait near him to cross, like chickens. As soon as they can, everyone rushes, cars are already coming at them, and fast, so they have to run the last bit to the sidewalk, and he hears someone behind him say:

-" whooo! That was close! last time I crossed here, I just --bam--got hit in the legs, crashed in the windshield and fell right over the driver's lap!"

---"Wow..and you're okay?"

---"Fine."

--"Really? Did it hurt? What happened?"

---"Ah yeah! I mean, I thought I was dead. That was the best part, but I revived in the hospital. I thought I was dying, but they took care of me overnight, took off all my bandages a day later and I'm good as new!"

--"You gotta be kidding!"

--" What? No way man, that's what happened"!

They continue and hear someone shout ahead of them :

-"Hey! If it ain't my ol' mate! Where you off to again?"

It's a friend of the guy who got hit in the legs. All three of them walk quickly to reach a curved sidewalk. A few cars honk driving by. Someone shouts:

-" You're gonna get bam! hit again you jerk! "

The newcomer says:

---"Man, this place is dangerous! Last week I was walking right here, and bam---I got smashed right in the body by a jeep. I never saw a thing! Damn drivers man!"

Our guy with the briefcase wasn't paying much attention but when he heard about the bam!

---"What! Do you mean you got hit by a jeep?

--"Right in the face! As fast as these cars are going!"

He was pointing to the traffic at the same time.

---"You didn't die?"

--” What? Course not! That was nothing! t felt bad at first but the hospital fixed me up and now I'm just as usual."

---How could you survive that!?"

---"What's he talking about!"?

The jeep victim turned annoyed at his friend. The car victim tells him:

---"He doesn't seem to believe us told him I got hit in the legs!"

At that moment, they come across an old man.

---"Ah! Talking about accidents, meet this guy. He's the heaviest casualty I know of ".

They all stop. The man with the briefcase looks annoyed. The friends are reckoning and nodding with the old man. He tells him in an old voice:

--"I got run over by a city bus! Then, after I got up and walked away a bit, the train hit me and nearly cut me in half!

--"What are you talking about!”

--"Is he deaf?" Asks the old man turning to his friends.

--"How come you're not dead"?

--"Why? D'you want me to die!"

The friends agree.

--"Yeah! What's your problem man “?

The first guy he meets asks him

--"What's wrong with you? Didn't you get hit before?"

--"Of course not! I'd be crippled, dead or something. I never saw anybody get hit, get up and walk away!"

---"Ah, c'mon man, you just never got hit before!"

The old man tells him:

---"The bus broke all my bones and the train cut me in half but the hospital fixed me all up."

---"Look man," says the other,

---"I don't even limp, my legs are okay."

--"My whole body was smashed up too, but I'm fine now. Didn't you know, if you get hit, you'll heal and be all okay?"

Our guy is staring at them, briefcase still under his arm, rubbing his chin with his hand, listening, as if he's wondering. Seeing they have his full attention they go on

---"You know, you should try it. Right now. The best way is to just walk right out into the traffic, right here even, and you'll see, you'll be surprised, you'll never be that scared of dying anymore. Go on, get hit by a car, a truck or something. It's fun!"

They all go on like that for a while and finally, our guy nods, puts his briefcase on the sidewalk and turns to them

---"You sure about this? I just run out and get hit and I'll be okay?"

---"Yeah!" they practically cheer.

--"Go! Try!"

They're all smiling, looking happy. So with a little swing, he runs right out into the street. The cars honk like mad and bam---he gets hit and falls dead on his back. There's blood splattered everywhere. No one stops. The traffic continues. The three friends, the old man included, pull his body to the sidewalk, trying not to get hit again. They search his pockets for his wallet and anything else he might have of value and leave together. They make a lot of money doing that. So if some friendly strangers encourage you to get hit---bam! By a car, bus or any kind of vehicle, don't do it. They probably just want your money.