Be careful crossing the road

Mary was running and jumping about in the garden, she was super exited because she was going to see her good friend Katie.

Stopping to un-hook the gate, wiggle through the space and re-hook it closed , Mary didn’t want Joe to get out without mum or dad, or any dogs thet wern’t friendly to get inot the garden either. Once it was safely shut tight, before turning around and stepping onto the pavement.  There was a line in the pavement that Mary liked to use as a marker of a safe distance from the road, and any extra big trucks or vans when they turned the corners. 

Mary liked the street where her and the family lived, it was quiet, the only real sounds were the bees, the little cute birds and sometimes seagulls but it was better than those noisy streets in town, with all the noisy cars and lorries driving about all the time.

Taking a nice wee stroll over to Katies, Mary got to the bit she need to cross the road at.  Stepping back slightly, Mary didn’t want to be so close to any traffic that was going to go past too quickly.   Looking both ways to check the road was clear, listening just to be sure and looking again to be sure before stepping out to cross the road to meet Katie. 

 

Mary made it safely over the road and into Katie's garden, running through the grass to knock on Katie's door.

Katie greeted her with a big smile she was all giddy and wanted to show Mary the new tree house.  So she ran out to cross the road without looking!

A big van roared past.

Mary grabbed Katie’s arm to pull her back!

“Ouch” yelled Katie. Mary yelled for help still holding Katie's arm.

Katie's mum came out, after one look they were rushed into the car heading to the hospital.

Katie got a fancy strong bandage to support her arm, the nurse said Mary could draw on it or write some nice messages on it to help speed up Katie's recovery.

Katie was very lucky, if you hadn’t pulled her back it could have been a lot worse. 

“Why didn’t you look Katie?” asked Mary.

“I just wanted to show you the tree house before anyone else did, I hoped you’d like all the bits I had added to it too, I’m sorry I didn’t look” mumbled Katie.

The nurse came back over to check ho Katie was doing, “Do you know how you should cross the road Katie?"

“Yes, you stop look, listen, and look again. But I was just too excited, I didn't think,” whispered Katie shaking her head.

“Well now you know and shouldn't forget again” said Katie's mum “thank goodness you’re alright.”

“It could’ve been a lot worse, you’re very lucky, it was a very good lesson I hope you will remember it from now on,” advised the nurse.

Mary had the rules noted in her mind too.

You can never be too careful as granny always liked to say.

©joannehepburn 19/06/2016