A Walk Through the Park
By Mark Cartret
As Isabella walks into the diner, she sees Mike, her son staring at a coffee cup on the table. It was the table she had met his father at, the table she had learned she was pregnant with her first child while she was 24. At that very same table she had learned of her mom’s stage 4 melanoma, her dad’s passing and she was given the keys to her first car…at that very same table. In fact her high school sweetheart, Mike’s dad had carved “J❤️Izzy” into the wooden top. And it was still there.
At 24 Mike had joined NYPD, graduating at the top of his class at the academy.
Hi mom, I love you he said as she walked up. Hum. What’s up the mom thought?
Usually you love me when we say goodbye…or there is bad news.
Let’s make today our day Mike said. As Mike stood up to hug his mom, she knew exactly where he wanted to go. Off they headed to Central Park.
While they began to enter the park Mike, as always wanted to hear about his father. It was in this very park a young Isabella had met John 26 years ago. A handsome New York firefighter who, like Mike had joined the NYPD after rising to the top of the police academy. Along with the many good memories, there was one bad, horrific thought that always overshadowed everything else.
John had also met his fate in this very same park.
It was 11 pm on a Friday. Isabella recalled it as if it was yesterday.
John was a young sergeant on his way home nearing the end of his shift which he had gladly overstayed.
And he was the closest officer to a common law robbery that was in progress. The caller had said three males in red hoodies are holding a couple at gunpoint. John would have known the likelihood that the three reds meant gang. And as a supervisor he was not required to handle the call. Yet that was John.
His first mistake was not the misidentified gang. He should have waited on backup to arrive. Perhaps he had gotten complacent in his job. Or maybe he was so concerned for the victims that he was careless.
Whatever the case, the couple would later tell the story of the brave officer who appeared as a knight in the dark who came to their rescue, allowing them to run to safety while he stood in between them and certain death. Several backup units would find a 10-42. John had managed to take out two of the assailants while the other’s bullet found its mark. John was not wearing his vest.
Within minutes of the officer down call, it seemed as if hundreds of units would respond. And respond they did. Central Park was ablaze with as much red as blue. John was loved by all, the community, his fellow law enforcement brothers, and his former firefighters.
Anyway as mother and son strolled through the park, mom became much more aware of Mike’s nostalgia. It seemed as if he was going away. He literally asked for his life’s story. And it was easy for a doting mom to recall. Mike was her favorite. He was actually her only child. You are not considering going to the Middle East again son she asked? Oh no mom I am just so happy to see you and to reflect.
After going through the pregnancy test story, the ultrasound tale proving it was a boy, the stories of the cheap cigars that John had bought and nearly ever other aspect of her kid’s life, Mike wanted to stroll down the street. Hand in hand they walked for the better part of the day. Mike would occasionally say hi to an acquaintance, Lisa or Tom, Gordon, and Jamie. Everyone seemed so happy and so focused. It was a beautiful day but as evening neared, Isabella began to sense a pulling away. She actually felt a strong emotion of sadness come over. Mike I’m guessing you have to go in tonight she said. Are you sure you are not thinking about enlisting again? That’s when…
Isabella is awakened by a large wrap on her car window.
She finds she had fallen asleep in the cemetery, her son’s flower arrangement in her lap. Startled. Confused. Sad.
She lowers her window to hear Sgt. O’Malley ask if she was ok.
This was all a dream!
Puzzled and crying she was speechless and clueless as she ran over to her son’s resting place.
Strangely she looked at the neighboring stones of other fallen officers, the names read:
“Lisa, Tom, Gordon and Jamie.”
