Andries Bakkies was a lively 10-year old who lived on the outskirts of Riversdale. His home was close to the golf course and he often used to collect wood from there for his mother to use in the wood stove. He enjoyed picking his way through the stream and knew where the deep areas were to avoid. He was proud of the fact that he could hop from one dry spot in the stream to the next, and to the other side without getting his feet wet. In that way he could gather more wood than many of the other children, who were afraid they might fall in the river. LongBeard and his clan used to watch Andries and the other children as they gathered wood and spoke to each other in their loud and shrill little voices. They enjoyed watching Andries hop across the stream in his sure-footed way. Andries was also well known amongst the gnomes for being one person who trod carefully whenever he walked amongst the trees…almost as if he knew that there might be little people’s dwellings under foot!
On this particular winter’s day in July, the weather was looking bleak, and a storm was building up. Andries’ mother asked him to quickly go and gather some wood, so that they would have enough for the cold and wet days ahead. He grabbed the bag that he always carried the wood in and ran down the hill towards the golf course. “Don’t go into the water,” she called after him, “you know how quickly the stream can flood this time of the year!” “I’ll be careful,” he called back and ran towards the stream.
As he hopped across the stream, he noticed that it was starting to flow strongly and he wondered if it had rained further upstream, causing the water to rise here at the golf course. Andries knew that the little stream could develop into a fully flooding river if it rained hard and he hurried to complete his chore. As he filled his bag he noticed the level of the river rising quite fast. He continued filling his bag, thinking he would have enough time to get back across the river safely.
He put the last piece of wood in the bag, fastened it tightly and with the bag held on top of his head started hopping back across the stream. Too late! He realised that he had waited too long and would have to take the long way around over the old railway bridge. He turned around to go back, but suddenly the river swelled higher and he could see that it was too wide for him to jump across. Andries was trapped on this little piece of ground in the middle of the river! There was a loud clap of thunder over-head and large raindrops started pelting his bare face. The wind was blowing hard along the stream, making waves on the brown water and raising the level even more quickly. Andries couldn’t swim and he knew he was stuck. Fear grabbed him in the throat and squeezed his heart. Why didn’t he listen to his mother? Why did he always have to think he knew better? He started crying, for he was sure this would be his last day on earth.
Meanwhile, LongBeard, who had seen it all happen, decided to break all gnome rules to let the people know that Andries was in trouble. As there were no other humans about to throw acorns at or trip up with plant roots to get their attention, he had to find some other way to get help. It was 5 minutes to 4 in the afternoon, and LongBeard remembered that Etienne, the young dentist, usually worked until 4pm.
As only gnomes can do, LongBeard flew through the ground like birds fly through the air, and within two minutes he was at Etienne’s dental surgery. He popped up through the floor of Etienne’s private office. Just in time! Etienne already had his motorcar keys in his hand! He tugged at Etienne’s trousers to get his attention and whispered, “Etienne!”
Etienne looked down in surprise. “LongBeard,” he exclaimed, “What are you doing here?”
“There is a child who needs your help urgently,” LongBeard spoke fast, “young Andries Bakkies is stuck in the stream by the golf course, just to the North of the old railway bridge! The river is rising fast and he will drown if someone doesn’t help him quickly!”
Etienne recognised Andries’ name instantly, for just the week before he had put fillings in his teeth. He remembered the lively youngster with the big smile, who so bravely supported his mother and his little sister, in the absence of their father who had passed away a year ago. Etienne immediately picked up the phone and dialed the emergency number for the police. His friend Jan answered and Etienne quickly told him that Andries was in trouble near the golf course. “We’re on our way,” Jan assured him.
While Etienne dialed the hospital he asked LongBeard, “How long has Andries been outside in the cold?” “Long enough,” LongBeard replied in his enigmatic way. The hospital receptionist answered and he asked to speak to the sister in charge of the emergency room. Sister Marie answered. He quickly told her what had happened and asked if they would prepare themselves to receive Andries. “We’ll be ready,” Sister Marie reassured him, put the phone down and immediately instructed her team to get hot water bottles and blankets ready. She also alerted the doctor on call to be at the hospital when Andries arrived.
Back in the surgery, LongBeard thanked Etienne and disappeared below the floor.
Etienne didn’t have time to think about LongBeard’s strange ways of moving about. He quickly phoned home and told his wife Matty that he would be late coming home, filling her in on the bare details of the event. He grabbed his coat and umbrella and drove to where he knew Andries lived. He had remembered that Andries’ mother did not have a phone, and was concerned that she must be sick with worry about Andries’ whereabouts in this storm. As he drove up to her house, he saw her peeping through the window. Her face was pale and drawn with concern.
He jumped out and entered the small house, quickly asking her where Andries was. When she told him that Andries had gone to the golf course to pick up wood, he told her and her young daughter Magda to get in the car so that they could go and look for him. He drove towards the old railway bridge and they could see the police lights rotating near the river. “Oh no,” Andries’ mother whispered. “He’ll be all right, you’ll see,” said Etienne. In the headlights they could see Jan, the strong policeman, carrying Andries, who was all wrapped up in a thick police blanket, towards the police van. Jan waved a thumbs-up signal to Etienne.
“Jan says he’s okay,” said Etienne. “Let’s meet them at the hospital.” They drove off and waited at the emergency entrance of the hospital. Doctor Paul, Sister Marie and her team were ready and standing by. The police van arrived and Jan carried Andries inside. “He’ll be fine, Ma’am,” he said to Andries’ mother as he jogged past her, “he’s just very cold.”
Sister Marie and her team quickly took Andries inside and the skillful team, who knew about the dangers of hypothermia, caused by excessive exposure to the icy wind and rain, quickly took control. One of the staff nurses collected Andries’ mother and sister, gently took them inside and gave them some hot tea with lots of sugar to ease their shock.
Jan and Etienne stood looking at them, feeling very relieved. “Thanks, Jan,” said Etienne, “great job. We are lucky to have policemen like you in this town.” “We were just in time,” said Jan, “the water was already around his ankles, and he was so cold he couldn’t catch the rope. We had to send Hendrik through the water to go and fetch him. Even Hendrik, big and strong as he is, struggled with the current, but at least we managed to pull both of them back to safety with the rope. Hendrik said the water was freezing cold. He’s gone home to get warm and dry. I’ve given him the rest of the day off to make sure he doesn’t catch a chill. By the way, how did you know that Andries was in trouble? Weren’t you in your surgery, far away from the golf course?”
“Hmmm, I was,” said Etienne, but suddenly I just ‘got a message’ that Andries was in trouble, if you know what I mean?” “No,” said Jan, “I don’t know what you mean, but I’m just glad you ‘got that message’!”
Etienne drove home to his family, and in his heart he was very grateful to LongBeard, who had essentially saved young Andries’ life.
Story 2010 Copyright © Susan Bellingan Fourie
2010 Copyright © LongBeard
Acknowledgement of image:
Sean Sprague – SpraguePhoto.com
Edited by: Janet E Deeb www.blazelightaround.com
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