An Accident

I was standing at the bus stop and I saw them clearly. They were a group of students, stnading a short distance from me and obviously waiting for the bus. Actually, they were well away from the road and, typical of teenagers, they were engrossed in their own world and were not aware of what was goin on around them. Though I heard a lot of laughterand argument, it was clear to me that they were not rowdy. Also, there was no pushing and showing. It was just a cheerful talkative group, which was bothering no one.

The bus arrived and all except one of them, a girl, walk towards the bus to board it. The girl stepped into the road to cross behind the bus to cross to the other. I heard a screech of brakes as a fast motorcycle came up. With a start, the girl stepped back on to the sidewalk. The rider lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into the back of the bus. I stood up andhurried forward. Then I helped the man up. I could see that all he had was a few bruises. There seemed to be no serious injuries.

Immediately the man started a tirade of accusations at the girl, accusing her entirely for the accident. He accused her of running across the road and causing him to stop suddenly. I looked at the girl as tears welled in her eyes. To get her out of the scene, I told her to call an ambulance and she hurried away. I attended to the man with the help of a few other bus passengers. The man was rattling away, with angry words and gestures, to all who would listen, that it was the girl's fault. I saw her standing nearby surrounded by her teenage friends. All if them looked worried as they tried to reassure her.

Soon the ambulance arrived with the police. Just as he was boarding the ambulance, the injured man pointed at the girl out to the police officers. The officers went to the girl to ask what had happened. I stepped forward,"I saw the entire accident, officers," I said. "It is not the girl's fault." I then