It was almost dusk. In spite of the heat, I was outside enjoying the evening. I started down the steps of the deck and without warning, a step went out from under my feet. I fell down the rest of stairs and landed on my knees. The pain was intense and immediate and I started yelling. I managed to maneuver my legs out from under me but I could not get up. I called out:
“Help!”
And then, for effect, (and also because it was true),
“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”
No one heard me. I writhed around some. I cried. After a while, two people, possibly friends of my neighbours, walked into the lot. They came over to assist and we quickly determined that even with help, I couldn’t stand or get back into the house. Neither of my legs would work. Mike arrived home, the neighbours left, and we called 911 to request an ambulance.
911 put me on hold.
When they answered and dispatched an ambulance, Mike went out front to flag them down. The mosquitoes were 
thick that night and they made a meal of me. A local raccoon family emerged from under the deck. The raccoons visit the deck often, and we’re friends. One by one they approached, tagging my legs with their little paws. I wasn’t too worried about it, but more raccoons started showing up, and it started to get a little weird.
The ambulance took an hour.
By the time the paramedics rounded the corner, night had fallen. I was covered in mosquito bites and paw prints. The paramedics were a friendly and professional team of two and (once I convinced them that I really was injured and could not get up) they assessed me with care. As they were prepping the stretcher, I mentioned the wait time.
“I was surprised it took an hour to get an ambulance to the centre of the city.”
They both nodded solemnly, and then one of them got a far away look in his eyes and said,
“Yeah… The calls just keep coming, and coming… they never stop coming….”
RATINGS:
911 Service: D+