[Best L4] 2. An Injury - Siyun

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An Injury

"Let's do some spring-cleaning today!" exclaimed Mother.

"Yes, Mum" squealed Timmy and Jake gleefully as they jumped to their feet. It was something for them to do during the school holidays, apart from reading. They had already grown bored of their toys.

 

Mother handed them a pail of water and told them to wipe the shelves. Since many hands made light work, they finished the job quickly. Mother was still busy cleaning the kitchen.

 

"Why don't we wipe the glass windows too?" suggested Timmy.

 

Jake ran to get a stool. Timmy climbed up and stuck his hand through the window grilles. He stood on tiptoes to reach a corner. Suddenly, he slipped. His hand hit a flower pot that sat on the window ledge. It went tumbling down. Flabbergasted, Timmy gasped, flattening his face against the grille. Scared out of their wits, the boys ran to Mother.

 

At ground level, Mr Tan, their neighbour, was approaching their block of flats. He had finished work early and was strolling home, whistling. He had picked up some groceries from the supermarket and was going to cook a meal to surprise his wife when she came home. His merry whistling was cut off because something landed on his shoulder - something heavy that caused him a lot of pain. "Oww!" he hollered.

 

The flower pot which had hit him dived to the ground and broke. The soil flew. The plant lay on its side. The impact made Mr Tan lose his grip on the bag of groceries he was carrying. Potatoes and carrots rolled out like prisoners running away. throbbing with pain, Mr Tan reeled and then landed on his bottom, squashing the plant.

 

Dazed, he peered around and caught sight of the soil and the smashed flower pot. Luckily, it had missed hitting him on the head. Anger rushed through him like a tide. He feared his shoulder had been dislocated. Whose pot was it? He looked up and saw some flower pots on the fifth floor. Did it come from there? Did those people not know how dangerous it was to put things on the window ledge?

 

At that moment, Timmy and Jake dashed out of a lift. Mother followed closely behind them. The three of them hovered over Mr Tan.

 

"Are you alright? I'm so sorry you are injured." cried Mother, looking at him with anxious eyes. "I'm going to call for an ambulance" she added, pulling out her phone. Timmy and Jake apologised profusely to Mr Tan. He glared and muttered, "See what you've done?"

 

In no time, the ambulance arrived and Mr Tan was bundled off to hospital.

 

Mother had to foot Mr Tan's medical bills. She was also fined for a killer litter offence. As an apology, Timmy and Jake offered to sweep Mr Tan corridor for an entire month. In the end, the two families became good friends.