To Forgive

Who Called the Cops?
Jewell Parrilla

Dr. Vivian Lopez walked slowly down the cement walk in front of the Hospital Adventista, holding her small son's hand. She walked slowly and thoughtfully, "These days, everyday brought new challenges, what would be the challenge of that day?" She didn't have long to wonder. Hearing rapid footsteps pounding on the cement pavement, she whirled around and saw a young man running toward her.
"The Sandinista are coming! They plan to burn down the Hospital, and anyone in the hospital, "the young man gasped.
Vivian's mouth fell open, "What would they do?" Looking in the distance she saw dust and the faint outline of a motley group of people, some of them carrying torches.
"They are coming! There they are!" Her young informer panted pointing in the direction of the torch carrying mob.
Rapidly taking stock of the hospital's situation, and praying silently, Dr. Vivian rushed into the hospital lobby, "There is a motley group of persons armed with torches coming toward the hospital," she said quietly to the person sitting at the information desk. "Get me Dr. Omar Lopez immediately!"

"No time to evacuate the patients who are hospitalized", she thought, "The telephone is down, no way to even call the police," she mused.
Glancing at the antiquated telephone hanging from the wall, she realized how much alone they were. The telephone had not worked in months. Looking out the window, she could see the crowd and their torches coming up the hill, they were much more visible now. Dr. Omar hurried into the lobby, Dr. Vivian quietly told her husband what she had heard. Other hospital staff members came and together they prayed fervently. Still on their knees, the group heard the drone of planes, and opening their eyes, saw two military planes land. Suddenly hundreds of soldiers carrying machine guns were spilling from the planes in all directions. The torch carrying mob came closer. The soldiers started to fire warning shots into the air. The cowardly, torch-carrying mob faced with superior fire power turned and ran back in the direction from which they had come.
The hospital had no possible way to call for help, the Mayor of the city denied having called Managua, Nicaragua's, capital for help. He had not been aware of the Sandinista plot until after the fact. In fact, no one in Esteli seemed aware of who had called the soldiers. And to this day the question remains, who called the cops?