Alli slammed her bedroom door angrily and stomped over to her desk. She was fed up with the way she was being treated by her parents. Nothing she did made them happy, nothing at all. She wished she could get into a time machine and go back to just before she was concieved and pick another mother and father. They were being so unreasonable with their demands of better grades at school.
Alli picked up her report card and studied it for a moment. Mostly B's, although she managed to score an A or two here and there, for creative writing and arts. Her marks for Math and Science weren't too crash hot, she was having so much trouble trying to cope with them.
"Damned school! Stupid parents", She muttered under her breath as she threw the card back on the desk. "What do they expect from me?"
There was a knock on her bedroom door. She turned around as her father opened the door.
"Alli you get back down here right now and apologise to your mother and me for your behavior. I will not stand for you being snotty, do you hear me young lady?"
She could see from here that his blue eyes were getting a little red around the edges indicating that he was close to blowing his top there and then. Alli didn't care anymore.
"Well how about an apology for me, Dad? You and mum jump on my case as soon as I walk in the door, tear me to shreds and expect me to be all sweetness and light? Forget it!" she snapped back.
"That does it." Her father marched over to her and grabbed her by the arm dragging her to the door.
"Let me go! You are hurting my arm! Stop it!" Alli yelled as she struggled to break his grip. He suddenly stopped and swung around to face her. Before she could duck out of the way, her father delivered a stinging slap to her cheek.
"If I hear another word other than sorry come out of your mouth you are really going to cop it Alli, I mean it!" he warned, breathing hard.
Alli looked at him dumbstruck. He hardly ever raised his hand to her. The last time she was spanked was ten years ago when she was six years old and disobeyed her folks by going ten blocks to a schoolfriend's house.
She allowed him to lead her downstairs, trying hard to keep the tears from spilling out of her eyes with each step. She refused to let them see how much she had been hurt by their total disregard for her wants and feelings.
Her mother was still sitting in the livingroom where Alli had left in such a rush. She looked up at her daughter and noticed the red mark on her cheek.
"Don, you didn't hit her? God, this is ridiculous!" She stood up abruptly, eyeing her husband.
"Maryanne, you and I both know that she has to apologise for her conduct," he replied, justifying his actions. "If we let her get away with that then we have lost it."
"You both treat me like I'm some sort of possession to kick around when you feel like it," Alli said, trying to keep her temper. "You never let me do anything I would like, never ask me how I feel about things. I'm almost 17 and you treat me like I'm still five years old".
"While you live in this house you will obey our rules, got it?" her father said menacingly.
"Well maybe I should find somewhere else to live! You just don't understand!" Alli sobbed. She turned and fled the room.
"Get back here Alli!" her father yelled, turning to follow Alli out of the room.
"Don, let her go for now," Maryanne said, wearily brushing her hair from her eyes. "Just drop it, okay?"
Alli threw herself on her bed, bursting into tears. She had had enough of this house. Her father was not supportive towards her but when she didn't get the grades he wanted or did something to displease him, he would come down on her like a ton of bricks.
She was tired of her parents arguing too. Her dad could use his hands sometimes on her mother. He came from the old school where the husband ruled the roost and everyone else was beneath him.
Her mother didn't help much either. She just refereed any arguments that Alli and her father would get into. She always sided with her husband. Alli could not understand why everything was the way it was. It wasn't like she was out goofing off or breaking curfew like some of her friends. She was always polite and quiet, doing what she was told, even if she didn't like it herself.
She sniffed and reached for the tissue box on her bedside table. Sitting up, she blew her nose and wiped her eyes. Alli took a deep breath and looked around her room.
"I can't stand much more of this life, I want to get away from all of this....". Her gaze fell upon her backpack in the corner. "I should pack my bag and run away, that would teach them a lesson."
But Alli knew that running away would not solve her problems. She was just sick and tired of everything. But what were her options?
"No more, I'm out of here totally," she whispered to herself. She wasn't going to run off to be found and be brought back here. She was going to end it all.
Alli opened her bedroom door cautiously, listening intently to where her parents were. She could hear them in the livingroom talking. She couldn't just waltz past them and out the front door. And she couldn't get out the back way either. That left only one way out. She closed her door softly and walked over to her bedroom window. Opening it slowly so it wouldn't squeak, she clambered through onto the roof.
She hadn't used this escape route in ages. She used to climb down and scoot over the back fence when she was grounded or a little late back from being out and had to get into the house without her parents knowing.
Sitting down, she edged her way carefully over to the big elm tree branch that touched the side of the roof. Grabbing it, she hauled herself onto the large thick limb and let herself hang from it. Her feet were just touching the top of the garage roof. She let herself drop, wincing as the loose guttering rattled with her weight. Making her way over to the side of the garage, she scrambled down the lattice work and ran to the back fence.
She glanced over her shoulder at the house as she reached the top of the fence. She shook her head and dropped over the fence and took off.
***
Johnny was bored out of his wits. They had not received a call all day and he was getting antsy. He had cleaned out his locker twice, Roy's once and was finishing putting a third coat of wax on the squad with Roy.
"Man, if it was any deader we could all go home early," he muttered, rubbing down the bay doors.
"Hey a little peace and quiet is great, Johnny, at least we can get some cleaning done around here," Roy replied watching him.
"Yeah right, I feel more like Suzy Housewife than a Pararmedic today," Johnny said darkly.
"You'd make a great housewife, Gage."
Johnny stood up and came face to face with Chet Kelly. He gave him a droll look and brandished his oily rag.
"You want me to give you a good cleaning, Chet?"
Chet backed away and grinned. Before he could reply the tones went off. Johnny threw the rag at Chet and jumped in the squad.
"Station 51, female jumper, top of the Darlinghurst Building, 554 Montgomery Avenue, 5-5-4 Montgomery Avenue, cross street Hillside, time out: 13.30".
"Station 51, 10, KMG 365," responded Captain Stanley as the crew scrambled for the rigs.
***
Alli sat on the roof top ledge staring out across the city. She had made up her mind that she was going to jump but was getting up the courage. She had managed to get past the guy at the door and took the stairs to the top of the building. This is what she wanted. No disturbances, nobody to tell her how dumb she is or making her life a misery.
In the distance she could hear sirens getting closer. "Oh no!" she exclaimed as she watched a fire engine and a smaller vechicle pull up in front of the building. She saw people getting out of both vehicles and looking up at where she was sitting.
"This is just great," she said to herself as she edged forward a little.
"Okay, Mike, you stay with the engine. Chet and Marco, you grab three safety belts and the ropes. Gage, Desoto, you two ready?" the Captain asked as he looked up.
"Yep, Cap, ready," Roy replied, hitching his belt around his waist.
"Let's go then".
The group of firemen met the concierge at the door. He told them how he had noticed a young girl come into the building and was acting suspiciously. He followed her up to the roof and watched as she went to the edge. He decided not to challenge her but to call the Fire Department instead.
"Good deal," the Cap said, giving the guy a pat on the shoulder. "Okay, Roy and John, you can approach her with me...Marco and Chet, I want those lines secured as soon as we get up there."
They all piled into the elevator and checked the equipment as they rode to the top floor. They had to haul everything up the stairs that led to the roof. Opening the door slowly, the Cap looked out and around. He could see the young girl sitting on the very edge of the roof.
Alli turned to face the men as they came through the door. She watched them as two of them tied some ropes to a ventilation shaft pipe. The other three firemen walked towards her slowly.
"Get back! Dont come any closer or I will jump right now!" She yelled at them suddenly, making them jump.
"Its okay, we aren't going to come any closer. I promise," replied the taller of the three. He looked like the one in charge.
"We just want to know what we can do to help you, that's all. My name is Captain Hank Stanley....what's yours, honey?"
Alli eyed him and the two men who were standing beside him suspiciously. She guessed it didn't matter at this time if they knew her name or not.
"My name is Alli...Alli Campbell," Alli said.
"Alli, this is John Gage," the Captain said pointing to the young dark haired fireman standing on his left. Indicating to the blond fireman on his right he said, "and this here is Roy DeSoto. We just want to talk to you, see why you are up here, okay?"
Alli shrugged her shoulders and said, "It's a free country. You can do what you like."
"Well what we would like is for you to come down with us. So we can talk. You are making me real nervous sitting so close to the edge like that." The Captain gave her a small hopeful smile.
"Forget it," Alli snapped.
The men edged closer towards Alli. She watched them carefully as they inched towards her. Alli moved towards the very edge of the ledge.
"Please don't move okay, Alli? Let us talk to you. I promise we won't do anything that you don't want us to do," Roy said.
Alli couldn't stand the tension any longer. She felt her breath go from her, with her chest hitching with each breath and tears stinging her eyes she shouted, "Just leave me alone to die! You don't know what its been like for me....." her voice trailed away as she struggled with her emotions.
"Alli...honey, I know you are going through a tough time right now, otherwise you wouldn't be up here...maybe it might help if you talked it out some," the Captain said kindly. He was so afraid that she might lose her balance, she was swaying to and fro with her arms wrapped tightly around her.
"I-it's my p-parents...mostly my dad I guess..never satisfied with anything I do, always pushing me harder...." she sobbed. "I just want to die."
She hung her head, her chin touching her chest, the tears dripping onto her shirt. The Captain took her momentary lapse of concentration to move closer, Roy and Johnny close by.
"Have you talked this out with anyone? A school counsellor? Your parents?"
Alli laughed bitterly, and looked the Captain straight in the eye.
"Are you kidding? Talk to my parents about anything? They think I talk back to them if I even want to discuss a-anything."
The Captain had reached the ledge, about ten feet from where Alli was sitting. He carefully sat down, watching for any sudden movements from her or any objections. She seemed not to notice how close they were getting to her.
"I guess saying to you that they love you and that's why the push you isn't fair on you. No parent should push their kids," the Captain said evenly. He could see that she was a good kid. He could never understand how parents could be so hard on their kids. He and Emily would never be like that with their own kids.
"Do you have any kids, Captain?" Alli asked in a small voice, glancing up at him under her fringe.
"Call me Hank, okay? Captain is a little too formal," Hank smiled at her encouragingly. She returned his smile slightly.
"To answer your question, sort of. My wife is expecting our third child any day now."
"Oh, that's nice..." Alli said faintly.
"It sure is. We are really looking forward to the baby."
Out of the corner of his eye, Hank could see Roy and Johnny split up and start to circle around Alli. They were getting closer imperceptibly, he had to keep Alli's attention at all costs.
"Do you have any brothers or sisters, Alli?"
"No I'm an only child. I guess thats why my folks are so rough on me. It's not fair!" she cried out.
"I agree with you, Alli, I really do, hon," Hank said gently.
Alli looked him straight in the eyes. She could see that he was sincere, wasn't just feeding her a line to keep her happy.
"Would you ever treat your kids like this? Yell at them and try and mold them into something they don't want to be? Would you beat on them or treat them like a slave?"
"My God, Alli, I didn't know it was that bad. But there are people out there who want to help you. I want to help you, Roy and Johnny want to help you too."
As Hank finished his sentence, Alli felt a presence behind her. She swung around and jerked back with shock as Johnny lunged to grab her. She felt his fingers brush her shirt and then she slipped over the edge.
"Alli!" Hank yelled as he too lunged forward to grab her. She flailed her arms, trying hard to keep her balance on the small protruding cement walkway below the ledge.
He clutched her shirt front and pulled her towards him with all his strength. She grasped at his arms and hung on for dear life. Hank could feel himself slipping forward, his head swimming as he shot a look down at the ground.
"Cap, hang on!" Roy shouted as he reached and grabbed for the Captain's belt. He hauled the Captain back as Johnny leaned over the edge and helped steady Alli.
They helped Alli get back over the ledge where she collapsed in a heap at their feet. Hank took a long unsteady deep breath.
"Oh man, Cap, that was too damned close," Johnny muttered as he went to his knees in front of Alli. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay, Gage," the Captain said.
He bent down and put an arm under Alli's arms to help her to her feet. She was crying hard, sobbing incoherently.
"Oh God I-I-Im so s-s-sorry...I could have k-killed you....."
Hank wrapped his arms around her tightly and hugged her to him. He could feel her whole body shaking. He felt so bad for her that he wanted to cry himself. He had never let himself get too close to victims, but Alli had touched a nerve in him. He understood what she was going through...Emily had suffered more or less the same as a teenager.
"It's going to be okay, honey...you'll see," he murmured in her ear as he gently rocked her in his arms.
"Oh my God! Alli! What the hell is going on here?".
The group looked up towards the doorway. Alli shrunk back in Hank's arms as she watched her father rush over to them. He could feel her start to shake again, this time with fear. Giving her a reassuring squeeze, Hank stepped forward.
"Mr Campbell? I'm Captain Stanley. Alli's going to be okay, but I'm going to get my paramedics to check her out to be sure."
Don looked at the Captain and then at Alli, speechless. He felt his face go white as it hit him what had nearly happened.
"God, Alli...I....." he stuttered.
Hank cut in. "Could you come with me for a minute please, Mr Campbell?"
He guided Don away from Alli as Roy and Johnny sat her down to take her vitals and check on her general wellbeing.
"Mr Campbell, Alli, your daughter, tried to jump from this ledge. She was very agitated and we caught her just in time. Before she attempted to jump, she told me about how she felt. Talked about her problems at home." Hank fell silent watching the man closely.
"You mean she tried to kill herself? God, look I know its been rough on her...I-Ive been rough on her lately...I dont know what to tell you, Captain...." Don couldn't take his eyes off his daughter as the paramedics tended to her.
"Look I don't profess to be an expert on childrearing nor am I in any position to tell you how to treat your own child, but she was so distressed about the way things are at home."
Don sighed and looked the Captain straight in the eyes. Hank could see he was trying to control his emotions.
"You know...normally I would probably tell you to mind your own business, Captain. But, my God! I think it's time Alli, myself and my wife sat down and really listened to each other for a change."
Hank smiled at him and patted him on the shoulder.
"Why don't you do that, Mr Campbell? I didn't get to spend much time with Alli but she strikes me as a bright, capable, young woman...a really great kid with a lot of potential who needs guidance rather than expectations placed on her."
Don nodded and smiled back. He stuck out his hand and shook the Captain's firmly.
"I can't thank you enough for what you have done for her. Thank God you were there for her....." he didnt finish, his throat tightening.
"Come on, let's go see how she is doing".
Roy and Johnny had checked Alli over and found that she was suffering mild shock but otherwise unharmed. They helped her to her feet. The Captain walked up to her and smiled.
"How are you feeling now, honey?"
Alli looked up at him and smiled back. She glanced over at her father and her smile faltered.
"I'm okay, I guess. I am so sorry for what I did. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble for everyone."
"Hey now, don't go blaming yourself, okay? We're just happy that you're okay," Johnny said brightly, giving her a grin.
"Johnny's right, Alli. You are still here with us and that's what matters."
Alli walked up to the Captain and stuck out her hand. Hank took her hand and squeezed it. He pulled her to him and gave her a brief hug before stepping back and letting her father get to her.
Without a word, Don grabbed his daughter in a bear hug and held her tightly. He lowered his head and began to cry.
Alli looked up at the Captain again, this time giving him a wide bright smile. Everything was going to be okay after all.