Waking up early in the morning, Jim couldn't wait to get to band practice that day. Taking a quick shower, brushing his teeth and having breakfast, he was just about to go through the front door when he heard his older sister calling him from behind.
"Jim, wait!" she yelled, rushing down the stairs.
Turning around reluctantly, frustration visible on his face, he wondered why his sister was keeping him away from his passion. Why she was tormenting his soul.
"You can't go to your band practice today. The government has ordered all teenagers from the age of thirteen to be part of today's first aid program," he said, reading through her phone.
Of course, Jim knew what first aid meant at his age. What he didn't understand what how it concerned him.
"We can't disobey the law, Jim. Today, the police would be sent to inspect every house. If they were to find out that someone hadn't participated then they would get sent to jouvenile prison."
Hearing the last part made his hair stand on end. Although he hadn't been to jouvenile prison, he had seen it with his own eyes. He had seen the children that were sent there. Those who had done terrible things at such a young age. For the first time in his life, he was grateful that there was someone as struck as Amanda in it.
If it weren't for her, then who knows the terrible things he might have done. Perhaps it was due to the absence of discipline in their lives that they ended up the way they did.
Still reluctant, Jim had decided to do as the government says. Getting ready, he headed outside, where he could already see children his age wearing the standard first aid gear with the red Cross symbol.
What surprised him was that it didn't take long for him to find his friends amongst the group of prodding children. They shared his disdain for the program, but had no choice just like him.
"Hey Jim, help me with this, will ya?" Riley said, handing over her group's first aid kit over to him.
For this program, the kids were required to go from door to door, administering first aid to those in need of it. Although it seemed like a waste of them since there were hospitals and most houses had their own first aid, it served as a means of showing the people that the younger generation cared for them.
It served as a means of bridging the Gap between the old and the new, so that there wouldn't be protest if, say, one of the younger generation becomes mayor of the city. They would happily follow someone that treated their injuries during their time of need.
Jim and his friends had made it to the first house for the day. Fortunately enough, everyone knew how to apply first aid. Asking the family who it was that needed treatment, they came to realize that it was a little boy only around five years old.
He had a flesh wound on his right knee from a accidentally scratching it against the floor. Although the blood loss had somewhat stopped, his parents were afraid that the would might get infected if he didn't receive treatment on time.
"Lizzy, get the cotton wool," she ordered one of her friends, and not long after, a cotton wool was handed to her.
"Spirit," she said, glancing at Jim.
Dipping the cotton wool into the spirit using a pair of thongs, she lightly applied it on the injury. Of course, the colourless substance known as spirit had a burning sensation when applied to an open would, as the boy screamed in pain, kicking his legs and swinging his arms rapidly.
He wasn't used to this level of pain, and it looked the intervention of both his parents to keep him pinned to the floor.
Not long after, and the wound had already began to show signs of drying up, the benefits of spirit. After applying a couple bandages to the wound, the bid the family farewell before heading to the next house.
_________
Amongst the children who were doing their first aid operations, a group of two children seemed to be doing just fine on their own, although they were smallest group in the city.
The group composed of two boys named Tyler and Blake, two of Jim's friends who weren't part of the Air Heads. With their speed and level of coordination, they were making quick work of treating the minor injuries.
___________
That day was quite hectic for Jim, but now that another fiasco would be happening, he just hoped that he wouldn't be stranded seeing as most of his friends weren't around this time. Perhaps he might team up with Kevin and get it all over with.