Strobe’s Enlightened

The splashes of water became more evident. A black man in a business suit began to take off his tie. He stripped down to his skivvies and took off his shoes and socks.

He plunged into the river. Intermittent cries came from the child. The man swam over to the four-year-old. He wrapped the child’s arms around his neck and kept his head above water. They reached the shore. He laid the boy on his back and performed CPR. No response. He blew again and the boy took in the gasp of air.

“You’re alright, kid,” the businessman air dried as much as he could. He looked at his watch and noticed that he would be ten to fifteen minutes late for a very important meeting. Then he heard applause.

“What the—” Out of the trees, people applauded the man. The child jumped in the river and started doing backstrokes and breaststrokes. He submerged and then leapt up from the water like a dolphin.

“You have passed the test,” Chester McMannis said.

“Passed what?” the businessman asked.

“The test, of course,” Mame Dixon grinned.

“I don’t know what test you people are talking about, but I’ve gotta get out of here,” he said.

“No you don’t. We called your office and told them that you’re going to be a little late,” Carl Bimmer smiled.

“This is crazy. I was trying to save the kid’s life. Are you playing a game or something? What is wrong with you all?”

“We just want the ethics of altruism to prevail.”

“And I don’t. Before I dropped and went into the river, I had time to save him and go on with my day. Now that I’m dealing with you, I’m going to be even more late. I’m no altruist. I’m selfish. I found it in my own self interest to rescue someone in an emergency. I think I will think again before I ever do something like that again.”

“No, Mr. Stobes. We wanted to let you know your business associates are all waiting for you. Go to them,” Scarletta Hedgley suggested.

“I think I will be on my way. I don’t know how you people found out about me but I’m getting as far away from here and never walking this route to work again.”

“I’d say you passed but you still feel that self-interest is something to champion. What a pity.”

“A pity is playing with people’s lives and time. Saving a child is not what makes you altruistic or necessarily selfish. It just preserves a potential value from another human being. What you folks did here is wrong and I regret even encountering you.”

“You can go to work or you can give us a signature saying you’ll give little Jeremy a kidney,” McMannis said.

“What?!”

“He can swim for sure, but he is afflicted with child’s diabetes Type 1. He’s a fish but on land, he’s had a rough time with it,” McMannis explained.

“You’re out of your mind,” Strobes replied.

“We looked into you. You’re a perfect match for him.”

“I think I’ll be on my way.” He dressed and picked up his briefcase.

The pack of people obstructed his pathway to the main road.

“I know one thing. You’re going to move out of my way or get moved. I don’t have the time nor the patience to put up with alms seekers who play jokes on people. Get a livelihood!”

Strobes started to walk and the people all pushed him back. He quickly performed a move he learned in college football. He escaped the throngs of people and continued on about his business.