“That was a great lecture Hud, both universities are sure to get a lot of financial support.”
“Thanks Jim, you know I’m always happy to do what I can to benefit higher learning,” as he filed the lecture notes into his briefcase.
“Give Huan my best, we’ll all get together for dinner soon huh?” as they shook hands, Dr. Gregg headed for the door of his office.
“Oh, and I hope little Hudson feels better.” Hudson smiled and nodded his head in appreciation.
“Thanks, may I use your phone before I head out?”
“Sure, help yourself.” He wanted to call home to check on his family and to see how little Hudson was feeling.
“Hello, Huan?”
“Hi Hudson, is the lecture finished?
“Yes, I’m just leaving now.”
“How did it go? I’m sorry I missed it.”
“Alright I think, I believe we raised enough to fund another two years.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“How’s little Hudson?”
“Calling for his dad.”
“Tell him I’m on my way.”
“Okay, see you soon, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Sadly, Professor Henry never made it home. He was involved in a horrible automobile accident on West Georgia Street when a speeding drunk driver plowed his SUV into three cars of oncoming traffic. The injured were rushed to Mount Saint Joseph Hospital. After notification by the police, a distraught Huan called Janie Powell, the seventeen-year-old daughter of their next-door neighbor and a regular babysitter for little Hudson.
“Janie, Hudson’s been in an accident, and I have to get to the hospital, can you take us?”
“Yes of course, I’ll be right there.” When she arrived at the Henry home, Huan was getting ready to leave and little two-year-old Hudson, sensing something bad was crying and clinging to his mom, not wanting to leave. Janie picked him up and tried to console little Hudson without much success. A distressed Huan didn’t know what to do.
“Janie, we have to get to the hospital,” and they all jumped into Janie’s burgundy Toyota Camry. During the drive Huan’s thoughts were racing as she watched the wipers streaking back and forth. They reminded her that Hudson planned on having their own wipers replaced this weekend because the worn rubber no longer applied a clean wipe against the glass, making it difficult to see through windshield during a heavy rain. She was confident that despite his injuries her husband would be alright, and she would nurse him back to health. They parked on the south emergency entrance and rushed through the automatic sliding glass doors to the nurse’s station where a large woman was attending. Janie and little Hudson found seats in the adjacent waiting area but never took their eyes away from Huan.
“Please can you help me; Professor Henry was just in an accident, and I was told to come here.”
“Are you a relative?”
“Yes, I am his wife.”
“Just a minute dear, I’ll get somebody to help you,” as she picked up the phone. Janie and little Hudson looked on from a distance as a man in green surgical scrubs and a police officer came through the double doors and directed Huan to a corner of the massive room. Although they couldn’t hear any words being spoken, they understood as Huan let out a big cry and fell into the arms of the doctor. Janie, with tears falling from her eyes, held and gently rocked the small child in the hospital waiting room on the rainy night his father died.