The Thrill of the (Ambulance) Chase

by Aaron Crary

It’s no secret that for the summer after my second year of law school I went to work for my father and his two partners at their law firm in Spokane. The interview process was tough, but with some good contacts and an exceedingly competitive resume prepared, they realized that I would be the best fit.
Naturally the men and their staff received me with suspicious warmth, but I was eager to learn and the awkward familiarity lasted only a relatively short time. I bounced around from projects early on, whether it was sorting through medical records, researching dog bites or helping the wrongfully accused keep their drivers’ licenses my intent was to waste no time in proving I was a worthy member of the team.
And things went well to start. I got along with all the staff. The lawyers had a lot of projects to keep me busy. I was progressing at a good pace. I found my first two years of law school at U of I had helped prepare me well for the real world practice of law.
But my true test for early lawyerhood came about a month and a half into the summer when I was called to learn a bit about the world of personal injury law. My dad is a personal injury lawyer. Naturally he is very familiar with all the “ambulance chaser” comments and the “one call that’s all” jokes, but he has learned to compose himself very well in this specialized area of practice. One day he approached me as I sat in my little intern cubicle and invited me to come along on some personal injury lawyerly business.
The day was mostly uneventful: a deposition, BS-ing with some other lawyers my dad’s age, and then a little father/son lawyer lunch. “Son I am real proud of you,” he interjected after a few solemn moments of silence while we sat at a Mexican restaurant for lunch. “You’ve been doing a great job here. I just want you to know I am real proud of you.” I nodded.
He continued. “You know son. I think I am going to take you up to Gonzaga to show you some things. You’ve been around long enough; I think you’re ready.”
“OK,” I responded, somewhat at a loss for words because I was not sure really what he had in mind. We finished lunch, hoped into the car and headed towards the local law school my dad and all his partners graduated from.
Upon arriving my 53 year old, gray haired father first took me on a car tour of the campus. I had been there before, but it was nice to see the school after so many years. The next stop was to the law school itself. Though it spent many years in tier 4, the school was very new and very nice inside. It made my wonder how the school had done so poorly in the past.
After spending a good hour inside the halls, my dad took me to our last location. I was somewhat confused and waited a good couple of minutes for my silent father to explain to me why we were at the university’s running track. He kept silent as if in waiting longer it would all make sense to me.
Nevertheless he finally did speak. But it was not a conversation that preceded, it was something like a declaration. “Aaron,” his voice rung. “As you know, there are people everyday who find themselves struggling with the faults and negligences of their closest brethren.”
“You also know that I practice personal injury law. And I do this because it is my goal to make right those who have suffered the wrongs of others in the only way I can. Justice, Aaron. Justice provides payment to those for the injuries others have caused them.”
“So son, that is why I bring you here today. Yes, you are here at the running track. I bring you here for a reason, one that you will understand as you grow and mature in your own practice of law. I can’t teach you the full understanding behind this, but what I can teach you now is that you must at all times keep your wits about you. Always be prepared Aaron; always be ready. Do you understand? Aaron, Do you understand?” He kept chanting. I nodded.
“Aaron do you understand!” he screamed. I yelled back, “Yes I understand!” I didn’t. He eyed me curiously. “If you understand Aaron then start running.”
“What” I asked.
“Run, Aaron run!” With no idea what I was doing I took off, sprinting along the outer rim of the track. I sprinted as hard as I could, no clue as to why, only intent on making my father happy. I ran many laps. I lost count how many times I ran around the track, but I do know I was getting close to passing out when my father finally pulled me over to the side. I was drooling and could hardly see straight.
“Good job Aaron. You worked hard. I knew you could do it.” I wasn’t sure what I had done or whether it was done well or not but I took my father’s word for it, whatever it meant.
My new suit was soaked full of sweat, but my father ignored this and embraced me, somehow proud of what I had done. We walked back to the car and we said very little to each other, him occasionally patting me on the back. I had not been this connected to my father in some time, the only problem was is that I didn’t know why. All I could gather was for some reason my trip to the Gonzaga law school and me sprinting around the track was somehow special to him.
We were getting close to the car. I was so tired and sweaty I resolved to figure out the true meaning of all this at another time. “Well, thanks dad,” I whispered, half looking in his direction. He said nothing in response, focused on something entirely out of our control. “Listen Aaron,” he hummed. I stopped. What was it; what was my dad now talking about?
Moments later I heard the cry of a distant emergency vehicle. Normally this would have meant nothing to me, but now there seemed some special significance. I waited moments longer to make sure my ears weren’t playing tricks on me. No, true enough it was an ambulance.
I began to focus. It all seemed to make sense now; somehow I had an understanding of what I must do. I waited for a few moments. When I could see the vehicle I bolted. I started running after the vehicle harder than I had ever run before. Any thoughts of my earlier trials were forgotten as I focused all my energy on catching that ambulance.
I could see in the distance where the vehicle was turning and I cut, an obvious move to get a direct route to the car. Yes, I made a good move. It was at a red light, waiting to turn in the direction I was now heading. There was no question; it would come right for me. It was within my grasp, yes, it was amazing I would have it that easily on my first outing. Just one turn past a building and I would have it.
I came to the building and turned as quick as I could, not faltering a step. As I looked around the corner I could see it, now getting ready to move through the green light; I was almost on it.
I sprinted, but unfortunately I did not make it. In turning the corner I saw it all fall away as my face went straight into the pavement. Everything went black. Moments later I woke up and saw the street woman that I had tripped over staring at me. “You ok man?” Tears welling up in my eyes as I wiped the blood from my forehead all I could do was shake my head.
My father came on the scene minutes later asking me if I was alright. I continued shaking my head then looked up, “Father, I have failed you,” I whispered. He bent down and picked me up, placing my arm over his shoulders. “No you didn’t Aaron. You did fine. It takes a long time to be a good ambulance chaser.”
He helped me back to the car, wiping the tears and blood from my face as we went.