An Incident

Amy Rafferty

Im walking through Partick, going over the bridge, heading to the shops. I see a young man in front of me, straddling the bridge guard. From where he's sitting it's about fifty feet down to a really shallow bit of the river, all rocks and moss, jagging out of the water. I ask him if he's ok. He has a fresh wound on his head that's needed stitches. He tells me his wife left him for a junky, he can't see his kids. It's his daughter's seventh birthday and this morning, he went round there to kill the junky. He decided against it and instead, went to the hospital to get himself sectioned. It didn't work so now he's here, straddling a bridge guard, about to jump into the river. I ask him if he's taking the piss, he's grinning at me so it's hard to tell. He shakes his head and spits down into the water. I dont know what to say. I ask him what his name is. Danny he says. I ask him if his folks know he's here - he's texted them what he's about to do but hasn't told them where. I start taking this more seriously than I was. My mind is about to seize up and I'm wondering if the next thing I say is going to have him crashing down onto the rocks. I look down into the water and tell him he'll not die if he falls, he'll break bones. He tells me he's aiming his plunge onto the long, wide pipe that carries effluent over the river and really, that should do it. Shaking my head I say, you really don't want to make a mess of yourself like that. We're both looking down now. How far d'ye think it is? I'm asking. About fifty feet? Maybe? says Danny. About four years ago, one of my neighbours did this jump and he did die. I don't tell Danny this. I tell him about the student who crippled herself trying the same thing, from the same spot. I'm wondering if my weird logic is going to help here. He tells me to go on and enjoy the sunny day and I laugh aye, like that's a ******* option now. I phone the police. Danny sits on the bridge guard and smokes. He drops one of his beers down into the water. The police have been looking for him. I come off the phone and ask Danny what his kid's names are. He snorts, did the polis tell you to keep me talking? I snort back, naw, I just thought that up all by myself. I've seen this in the movies. We laugh again, shooting the weirdest breeze. I tell him if he comes over to the right side of the bridge we can make plans to get this junky. We could tell the police about him. I'm sure the police'll do him in, they like doing stuff like that I say. He asks me if I think he's a weirdo. I shake my head, I think you're just sore. A policeman arrives. Danny starts shouting, telling him to **** off and then says sorry for being rude. I take his apology as a good sign - if he was going to jump then he wouldn't care what either of us think about him. The police close off the bridge and the fire brigade arrive with a big ladder and a wee boat and as the yellow incident cords go up and all the folk at each end go quiet, I'm struck that this is someone elses movie I've just walked into. A doctor arrives. He walks right up to Danny and puts his hand on his back. It was all done in one wee movement and Danny looks safe again. The policeman sidles up and whispers, are you ok? I nod, eyes still fixed on Danny, he's looking at me while he talks to the doctor and I'm nodding my head with whatever the doctor says. They'll not lock him up, no, they'll not put him in handcuffs, no, they will not. Danny starts raving and screaming about this wee **** junky, how he was going to stab his face, how he's taken his family. The policeman asks if I'm ok hearing this. I've already heard it so yes, I'm ok. Danny shakes his head. I'm sorry Amy, I didnae mean to drag you into all this, he says Don't be daft. I tell him. The policeman leads me away. I shout over my shoulder, I'll speak to you soon Danny, ok? Danny starts screaming and banging his hands against the rail. I can't make out what he's saying and suddenly I'm scared. He jumps up, over onto the RIGHT side of the bridge, back onto the pavement. He's screaming and crying and I'm thinking he's done the bravest thing he could. He stayed. The police walk quietly towards him, two of them take his hands, not cuffing him, just holding his hands and another two come over and put their hands on his back. It's weird to see him almost being cradled by these men, they are tender with him. The crowd all started moving away, off into the park, some smiling and laughing, some shaking their heads. All of them turning to look at me, wondering what I was to do with this and I'm standing by the police car wishing I had a cigarette. All of this lasted an hour. I wish I'd known better what to say to Danny but that doesn't matter now. The outcome was good. Danny asked me if I thought he was weird and I don't. I think he was in pain. He needed help and he went out looking for it before someone got hurt. He was a brave man coming down from the bridge edge. It's easy enough to get yourself all wrangled up and needing help. It's much harder to come down safely from where you've put yourself.