What's the Number to 911?!? A family story at Christmastime

Merry Christmas and a Family Story to Share

Merry Christmas, friends! I hope this season finds you surrounded by family, laughter, and maybe a few funny stories of your own. Since this time of year always brings out the nostalgia for me, I wanted to share one of my favorite family tales - one we still laugh about to this day. We call it: “What’s the Number to 911.”

A Disclaimer Before We Begin

Let me start with a disclaimer: I don’t actually remember much of this event firsthand. The story has been told and retold so many times that I’m sure it’s morphed a little along the way. But this is how it’s lodged in my memory - and that’s good enough for me.

Saturday Chores and Chaos

Back in the 90s, before cell phones were a household thing, my parents would often leave us in the care of my oldest sister while they ran errands on Saturdays. Our job was to clean the house while they went grocery shopping and did whatever else needed doing. Once the chores were done, we were free to play.

One Saturday, after finishing our cleaning, we were making lunch while my littlest sister - probably between three and six years old at the time - went out to play in the backyard. I can’t recall if we realized she was out there alone, but since the yard was fully enclosed by a block wall, how much trouble could she get into?

We were about to find out.

The Dog Fight Disaster

Suddenly, we heard the dogs barking and looked out to see them fighting - on top of my little sister. We bolted outside. My brother managed to break up the dogs while my oldest sister and I got our little sister inside. She was bleeding from her head, so my big sister hoisted her onto the counter and handed me a wet washcloth to press against the wound.

My brother came in, my little sister was sobbing, and the kitchen was complete chaos. This was the era before we had any way to reach our parents quickly, so my oldest sister knew she had to call for help.

She grabbed the landline, leaned around the corner, and shouted, “What’s the number to 911?”

The Moment of Silence

I don’t know how accurate my memory is, but I swear everything went completely silent in that moment - even my bleeding, traumatized little sister stopped crying. We all turned to look at our leader, our ruler, our boss in utter disbelief.

Did she - the firstborn, the favored, the blessed, the privileged - really just ask us ragamuffins the number to 911?

We all shouted back, in unison, “911!”

And she, trying to recover, said, “Yeah, duh, I knew that!” before ducking back around the corner to make the call.

We were stunned. Had she lost her mind?

The Cavalry Arrives

Moments later, the sound of sirens filled the street. Police cars, an ambulance, and even a firetruck arrived. My little sister was loaded into the ambulance, and my oldest sister left a note for our parents explaining what had happened.

I remember being mad that I had to ride in the back with my sisters while my brother got to sit up front with the driver. My little sister needed a few stitches in her head where she’d been bitten.

We eventually learned that our male dog had been sitting near her, panting in her face. She wanted him to stop, so she held his mouth shut. He was a nervous dog, though he had never bitten anyone before, but panicked and bit her. Our female dog, the protective one, jumped in to defend her, and our poor sister ended up caught in the middle of the chaos.

A Visit from the Police

The police, understandably, were very interested in why four minors were home alone. Between us and our parents, we managed to reassure them enough that they let it go. But they came back the next Saturday to “check in,” and wouldn’t you know it - our parents were out running errands again!

My oldest sister had to plead with them, “We really do have parents, officer, I promise!” Eventually, they believed her.

Not long after that, my dad came home with one of those early cell phones that was the size of a brick.

Family Legend Status

It was chaotic, traumatic, and unforgettable - but to this day, none of us will ever, ever let our fearless leader forget that she once forgot the number to 911.

She still insists that she was already on the phone and was just trying to lighten the mood.

The rest of us, however, have our doubts.

You made only one mistake, dear oldest sister - and unfortunately, your loyal subordinates will never forget it and will never let you live it down.

Sorry, but also not sorry, Sis! Ha!