When Death Knocks, Don't Answer

By Randy Hayes

This book is designed as an act of protection to those who will heed its wisdom and warnings. It is my sincere desire to guard the readers from a premature death. The book covers everything from accidents around the home, accidents with motor vehicles, lack of knowledge, natural problems with nature (like lightning and tornadoes), encounters with violent people, self-destructive acts of stupidity, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, just to name a few. If we listen closely, death is knocking at the door. I do not say that to cause you to be paranoid, but I have found in many situations our lives could be spared if we had given attention to the situation before it happened. I have been spared in several situations written about in the book by simply asking myself the question, “What would you do if this were to happen?”

You would be surprised how the answer will come to you in that given moment of crisis. This book could possibly save your life!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662420351

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When Death Knocks, Don't Answer

Randy Hayes

Copyright © 2020 Randy Hayes

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2020

ISBN 978-1-6624-2034-4 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-2035-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Standing in the Seat

Crossing the Pacific

The Earthquake

Fire in the Cave

The Lightning Strike

Slam the Door, That’s Using Your Head

The Motorcycle Ride

The Flying Volkswagen

Cut Your Hair, Hippie

Eighteen-Wheeler Wild Ride

Drink Yourself to Death

Can You Feel the Power?

Fishing for the Boat

Sleeping in the Van

Tornado in the Treetops

The Elder and the Shooter

Surprised Faces on the Plane

The Eighty-Pound Razor Blade

Introduction

This book is a collection of short stories from my own life experience. It’s my desire to help others avoid the pitfalls of life due to rejection of sound judgment and wisdom. There are many situations one might find himself involved in, just because he may be in the wrong place at the wrong time, under circumstances beyond his control. In situations like this, I hope to demonstrate at least one way out since I am a survivor.

The stories I have included in this book are times in my life when I feel that I was confronted with death. I have lived an exciting life and could write many books on being faced with traumatic situations or times of great joy or lessons learned from the school of hard knocks and the like, but death is not like any other subject. Once death has finished its work, it is final. From there, we will go on a spiritual journey, but our physical sojourn is over. I wish that I could impress upon the minds, especially those of a younger generation, just how quickly one can and, without warning, be staring death in the face.

Chapter One

Standing in the Seat

I’m two years old and doing what two-year-olds do best in an automobile—stand on the seat. The year is 1955 and about 90 percent of the population rode around with their children standing in the front seat of the car.

Were parents and relatives sadistic? Were they mean? Did they hate their children? No, they were all ignorant of the future statistics. How could you blame someone for something they knew nothing about?

Most parents of the era thought they were being very good to their children by letting them ride in the front seat with no restraints, allowing them to stand up to give them a better view. Hardly anyone gave any thought to the horrifying situations that could occur as a direct result of this little joyride.

Thank God, I did not become a statistic from the many times I had flirted with death by doing the very thing I was doing on this particular day. I am standing in the front seat as Mother cranks the old Chevy. I have the best seat in the house. I am staring out the front window of this huge building on wheels. I can see almost to the ends of the earth. Everything is wonderful as Mother navigates her way to the little store which is only a few blocks away. There is absolutely nothing to worry about. Just a couple of minutes and we will be there at kid’s heaven. A place that has all the latest candy, a multitude of soft drinks, and the old staple called Moon Pie.

The car is running smooth and the seat is soft under my bare feet. Then suddenly, a small dog jumps into the road out of nowhere, Mother instinctively jerks the wheel to avoid killing the