Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/feed/71382 In a city shatteringly altered by a madman's home-made nuclear bomb, Richard Billie finds himself in the unlikely role of leader for his family. His father, away from home during the blast, might be dead. Richard's mother, usually competent and crisp, is desperately injured and needs immediate medical help. His brother Washington, whose charm an en Penana Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/15 "There's no tag on her, where is it, go check it out!" At the exit door, the guard blocked him with his body, saying, "Wait a minute! Priority? Who says?""Tag? Tag? Are you kidding me?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. As he looked ahead, the sight of the helicopter with blades spinning sluggishly heightened his anxiety. A rescue Mon, 31 Jul 2023 03:36:36 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/14 "Two or three at a time?  That's all?" Richard cried, his voice rising in disbelief. "That's all?" he repeated, his face a mask of disbelief. "What kind of plan is that?" He shook his head in frustration.He had watched from behind the dispatcher as three patients were transferred to litt Wed, 19 Jul 2023 04:02:40 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/13 The five of them left the shopping center together.  Four men carried heavy lengths of hose and one---Richard---brandished a gun he wasn't sure he could use.A breeze had started up, not the dry, dusty Santa Ana type desert wind, but a stirring of moisture-rich air from the Pacific.  Mixe Wed, 08 Jun 2022 04:07:34 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/12 Within an hour he left the house to scout the position of pools nearest the hospital.  It was late afternoon. What little light the sun had offered through the canopy of smoke was now fading away.  Soon it would be night.  A really dark night, in fact.No streetlights would be sh Mon, 06 Jun 2022 23:08:05 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/11 Richard took a deep breath as he left the hospital and entered the body-strewn parking lot.  He was numb from the pain he had just witnessed. He had to stay strong and stay focused on what he was about to do. He had to keep going. The air was still smoky. He heard helicopter activity far off. It was like he was walking t Mon, 06 Jun 2022 01:00:40 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/10 "Rich....Rich...."He started at the sound of his mother's voice and looked up slowly through eyes blurred with tears.  Slowly she raised an arm and let her fingers brush his cheek before the arm fell back."Find....George...." Her tongue licked dry, swoll Sun, 05 Jun 2022 00:35:01 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/9 "We could make a stretcher," Mr. Del Carlo said, already on his feet and hobbling out of the room.  "I was a builder, you know.  Got all kinds of things laying around from past jobs."Richard had suggested using a wheelbarrow to carry his mother, but the thought of her falling out into th Fri, 03 Jun 2022 03:06:34 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/8 He dreamed.  In sleep he was back home at the dinner table with his parents and Washington.  Washington, as always, was doing most of the talking.  Bored with his brother's voice, with his always knowing everything, having opinions about everything, he asked his father a question.  In the dream it wasn't clear what; the Wed, 01 Jun 2022 03:00:19 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/7 "Bring 'em here," Mr. Del Carlo had advised. "Maybe the fire will pass over.  The house is brick.  We've got a new tile roof.  If we hole up in the basement, we might get through this awful mess and get him in the morning." Mr. Del Carlo began packing supplies and shuttling them to the basement. He could hear the roar of the flames and feel the Tue, 31 May 2022 02:37:51 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/6 Richard touched his arm and nodded for him to come away.  He followed his brother to a corner of the room, leaving Stacey offering water to his mother at the bed."It's horrible out there," Richard whispered, shuddering.  He put one hand over his twitching eye, and Washington started when he saw the burns.  "I found her in the kitchen, on Sat, 28 May 2022 02:24:52 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/5 Richard lifted up the metal cover that formed the door to the shelter, switched on the generator for light and air, and climbed down the ladder.  The little room was such a mess!  He and Washington should really try to straighten it up one of these days.  For now he kicked the loose magazines and books under one of the bunk beds and plopped down Wed, 09 Dec 2020 05:18:55 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/4 When he came down to breakfast Monday morning at a normal time, everyone except Washington was still eating."Not running today?" His father looked up from the paper."After school.  Larkin's hoping the wind will die down so it won't be so dusty.""Just look out there!"  His mother leaned on the sink and peered out of the windo Tue, 08 Dec 2020 04:13:40 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/3 Richard carefully unscrewed the bottle of aftershave lotion that belonged to Washington and took a deep sniff. It had a refreshing scent, reminiscent of zesty limes. With a sense of nostalgia, he splashed some in his hand and gently patted it against his cheek and neck, just like Washington used to do. As Richard performed this familiar ritual, Thu, 26 Nov 2020 04:22:08 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/2 Los Angeles, California.  March, 1981Eyes closed, Richard Baillie yawned, stretched his arms wide, and wished he could have stayed in bed for another hour. He opened his eyes and groaned as he realized he had to get up and go to work. He got dressed, grabbed his bag, and trudged out the door. He was determined to ma Wed, 25 Nov 2020 05:41:08 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley FOREWARD https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/1 John W. Hinckley Jr. is a name that resonates with most of us, recognized for his infamous act on March 30, 1981, when he made a deliberate and audacious attempt to assassinate then-president Ronald Reagan in Washington D.C. It is widely known that Hinckley, armed with a revolver, fired a bullet that ultimately ricocheted and found its way into Wed, 25 Nov 2020 03:22:19 +0000 Light Up L.A., Mr. Hinkley https://www.penana.com/story/71382/light-up-l-a-mr-hinkley/issue/0 In a city shatteringly altered by a madman's home-made nuclear bomb, Richard Billie finds himself in the unlikely role of leader for his family. His father, away from home during the blast, might be dead. Richard's mother, usually competent and crisp, is desperately injured and needs immediate medical help. His brother Washington, whose charm an Wed, 25 Nov 2020 03:00:52 +0000