Makin' A Break

I live across the street from an old folks' home, and while the place is normally quiet, every so often - usually in the middle of the night - an ambulance arrives. I get woken up to the sound of sirens and red flashing lights through the blinds. I hate it when that happens.
   Every weekend you can see loving family members taking the residents on walks around the block, or driving them to lunch, or bringing them birthday presents. It's heartwarming in the best way and makes me glad I'm across the street to see it.
   But today, I saw something I've never seen before, and I mean ever. Anywhere. I saw an old man make a run for it.
   I had gotten home from work (ugh...) and realized that I forgot to buy my lottery ticket. You can't win if you don't play. So I climbed back into the truck and set out for the Chevron station. As the garage gate was coming up I saw an old man running across the street from the old folks' home, jogging determinedly across El Molino as if it weren't 6:30 PM and there weren't cars speeding in both directions. He made it too, a tall, thin, white-haired Frogger.
   As drove out of the garage I saw another old man running across the street in the same spot, right in front of oncoming traffic. An ill-advised move at best. Then I saw a flash of someone else doing the same thing, going pretty fast. I wondered if the ice cream man was down the block or something.
   When finally rolled the truck outside I saw everything. The guy I didn't really see worked for the old folks' home, and he had apprehended the first old man. Stopped him, really, and was gesturing back across the street, trying to reason with him. The second old man, probably a brother or cousin, took the first old man's hand and pulled him back across the street.
   The first old man was clearly addled, though he was dressed like he was just going out for a stroll. The other two took him back - right through the center of traffic - escorting him gently all the way.
   The only thing I could think was: 'Damn... so close...'