Monday 4 August 2014

The Intervention


It was the fourth Monday in a row that Mel had come into work with bruising on her face but this was the worst. Not only was there brushing but Mel also seemed to be if not exactly limping then at least moving very stiffly. She was only a little woman, a circular type of person, not fat but all curves and shapes. She had a pretty smile that filled her face. But she wasn't smiling today; today she was looking the worst for wear.
Mark looked knowingly at Amy, they'd discussed their colleague’s injuries before and decided next time they saw them they’d act. Now was the time. The problem was Mel kept herself to herself, she kept quiet at break times and at lunchtimes lost herself in a book. They knew she had a fella but they knew nothing more. But although they didn't know her so well, they both felt they needed to do something. They couldn't let that bastard get away with knocking her about, could they?
‘Hey Mel’ Amy said, ‘Mark and I are going to the pub for lunch. There's a buy 2 get 1 free deal, fancy a free lunch?
Mel looked like she couldn't think of a worse way to spend her lunchtime, but devoid of immediate excuses had little choice but to say yes.
So at lunchtime Mark, Amy and Mel took Mark's car to the Blackbirds and ordered their meals, Mark insisting on paying for them all. When they sat down Mark looked at Amy who nodded, it was time. Mark cleared his throat.
‘Actually Mel’ he said. This wasn't just about taking advantage of the buy 2 get one free deal, this is an intervention.’
Mel looked confused, ‘an interwhatnow?’ She said.
‘An intervention’ Amy took over. ‘We know we are only colleagues and don't really know you from Adam but we can't just sit by and let this happen without saying anything.’
Let it happen, let what happen? Mel didn't have a clue, what her colleagues were blathering on about and she didn't like their slightly patronising tone. ‘Is something happening at work?’ she asked.
‘Look Mel!’ Amy continued, ‘we know that it's hard to admit. You're a victim and that’s not nice, but were here to help you?’
‘A victim? What are you on about?’
It was Mark's turn to try to persuade Mel to open up. ‘We know you're in denial Mel, it's normal, but you can talk to us,’ he said. ‘We're here to help you. It's not your fault, but you can't protect him, I've got a friend who is in the police force, I can get you help, you can't allow him to treat you like this.’
The penny dropped for Mel. To start with she was angry, what right did these people have to interfere in her life, these two do-gooding pricks casting aspersions on her and her Dan. They didn't care about her, they just wanted to be heroes.
‘Who the hell are you to intervene in my life,’ she said angrily.
She was about to walk out in a huff when the food came, it looked good and she was hungry, maybe she'd stay and have a mouthful or two before she stormed out.
They ate in silence for a few moments, Mel's blood was cooling but she still couldn't have eye contact with her two colleagues. She thought about what they'd said, maybe they were just trying to help her, maybe they did have her best interests at heart and didn’t have an ulterior motive. Maybe she shouldn't have been so angry, maybe she should open up a little.
‘Okay’ she said ‘I'll tell you but you've got it wrong.’
‘Danielle didn't cause these bruises,’ she paused letting the pair opposite her digest the news that her partner was not male. ‘I'm not a victim, I'm a player,’ she said rather cryptically enjoying their confusion. ‘A rugby player.’
‘A rugby player?’ Amy and Mark chorused.

‘A rugby player,’ Mel repeated. ‘So these bruises weren't caused by my partner but by the opposition prop and you should have seen the state of her after the game.’ She smiled at the look on Mark and Amy's face, a mixture of surprise and shame. ‘So thanks for your concern folks, but I think I can look after myself.’

6 comments:

  1. She might be telling the truth or she may as well be lying...

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    1. yes I did wonder about having an ending like this one http://garethsshortstoryblog.blogspot.cz/2013/10/wrists.html
      but decided that it was Monday so a happy ending would be nice.
      I also wondered about having a man in the office who also came in with bruises but everyone assumed it was a sports injury when maybe it wasn’t.

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    2. Good decision :-)

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    3. Oh.... A man with bruises with the suspection of domestic violence would be something twisted, just your style :-)

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  2. A rugby player? I didn't expect that :-)

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