It’s pretty ugly.
John looked past Darlene and could see the two ladies standing toe to toe. “Yeah ok. Go back to Anne. She needs you.” John scratched his head, rubbed his chin and reentered the meeting. “I’ll be right back guys. I have a situation that needs my attention.” John considered the situation. “What is this all about? They were best friends yesterday? This might be tricky.” Coolly, John crossed the parking lot near the two ladies. “What’s going on?” Immediately John regretted the question. Both ladies yelled accusations and hatred. Something about a guy getting kicked out of the mission, maybe something about another guy being a punk, John couldn’t make much out of what they were saying. “This might take a bit longer than I got right now,” John thought to himself. “Listen ladies. You both seemed a little angry right now. Let’s do this. Go to your rooms and breathe and work to compose yourself just a bit. I’m in a meeting right now and when I’m done; I’ll bring you down to the office and see if we can’t get this straightened out.” Amazingly it worked. Though they both let out a loud, “Huff!” They both went to their individual rooms. Smiling, John returned to the meeting still in progress. “Sorry, everyone.”
Following the meeting Ron wanted to tour some of the recent changes. Normally, this was exciting for John since he loved to show off the shelter. But today, all John could think about was the fire simmering in the guest rooms. He prayed that they would stay put until the tour was over. Also in the back of his mind was the whole situation with Anne.
The fake leather chair felt like a safe place for the moment as John considered his next move. Maggie was now on duty. During the meeting a shift change had taken place. “Corrina has that conference tonight. So, John, set up Maggie for success and call it a day. I better get this battle over with. Can’t leave it for Maggie.” Muttering a quick prayer, John began to move toward room 9. He had decided to deal with Becky first. He had heard rumors from other agencies that she had tried to murder her ex-husband but was never charged. “Strange,” he thought, “Until today I haven’t even seen a hint of anger coming from her. I wonder if the guy she’s been hanging out with from the mission is the same guy that Child Protection said she tried to kill?” The very thought of it made John nervous. Taking a deep breathe, John knocked on the door. Listening and hearing nothing John slowly opened the door.
“We can talk when my social worker gets here and not before.” John stepped back from the force of her words. “She’ll be here in about 20 minutes. If you’re going to kick me out you need to do it with her being here.”
“I didn’t know I was kicking you out. I just wanted to…”
“I don’t care what you wanted. Are you kicking that b- out? You better. If she stays I will be calling the media.”
“Wow.” John walked out of the room and laughed silently. “Really, is that how it is? I still don’t know what’s going on. But from what I’m seeing I better get her out of here or it’s going to be a long night for Maggie.” John crossed the parking lot to room 3 and invited Sarah to come down to the office. With an almost joyous smile, Sarah grabbed her two kids and drug them down to the office. “This is really easy. That bimbo is hooked up with a punk who got my man in trouble at the Men’s mission. I want her gone or I will take you to court.”
“Really.”
“Yeah, having her here is a danger to my kids. If something happens to them, it’s your fault.”
“I don’t know how that could be if you are keeping them with you at all times.”
“You tell people this is a safe and healing environment. You’re a liar.” Sarah’s words from there broke down into ranting curses.
“Can you at least tell me what is going on before I make any decisions?”
Sarah stood to go. “It’s none of your business you son of a …”
“The thing is Sarah is that you have made it my business. John watched out the window as Maggie worked to help out a wide array of other guests’ needs. John thought, “At least I’m not alone but I sure wish that Maggie was in here with me.” “Listen, Sarah, what I am seeing right now convinces me that you aren’t safe. I really hadn’t decided what to do with any of this since I still don’t know why Becky and you are so angry. I have no idea what I have to do with any of this except that I need to help there be peace here. That is my job.”
Sarah glowered at John.
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