Saturday, December 5, 2009

young love?

a week or so ago, miss ruby and i took our weekly trip to 'death's door beauty salon'.

along the way, waiting at a stop light, as we were chatting and enjoying the warmth of the day, i noticed a teen-aged couple walking along, coming toward us. it was obvious they were arguing, the body language, the sharp turn of her head from him as his mouth moved. suddenly, he grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him. she jerked it out of his hold, moving faster... he came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her to hold her in place--her foot kicked backwards to remove him from her space.

so it went, him becoming more aggressive in his physicality, her becoming more agitated.

i pulled over next to them, into a parking lot they were cutting through... i stopped so quickly, miss ruby moved forward in her seat belt... in one movement it seemed, i threw the car into park and had the door opened and i was outside the car...

"stop that. don't touch her again. miss? would you like a ride home?"

they both stopped and stared at me as if i were from a different planet... perhaps i was in their world... he said, "she's fine."

"she doesn't look fine. miss? i'm more than glad to give you a ride." with this, miss ruby waved at her from the car.

"no, i'm fine. we're fine. it's none of your business."

"actually, it is. you don't have to do this."

she stared at me, giving me that look teens give when they are faced with the stupidity of adults. they both turned away and walked off, suddenly holding hands, walking close together, glancing back at the new adversary they could dislike together.

and, i wondered... how many times had it happened? was she used to that behaviour? has she seen it in her life?

no answers, nothing more than a sense i've seen something that will escalate until she's either very hurt or finds that place in her heart that will allow her to be brave enough to leave.

i hope it's the second, and i hope it happens soon.

very, very soon.

11 comments:

harrietv said...

You are very brave to have interfered. At least you stopped him for the time being.

I would have been afraid of being attacked. Any law officer who has responded to a domestic disturbance can tell you that not only might the male attack you, the female often does it as well.

Nevertheless, I know your heart is in the right place.

quin browne said...

i stood behind the door, ready to hop back in... i'm crazy, not totally stupid.


i think.

austere said...

Oh my God.

Dee Martin said...

I work in a high school. I see this every stinking day. the lack of respect for girls and their lack of respect for themselves. there is no courtship anymore and no romance. THAT depresses me much more than them having sex way too early which they are.

Anonymous said...

Good for you, Quin. Some place down the road of time, that young girl may very well do what you have just done.

Prince Gomolvilas said...

Ah, what a situation. Good for you.

walter conley said...

Chilling glimpse of that young woman's potential future.

Ruby's wave was cute (not sure if you intended it that way, but the image you evoked was kind of adorable).

Anonymous said...

Quin - Your writing took me right there. I know this girl, this boy...this place. Astounding. Thank you. Marianne (BluePomGirl)

austere said...

http://austere-roughpad.blogspot.com/2009/12/meme-contribution-this-is-meme-so.html


I'm nasty so I tagged thee.

Freida Bee said...

I hate this. The sad part is that for her to acknowledge your effort might have been an invitation to his retaliation. I'm sure she heard you on some level, a little seed planted, that she might remember later.

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