Superficial Cuts

I peeked my head outside the door but could only see Wilma’s big ass, as she leaned over the receptionist desk. I stepped out into the hall to get a better look and saw she was talking on the phone. The back of a guy came into view as I inched down the hallway. He was on the right near the elevators, arms outstretched like a basketball player. He back pedaled a bit, then stopped, holding his ground. I could now see his face and realized it was the guy from upstairs -Stan. In front of him was an extremely pissed off young girl. The same girl I had seen with him earlier, coming out of the Crisis Care Ward. Over the intercom, I heard someone who sounded like Wilma. "Would Dr. Black report to the 1^st floor? Dr. Black please report to the first floor reception area," the voice repeated.

Stan was trying to calm the shrieking girl. He was trying to sound relaxed but his voice was strained. "Susie I know you’re upset, but this is the best thing for you right now. We need to talk some more. You have some important issues to deal with before your mother can come and visit."

"Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! If my mom doesn’t come here, then I’m fucking leav’n!" She said as she made another half hearted attempt to get around him.

"Please Susie, just calm down and take a deep breath." Stan was pleading now.

"Get out of my way!" Susie screamed.

"I can’t do that Susie. Come on, let’s go back to my office and talk about it, please." Stan reached out with one hand and placed it on the girl’s shoulder.

Susie turned her head to look at his hand and caught site of me standing against the wall watching. "What the fuck you lookin’ at?" She snarled.

My jaw dropped and I just sort of stammered, incapable of answering her. I was

embarrassed, and I was thinking maybe I oughta go back into the office. Then, out of nowhere the girl punches this guy, Stan, right in the face. I mean, one minute she’s looking at me and then, bam! It surprised me so much I inadvertently stepped back as he let out a painful cry, covering up with both arms. Susie immediately scooted around him and was heading for the front door. Wilma tentatively moved to block her, obviously not too excited about fighting with the five foot nothing hellcat who had just belted Stan.

"Hey Susie, where ya goin?" came a new, much calmer voice from behind her.

"Home," she said as she spun around, startled by the appearance of this new participant. I felt the tension in the hallway subside immediately. Wilma relaxed her guard a bit. Peg, who had been frozen at the copy machine, moved forward to her desk. And Stan, with his head tilted back, blood seeping between his fingers, just peered over his bloody nose in the direction of the stairs, where this person must have been standing. Susie, however, was still as tight as a piano wire.

"Well Susie, you know as well as I do that you can’t just decide to walk out the door and hope that you find your way home. It’s just not safe," continued the soothing voice.

I was leaning forward to try to see who was speaking, when he stepped into view. He was unassuming in build and dress, and his tone of voice made me believe he was either a friend or relative of Susie’s. But I seriously doubted that, and his complete composure in this very tense situation showed me he was someone definitely in charge.

Stopping to look at Stan who was still holding his head back and pinching his nose, he moved toward Susie. In a nasal voice Stan angrily shouted, "She needs a time out right now. She assaulted me!"

"You can kiss my ass, Stan, I’m not taking no time out!" Susie spat back.

"Hey Stan, why don’t you go see the nurse about that nose and I’ll stay with Susie?" this guy said.

Stan turned and noticed me standing against the wall. He gave me one of those - whata you lookin at - looks, then looked toward Wilma, who gave him an encouraging nod toward the elevators. He begrudgingly plodded off out of sight.

Showing signs of relief, Wilma stepped back. In the more relaxed atmosphere the front door was left unguarded, and Susie quickly made for it. The guy seemed to have anticipated this and, in what seemed like a single stride, had Susie pressed up tight to the wall, her arms crossed in front of her, unable to move. Wilma, reacting well after the fact, rushed to help, but the guy waived her off while talking quietly to Susie, "Did you hurt your hand when you punched Stan, Susie?"

"Nooo," She whimpered, now on the verge of crying.

"Well, I see a little blood on your knuckle there so why don’t we have the nurse look at it before we continue this discussion, OK?" The voice was calm and quiet and I noticed Susie’s shoulders relaxing as her tension subsided.

"Alright, Gordon." She sobbed, finally breaking into tears.

Maintaining control of both arms from behind, Gordon turned her slowly, and they stepped toward the elevator. Curiosity got the better of me so I walked up to the corner and watched while Wilma pushed the button for the elevator as this guy, slowly relaxing his grip, continued to talk to Susie. I saw him whisper something else to the girl but I couldn’t tell what was said. She nodded her head, and her body went limp as he released his hold and put his arm around her.