Neighbors

Our dates had been gone from the table for several minutes when we heard someone say there was something going on outside. My friend and I got up and followed others out the door.

A small crowd had gathered in the parking to watch one of the guys as he sat atop his wife pummeling her. I recognized the couple, they lived on my block and had a reputation for a very stormy marriage. But for me, that reputation was no reason to stand by and watch as she took a beating.

Sadly, my date was one of the men speaking to the guy, saying stuff like, “Man, you promised you wouldn’t do this any more” and “You need to stop.” They stood there yapping at him, hands in pockets, as he continued to pound away.

My friend and I stepped in, high heels and all, and pulled him off her; he was drunk enough that his effort to swing at us sent him sprawling on the pavement. She was bleeding and barely conscious, both eyes were blacked, but we were able to help her stand so we could put her in a car for the ride to the hospital. My date just shrugged his shoulders and explained that he hadn’t wanted to “interfere” in their marriage; next time he called I hung up on him.


That was many years ago, but for some reason I've been thinking about it this week...