The Grace of Leaving

I stared at Shirley, but she did not say a word to help me, just like always.

She knew I had not taken her money.

I understood it then.

She was mad at me for wanting a divorce, for standing up to her.

However, I could not wait; my mom was in the hospital.

I fought to suppress the anger in me and asked, my voice all scratchy, "What do I have to do to get the money from you?"

She liked seeing me give in, lifting her chin a bit. "Go and apologize to Joshua. Bow to him while you're at it.

"Then you'll get the money."

Joshua was there, faking a nice smile.

My hands were fists at my sides, so tight that they hurt.

I had to do that for my mom.

I bent my body in a full bow and forced out the words, saying, "I'm sorry, Joshua. I've got it all wrong about you before."

Joshua made a show of helping me up, but he was really making fun of me. "You're making too much of it. I never held it against you.

"Sure, you talk about me behind my back and make me look bad at work, but hey, we're friends. I don't care about that."

I snapped my head up. He was lying through his teeth!

Shirley's face hardened in seriousness, and she snapped at me, saying, "Max! That's a low move! How could you treat Joshua like that? Apologize!"

"I didn't do anything!" I said, feeling so low.

"Still want to argue with me?" Shirley looked at me like I was dirt, not believing a word I said.

The other workers started yelling, too.

"He's just a country bumpkin; he doesn't know better. Make him say sorry! Tell him to apologize!"

"Don't want to bow and apologize? Then, leave our factory!"

Two big guys who always tried to get on the manager's good side came at me, pushing me down.

I fought back hard, tears of shame in my eyes.

Shirley's voice came at me, all cool and distant, as she said, "Don't you want the 5,000 bucks for your mom?"

In a flash, I felt like all my energy had been sucked away.

I stopped fighting and let them pin me to the ground.

As I bent over, my shoulders ached, and the crowd's laughter rang in my ears.

Tears filled my eyes as I glared at Shirley. "Can you pay me now?"

She looked down at me, her voice cool as she said, "Not now. Wait till payday at the end of the month."

I was so mad I could have bitten through steel. "You're breaking your promise!"

She just tossed her hair, not caring. "I told you I was broke. You were the one who wouldn't let it go."

All my hurt and anger exploded like a volcano. "Shirley! You're heartless!

"In our village, my parents loved you like their own daughter!

"You got out of a tough life because my mom gave you everything she had!

"Don't you have a heart?"

Whack!

Her slap cut me off.

Her eyes were ice as she snapped, saying, "How long will you hold onto a small favor?

"Watch it, Max. Make trouble again, and you're out of here!"

She walked off with Joshua without a second look.

"Shirley, let's try that fancy place on Union Avenue? It's pricey, costing like thousands," Joshua said.

"No problem, it's on me! Let's celebrate," she replied.

I was so angry I could not think straight. I ran to the police station.

When I got back with two officers, Shirley and Joshua were just finishing their meal.

Her smile turned to stone when she saw the cops with me.

I saw the bill for 7,200 dollars; she sure did not hold back.