Saving the Day on my Bike

[smurfalicious]

I don't know how to begin this because I'm still a little rattled and maybe what I did was stupid to a point. When you're not sheltered in your car you see and hear a lot more while commuting.

I left work a little early today because it was beyond slow and I was tired. Pedaling home I saw a car pulled over on the opposite side of the road and two girls on my side staring. As I got closer I heard yelling and then I saw what was going on. The driver of the vehicle had pulled his young female passenger out and was yelling at her, hitting her, and choking her. My heart rate soared and my body coursed with adrenaline and fear. I've been here before.

When I was fourteen my father came to pick me up from the barn to attend my brother's high school graduation. He knew I was attending with my mother, she actually took the time to buy me something to wear. He was angry I wasn't ready and I calmly reminded him that I was going with my mom. Instantly he lit up like a firecracker and started screaming in my face as my best friend looked on in horror.

He proceeded to pull me out of the stall I was cleaning and slammed me up against a concrete wall. At that point I left my body and went silent. I was good at that by then.

Those who saw it go down said he had his hands around my neck and was choking me. I don't remember much, just how much the adults around failed me out of fear.

Right after that my mom worked to get me out of there while my dad did everything in his manipulative powers to stop her. At the end of the school year we packed my things in a hurry and got out. When I spoke with the social worker they told be that in essence no bruises, no case. I guess emotional scars aren't good enough, but if someone had called, maybe things would be different.

So I stopped with all the stopping power aging Shimano 600 brakes could offer and whipped my cell phone out of my messenger bag. Suddenly I knew north from south and could tell them their direction of travel. I knew car makes and models and every cross street in town.

What amazed me most is that while I stood there on the phone, the altercation continued. What scared me most is that the woman I assume was this man's wife calmly took over driving while he got in the back presumably to continue beating on his daughter. Wow, what a home life that must be if she allows it. Wonder how often he wails on her? The driver who pulled up behind them crossed the street as they left and repeated what he saw to the 911 operator.

I hope they find him, and I hope she's okay. I hope she doesn't have to live like this regularly or ever again for that matter. I pray she doesn't spend the rest of her life in crappy relationships because that's what she's learned as normal. And for once I'm happy that cyclists are so invisible to motorists.

[evangundy]

wow smurf, I'm glad you left work early. I too hope the police locate that family, and help to set things right. No one should have to grow up that way.
Edna

[Tuckervill]

Thanks for calling. You did the right thing.

A similar thing happened in the drive-up window of the water utility I worked for. Fortunately, the driver in front of the car saw it happening too, and wouldn't pull forward, and someone else was behind. We called police and he was carted off.

Karen

[Irulan]

thank you for doing the right thing. I wish you lots of healing.

[OakLeaf]

wow Smurf. Thanks for doing the right thing.

I hope all the same things you hope for the girl. I also hope the guy spends at least one night in jail over this... although I don't have any illusions that that will actually happen. And I hope that you are healed from anything that happened to you - and if not, that healing continues to happen for you.

[shootingstar]

Scary...good that you tried to reach 911. It may be worthwhile to ask police if they were able to apprehend the abusive guy.

You are a survivor, smurf.

[gingerale]

I certainly pray that girl has a hero somewhere that steps up and helps her like you tried to do.

[smurfalicious]

Thanks ladies. Feel free to direct any healing energy towards that girl. I think the fact that I was able to stand up for that girl and call without being stupid and putting a 52 tooth chain ring scar on the guy's forehead was the proof I needed that I've healed up okay. It's scary to get involved with something like that, but scarier to think what may happen if you don't.

[polly4711]

Smurf,


Congrats on your recovery. Being a strong person and dealing with your own issues has allowed another person to be benefited. I had something bad happen in my life that caused similar scars. I felt selfish pay attention to my own self rather than focusing good on other people. I realized that it is important to heal one's self before you can be a thorough light of goodness to the rest of the world.

thank you for all that you have done

polly

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Smurf, you are right, for once it was good to be the invisible cyclist...hopefully you started a chain reaction for the women in that family that lets them know life doesn't have to be that crappy...I had been in a similar situation a very long time ago and it's amazing the clarity we get when we need to be...

[sgtiger]

Smurf, thank-you. Hopefully, the proper authorities will be able to intervene and that she will be able to receive the help she needs to overcome her own scars.

[Running Mommy]

smurf there was a REASON it was slow that day.. Those women needed you, but their angels couldn't get to them. So they summoned you.
THANK YOU

[Grog]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.......

[crazycanuck]

Smurf-you're a good woman

[lph]

yea, smurf, you are. Well done indeed!