Page 21 of Breathless
“Okay, let’s talk about this,” Lydia said. “It’s obvious Roger is harassing Josie. Is he doing it to anyone else in the shelter? If so, don’t be afraid to speak up.”
The two boys nodded.
“I see,” Lydia said. “We have a no tolerance policy for this behavior. He’ll have to leave.”
“No.” Josie cried, clenching the tail of her shirt and twisting it. “He has nowhere to go. He can’t help himself. He was mistreated growing up. He doesn’t know how else to act.”
“Even so, he can’t treat others this way,” Lydia said. “I’ll have to talk to Hannah about this and see what the other counselors say.”
That seemed to appease Josie and she relaxed, releasing her shirt.
The session continued with the teens talking about themselves and answering Lydia’s questions. Chaney listened.
When the session ended, they all stood, joined hands, and Lydia said a small prayer of guidance until they met again. After the teens left the room, Lydia smiled at Chaney. “Not all sessions are as heavy as this one. Roger is a handful. Always has been. I knew he came from an abusive background. I could tell by the way he leaned in on Josie, but I didn’t realize he was bullying the boys here as well.”
“I got the sense something was up with them when they didn’t jump in to offer support to Josie like the girls,” Chaney said.
“I picked up on that too,” Lydia said.
They left the room and went down the hallway to an office. “You can wait in here while I go have a chat with Hannah,” Lydia said. She opened a filing cabinet and pulled out booklets. “Here are a few manuals new volunteers are asked to read. One is on our facilities and procedures. The other is about helpful tips and guidelines when dealing with different topics we encounter here at the shelter. You can study these while I’m gone.”
“Okay. Thank you,” Chaney said.
Chaney had finished reading the facility and procedures booklet and was starting on the guidelines and helpful tips when Josie dashed in, closing the door and leaning against it, breathing hard, eyes wide, with terror on her face.
“Is Lydia not here?” she gasped.
“No. She went to see Hannah. I’m sure she’ll be back soon,” Chaney replied, trepidation inching up her spine. Something was going on. She could feel it.
“Do you mind if I wait?” Josie pleaded. “Roger is looking for me and he wouldn’t dare come in here.”
“Sure.” Chaney focused on her breathing and considered what she would do if Roger were to burst through the closed office door.
“What are you reading?” Josie came to sit in one of the chairs beside Chaney.
“Guidelines to follow when dealing with situations here at the shelter,” Chaney explained. “Most of it is common sense and practical knowledge, but good reminders to treat people with respect as well.”
Josie nodded. “Were you scared when you were abducted?”
“I was, but I was with my best-friend and that made it a little easier knowing I wasn’t alone,” Chaney said. “We were at least there together. But I wouldn’t want anyone to go through it. We were lucky to have gotten away without anything bad happening to us. The nightmares, and mental scares aside, we are very lucky.”
“Sometimes I wish I could get away from Roger,” Josie shared. “But then he has a good day where he’ll be sweet and kind and I want to forget the bad, but it never lasts.”
“And it won’t,” Chaney warned. “That is the vicious cycle of domestic violence. You have heard of that, haven’t you? It doesn’t only happen to adults. It can happen in teen relationships, because as you said Roger has only known violence in his life. He only knows how to act by the way he has been treated.”
Tears welled up in Josie’s eyes and she slowly nodded. “I-I know. But he isn’t a bad person, really, he isn’t.”
“It’s good that you care about him,” Chaney said. “He needs a friend that does, but you don’t have to be his punching bag either.”
“He’s never hurt me like that,” Josie was quick to point out.
“Maybe not, but there will come a breaking point when his temper gets the best of him, and he’ll lash out. Do you really want to be there when he does?”
Josie shook her head.
“I didn’t think you would,” Chaney said.
The office door opened, and Lydia came in. “I thought I heard voices. Josie, is Roger bothering you again?”
