Page 25 of Breathless
“Tom, this is Chaney, a new volunteer,” Lydia explained. “Hannah suggested she meet with you briefly since Roger has taken issue with her.”
“Ah,” Tom said. “Nice to meet you Chaney. You must be the one standing in Roger’s way of getting near Josie?”
“I am,” Chaney said.
“I’ll leave you two to get better acquainted,” Lydia said, closing the door behind her.
“Take a seat,” Tom offered. “Let’s chat briefly on ways you can better deal with Roger while he is still here. We don’t need you and Roger having another face to face like yesterday.”
Chaney took a deep breath. “I can stand up for myself. And as long as I don’t back down to him, I don’t think he’ll hurt me.”
Tom pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes. “I can’t tell if that is stubbornness or courage.”
“Maybe a little of both,” Chaney said. “I’ve survived being human trafficked. A bully like Roger is not going to make me wilt like a shrinking violet.”
“No, I don’t suppose he would, but still, we can’t take the risk of him doing something to harm you or anyone else in the shelter while he is here.”
“I get that. So, I will avoid him at all costs if I can,” Chaney said. “I had already decided to do this as long as he stays away from Josie.”
Tom nodded. “Thank you for your candor. And I’m sorry for what you have been through. But be careful, don’t allow your experience to turn you into a crusader. You can’t save everyone. And if that is why you are here, then maybe Hannah needs to rethink allowing you to be a volunteer. Because that is why you are here. To be a volunteer. You’re not here as a counselor. Your job is to help on projects and serve where needed. I know you are shadowing Lydia right now, learning the program, but soon you will move to another area of the shelter to learn it.”
“I understand and that isn’t my intentions,” Chaney assured him. “I came here to see whether or not working in this capacity was a good fit before I switched my major to social work. My own counselor suggested it when I told her I was thinking of making the change. She put me in touch with Hannah.”
“I see,” Tom said.
“The fact that I met Josie on my first day and saw she needed help … well, it just happened,” Chaney said. “My parents are very controlling. Josie and I are similar because of what Roger’s trying to do to her.”
She scooted forward to the edge of the chair. “And after our conversation yesterday, I fear that the girl is headed for a life of being in one domestic violence relationship after another.”
Tom tilted his head to the side and nodded.
“That cycle needs to stop before it gets started,” Chaney said. “Now maybe you think I’m too young to feel this way. That I have no training to make this judgement call, and all I’ve really done is read up on it after my own experience with being trafficked, but I see a naïve girl who is being bullied from a stronger male. She tells me she wants out. And then he starts to be loving toward her and she forgives him and thinks everything is going to be great again. Then the pattern begins all over again.”
“Yes, your assessment is right. I’ve had similar conversations with Josie about Roger.” Tom stood, raising his arm for her to do the same. She followed suit and they walked to the door. “You have a good head on your shoulders. I think you’ll be a good social worker if you keep from going rogue. Remember that you can’t save everyone, Chaney. You might want to do it, but just because there’s a problem doesn’t mean that you can always find the solution. You’re there to help and sometimes, offering support is all you can do. That’s the kicker in this line of work.”
Chaney slowly nodded. “I see what you’re saying. Thank you. I will remember that. Even though I want Josie to get out of this vicious cycle she may not unless she acts herself.”
“That’s right. Josie has to do it,” Tom said. “We can’t do it for her.”
He opened the door. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Same.”
Chaney headed back to Lydia’s office, but she didn’t get far when she came face to face with Roger who came around the corner eating an apple. She sidestepped so he could go on by, but he moved in the same direction, grinning at her.
“Well, well, look who we have here. If it isn’t the Chaney bitch,” Roger sneered. “Didn’t I tell you I’d get you one way or another.”
“I don’t want any trouble, Roger. You should go on with your business just like I am.”
“It’s all because of you that I’m being sent away,” Roger said. “Hannah told me this morning that she found me a new facility and I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
Chaney swallowed. “I hope it’s a nice program.”
“Oh, so you did know about it?” Roger said. “But what Ineedis Josie. And if I can’t have her, then no one can.”
“You don’t mean that,” Chaney said.
“But I do.”
