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He glared,haughtily.“You’re Helen Carter?I’m here to say:apologize to Margaret,promise to steer clear of Frank,and this ends.We won’t pursue your false police report,and I’ll move you from the third shift to an office job.Deal?”
Their ability to twist reality was astounding.
“You’re mistaken.First,your daughter attacked me.Second,my police report is factual—no false claims.Lastly,Margaret owes me an apology.”
Margaret stormed over,jabbing her finger at my face.
“Don’t push it,vixen!My dad’s pitying you,a single mom,but keep this up,and we’ll have you kicked out!”
Her spit sprayed my face,which was revolting.
I stood,dodging her.“Then we’re done here.Let the police decide.”
With damages that high,Margaret faced jail if confirmed.
As I turned to leave,her father shouted,“So you’re set on opposing us!”
I smiled.“Yep.”
He slammed the table,standing.“Don’t regret this!”
The plant suspended me for“personal matters that delayed the contract,”ordering me to reflect at home.
I used the time to contact the women from the crowd.
They were hesitant,offering no clear answers.
Then another plant meeting happened.Suspended,I didn’t attend,but neighbors’chatter pieced it together.
Margaret,smug,spoke again,implying a single mom like me was naturally shady,urging women to watch their husbands and avoid me.
That afternoon,washing clothes to hang in the yard,a timid figure appeared at the tenement gate.
One of the women.
I welcomed her in,offering hot tea.
She stared at the cup,hesitating and before spilling her story.
Margaret targeted more than me—any young,pretty worker who spoke to Frank was warned or sworn at.
Frank,handsome and educated,married into Margaret’s family for opportunity,resenting her but tolerated her tantrums.
The woman,Sarah Mitchell,was the most affected.
Newly married,she once ate lunch at Frank’s table in the cafeteria.Margaret stormed her home.
Three months pregnant,Sarah miscarried after Margaret’s assault.
Her husband,believing the lies,divorced her.
From a poor rural family,Sarah clung to her job at the plant,fearing loss,with no one to defend her.She’d endured in silence.
I trembled with rage,nearly flipping the table.
“Outrageous!This can’t slide,Sarah.With tough labor laws now,gather your medical records from the attack and give them to me.With my losses,we’ll make sure Margaret goes to jail!”
