She Totally Berated Him

It was past the end of the duty day and only three of us were left in the building; myself, SSG W and one of the Captains.  I was wrapping things up and getting ready to leave when I heard SSG W on the phone and though I only heard one side of the conversation, I could tell he was talking to his wife.  His side of the conversation went something like this:

Alright just come on over

Yeah, she's here

Of course she will, she will do what I tell her to do, I'm her boss

No, don't worry about it --like I said, I'm her boss  --she has no choice

Okay so I'm already angry now because I knew he was talking to his wife and I was infuriated he was going to miss use his rank and position.  I pretended I didn't hear the conversation and as I got ready to leave SSG W said, "I need you to hang back a minute.  There's someone that needs to see you and take care of something."

I was scared because well --I felt there weren't enough witnesses and I was afraid Mrs. W was going to come in and throw down.  I expected the very worst of both of these characters and though the Captain was in the building, he was in a smaller office a bit down the hall with his door partially closed.  I sat at my desk waiting, worrying and my anger was gaining momentum . . none of which is a good combination!

I heard the front door open and soon I heard the clickity clack of plastic high heels striking the floor.  I could practically smell the over use of perfume and hear the plastic jewelry clashing against one another as Mrs. W's steps were fierce and with a purpose of vengeance.  I looked over at SSG W as if to be shocked at who the person coming in was and he said, "My wife has something she wants to say to you."  I was so mad at myself because this anger was threatening to translate into tears.  Crying is my outward expression of any intense emotion.  When I laugh, I cry.  When I'm fully of joy, I cry.  When I am hurt, I cry.  You get the picture.  I knew I needed to defuse the situation but the click-clack was ever near and I needed to make a decision fast.  I turned to SSG W and said, "You can't make me stay for this.  I have nothing to say to your wife and you have no authority to make me."  So much for defusion --all that did was anger SSG W.  He replied with something like he could make me do whatever he wanted to --I realized talking to him would get me no where so I headed down to the Captain's office.  Well, I basically barged into the Captain's office but on my way I passed the ever lovely Mrs. W and she yelled out to her husband, "Where does she think she's going?"

I barged into the Captains' office and said --or maybe yelled or desperately pleaded ---"I just need a witness that SSG W gave me an UNLAWFUL order and I'm leaving."   I think the Captain heard most of what had been going on.  He stepped out of his office, barely as being the man of short stature as he was, I think he too was a little afraid of the throw down Mrs. W was capable of.  Very nicely and with a bit if intimidation the Captain said, "SSG W, this really does seem personal ---why don't you take this up on your own time."

With that I didn't even turn around and look at either SSG W or the ever lovely Mrs. W.  I kept walking towards to exit and the whole time I overheard Mrs. W trying to reprimand her husband. . . .

Are you going to let her walk out of here like that?  What kind of NCO are you anyway?  Do you not have authority to make her come back?  You go make her come back!!!  How are you going to let her walk all over you like that?  Who does she think she is?  You out rank her . . . . 

I walked out the door and onto my apartment --still steaming with anger --still feeling the need to burst into tears.  One one hand, I was furious but on the other hand, I felt sorry for SSG W --just a little --I mean, Mrs. W totally ruled the roost in that family and she had no regard for his feelings, manhood, position, rank, authority . . . she totally berated him.

When I got to my apartment I found Newsome waiting for me.  He could tell I was upset and asked me what happened --he knew of the history with the ever lovely Mrs. W.  I literally fell into his arms and just burst into tears --big tears, a big cry.  The kind of cry where you just let it all out --the old and the new.  I cried for what happened, what didn't happen and what could have happened.