The apartment was small, the kitchen, dining area and living area all smushed together uncomfortably with too much furniture and clutter. In contrast, the balcony was empty except for a few potted plants long dead. I stepped outside and breathed the seabreezy air, staring down the street with its taller, newer apartment buildings.
Above me two women’s voices spoke frantically. The street noise below made it hard to hear, but it was clear they were fighting. I edged closer to the balcony railing and their words came down like a radio signal.
“Do you realize how unfair it is? It’s like we’re living in the 1950’s, but no one realizes it,” a woman shouted. “I have slaved at that company for years. Years! And they give my role to some idiot who talks over everyone and steals people’s ideas.”
“You didn’t like that job anyways,” the other woman grumbled. “Just quit and figure out what you really want.”
“I want equality! I want to feel like I can walk into a job and get the same opportunity as every other man. But I now see I will never get that.”
“It can’t be as bad as you say.”
“Oh yeah? Yesterday I walked into a meeting and had to hug four guys there, because we hadn’t seen each other for a whole month. It wasn’t like the guys were hugging each other. Just me. And one guy even told me my perfume smelled nice while he rubbed himself against my chest. It took all my nerve not to kick him. And then you know what happens at this meeting?”
“They make rape and dumb blonde jokes?”
“No, ha ha. Not quite but just as bad. They don’t listen to me at al. I’m just there to hug and smell. I wasn’t even wearing perfume. That guy just wanted to make a big deal he was that close to me.”
“Well, whatever you do, don’t talk to HR. They will make sure you’re labeled a trouble-maker.”
“Believe me, I will not be talking to HR. I’ll be doing my own equality project.”
There was a pause, and I tensed. The first woman had a slightly unhinged sound to her voice. Like she’d been put to the end of her rope.
“What are you planning?” The other woman said it quietly, like she was trying not to care.
“I’m going to totally let that perfume guy harass me even more, then I’ll take pictures and text his wife.”
“And then what? He’ll be so pissed, who knows what he’ll do to you?”
“Of course you say that. Because every time a woman takes on a guy he’ll always win in the end. You’re practically allowing him to lose it, while if I lose it I’m to blame.”
“I just don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Too late.”
— Von
Above me two women’s voices spoke frantically. The street noise below made it hard to hear, but it was clear they were fighting. I edged closer to the balcony railing and their words came down like a radio signal.
“Do you realize how unfair it is? It’s like we’re living in the 1950’s, but no one realizes it,” a woman shouted. “I have slaved at that company for years. Years! And they give my role to some idiot who talks over everyone and steals people’s ideas.”
“You didn’t like that job anyways,” the other woman grumbled. “Just quit and figure out what you really want.”
“I want equality! I want to feel like I can walk into a job and get the same opportunity as every other man. But I now see I will never get that.”
“It can’t be as bad as you say.”
“Oh yeah? Yesterday I walked into a meeting and had to hug four guys there, because we hadn’t seen each other for a whole month. It wasn’t like the guys were hugging each other. Just me. And one guy even told me my perfume smelled nice while he rubbed himself against my chest. It took all my nerve not to kick him. And then you know what happens at this meeting?”
“They make rape and dumb blonde jokes?”
“No, ha ha. Not quite but just as bad. They don’t listen to me at al. I’m just there to hug and smell. I wasn’t even wearing perfume. That guy just wanted to make a big deal he was that close to me.”
“Well, whatever you do, don’t talk to HR. They will make sure you’re labeled a trouble-maker.”
“Believe me, I will not be talking to HR. I’ll be doing my own equality project.”
There was a pause, and I tensed. The first woman had a slightly unhinged sound to her voice. Like she’d been put to the end of her rope.
“What are you planning?” The other woman said it quietly, like she was trying not to care.
“I’m going to totally let that perfume guy harass me even more, then I’ll take pictures and text his wife.”
“And then what? He’ll be so pissed, who knows what he’ll do to you?”
“Of course you say that. Because every time a woman takes on a guy he’ll always win in the end. You’re practically allowing him to lose it, while if I lose it I’m to blame.”
“I just don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Too late.”
— Von
“I’m just there to hug and smell.” Great line.
ReplyDeleteGreat ending.
ReplyDeleteI love this. I have lived this. Good writing.
ReplyDelete