by Michael Allen

Created on: June 24, 2010

I saw the tears in her eyes one day. I always thought of her as a strong, independent woman with a great heart. But, I learned a little more about her that day.

She was reading the newspaper and she started laughing with that kind of laugh that lets you know there’s nothing funny. She started reading headlines out loud.

“Innocent Man Finally Released, Cops Get Slap On Wrist.”

“Man Saves Bank Robbery, Denied Medical Costs.”

“Latest Pharmaceutical Trend Causes Blood Clots.”

She placed the newspaper down and slid it across the table as if she wanted me to see the headlines for myself. Then, she started to give me her version of what those headlines meant. I had never heard her so passionate.

“A guy goes to prison for nearly twenty years. They find out that the cops doctored evidence and made the man look guilty when he wasn’t. They get a lecture from the judge and a little probation. But, the man lost twenty years of his life.

“Another man saves a bank from being robbed and he gets shot in the meantime. But, the bank hasn’t even tried to offer the guy any help.

“Then, we got people pumping out drugs that the ADA hasn’t even approved. A whole bunch of medical problems arise, but the one they mention in the headline is blood clots. They mention in the article that other issues include heart arrhythmia, tissue damage and impotence.

“It’s crazy. People don’t care about people at all. They do this stuff for money. Money is more important than a person’s life or quality of life. But, this stuff is worse. People actually intend to ruin other peoples’ lives. Not accident. Not by accident. No. They are actually trying to ruin other peoples’ lives. Like life means nothing to them. But, if the shoe were on the other foot they’d be crying and begging for justice.”

I told her I understood. But, she started into a conversation about herself.  Things I only barely knew about her. But, things that shed a whole new light on her and gave me an entirely different perspective.

When she was young, she was given chores. But while her brothers sat on the couch and watched television, she was working around the house doing everything. She said she really didn’t mind so much back then, because she had been raised to believe that was her plot in life.

She grew up that way. Even into her teenage years, she was still serving people. She was great at it.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• Next Page >>