Storm and Silence

Jobs.

Women.

Jobs for women.

A job for a woman.

No. No. No. No. No. No!

I only distantly heard the laughter of the policemen. Most of my attention was focused on the seething volcano of ice-cold rage that was rising inside me. Taking a deep breath, I met the girl’s eyes. She met my gaze head-on, not looking away, not even blinking. Other people had died at my hand for the kind of defiance I saw in her eyes right then.

A woman.

A job for a woman.

But she wouldn’t really…!

Paralyzed, I watched the policemen drag her away. Just before they pulled her around the corner, she turned her head back towards me and, grinning in a way that made me want to strangle someone, shouted:

‘Looking forward to seeing you at work on Monday, Sir!’

She wouldn’t! Would she?

THE BEGINNING…