The Fray

The Saturday I came back to work after Christmas was...interesting. It was not enough to invoke resignation, nor a mad, screaming dash over the horizon, but it was jarring. This is mostly because this was my first time dealing with physical conflict.

I was the only tech on duty (again), and all was going relatively well until the counselor on duty, Ali, had to admit a client. This is mostly just paperwork, but it has to be done in a special office in one corner of the building away from me, the clients, air, and opportunity.

"Brawl" One

Attempting to make myself big and circulate, I came up to the second floor on the elevator to be greeted by Greg telling me that someone had been tampering with people's clothes in the laundry room. Someone had turned his washing machine off. Someone had also disturbed Larry's wash. From my viewpoint, they were both coming at me with the same problem. As I set off to look into it, Larry was suddenly yelling in a thoroughly profane manner at Greg. Greg was attempting to get on the elevator anyhow, so I steered him in that direction, but not after holding a stiff arm before myself to keep him from getting to Larry (and his mouth) through me.

I thought all was well for a moment, and continued on my patrol. I rounded the corner to find Larry on his way down a rear staircase, no doubt headed for Greg, who was smoking in the courtyard. Ken and Tommy (more on him later) both ran down the stairs behind Larry to make sure there was not an altercation. I was also downstairs seconds later, and the issue had already been peacefully resolved. Larry had just gone down to clarify with Greg the he was not the one messing with people's laundry (which is apparently what Greg had thought before).

Crisis avoided, I went back to making my rounds.

Altercation Two

Making another round on the second floor, I came upon Tommy talking on the phone, but being yelled at by Teresa. The argument became more heated as I separated the two, sending Teresa down on the elevator. Though not resolved peacefully, these two were kept as far away from each other as practical for the rest of the night. After a small verbal recap in the courtyard when Tommy was passing Teresa on his way to smoke, they were civil from then on.

Charm Three

Just after I closed up the courtyard, Kaylin and Laura almost got into a fist fight. I separated them, sending Kaylin upstairs with another group of women, while I allowed Robert and Ken to help me talk Laura down. When the elevator car returned, we all got on and went upstairs. I had barely stepped out of the elevator when Kaylin and Laura were once again at each other's throats in the hallway. The men were on their side of the hall on the tips of their toes, there was a literal mob of women on the female side of the hallway creating a ring for the event. Luckily, Ken had stepped between the women and kept them away from one another as I pulled Laura away and into the small conference room us techs use as an HQ. I kept Laura at my side for the rest of the night (she helped me lock up all the doors make sure everyone was in bed). She said that the whole thing started with Kaylin saying that she would fuck Laura's physically abusive husband. (Why anyone in their right mind would say something like that I'll never understand.) I left work an hour later than usual, since I had to make note of all that had happened that night and make sure Laura was moved to another room, since she and Kaylin slept in beds next to one another.

At the end of the night, Ali told me I had done a good job. I was glad one of us thought so. But, now that I think about it, no one left, no one used, and no one got hurt, so I had to have done at least a mediocre job. (Right?)

I am really appreciative of all the help I received from clients. I was surprised by how helpful they were in suppressing anarchy. I'm sure a lot of things happened that night that I didn't see, but what I did see will be decent experience for the future I suppose.