COURAGE BEYOND THE NORM

The Maternal urge [can a woman resist it?]

 

Here was a young woman, who ignored the pangs of pain she was feeling, from the beating she just endured, to warn me against the “danger” of intervening on her behalf.

 

Put another way: She did not want me to…

 

Grand Central Station, NYC

I worked the 3–11pm street patrol shift with the Grand Central Partnership Security; a company formed in the late 1980s, and comprised of a multi-national mix of ex-cops, ex-sheriffs, and ex- soldiers. Ninety nine percent of the supervisors were retired New York City high-ranking officers.

 

On purpose, [I suspected], our uniform was designed, to make us look like real cops [from a distance], which was a good thing since the real bad guys never came close enough to verify.  It was the era of 3-Card Monte(s) and bag hustlers who pestered tourists as they arrived or boarded the Carey Buses plying the Grand Central / airport route.

 

We underwent the training and were certified as Peace Officers. We were issued with, and wore bulletproof vest, and carried extended length flashlights, which doubles effectively as batons.

 

At about 11:00 pm, I completed my shift and was walking back to my base in the Graybar building at Grand Central.   As I worked my way through the busy main concourse, I noticed a fair-sized crowd gathered close to one of the underground entrances to the Metro –North train tracks.

 

I walked over to investigate the reason for the gathering.  As I worked my way through the crowd, I heard the unmistakable sobs of someone in pain.  As I parted the crowd I saw a young woman half leaning against the rails of a short ramp.   Next to her was a young man, [the abusive boyfriend] who backed away from her and stood to the side.

 

My first thought as I took in the scene:

why wasn’t anyone helping the poor battered girl?…

Then another thought even as I took out my walkie-talkie to call for backup:  

Did she just stand there and “absorb” the physical battering”?

…Why didn’t she run away from the abuser?  My mind screamed.

 

The physically abused young woman saw me approach, and her action will remain in my memory for the rest of my life.

 

She limped urgently toward me.  She got within whispering distance, used the back of her hand to wipe dust and tears from her pain-wracked face.  She looked me in the eyes, and with a concerned, caring, (almost motherly) tone of voice she told me: “Please sir, do not interfere”

 

I heard the word “WHY?” come from my mouth.   Something was welling up inside of me; admiration, sympathy, loves; combined with an almost uncontrollable blend of rage/anger.

 

The concern this young woman showed, even as she coped with her own physical pains/suffering, was beyond my comprehension. I looked past this caring soul, and locked eyes with the brute who beat her up…

 

“Please don’t say anything to him”

the battered young woman was telling me.

I turned and looked at her.

“He will beat the shit out of you.” She added.

 

The abusive young man backed away and disappeared in the direction of Lexington Avenue. I called EMS [NYC’s emergency medical services] before they arrived the young woman walked away and disappeared into the crowded Grand central terminal.

 

Her selfless act of care and concern, prompted the title to this, my first blog in this space.

 

Please share with family and friends, and come back for next week’s post.

 

Remember PERSONAL SAFETY IS JUST A MINDSET AWAY…