The Assault - Sandra

:May poured hot milk into the mug  and stirred vigorously. She could not bear getting small lumps of congealed  Horlicks floating on the top of her bedtime drink. I'll be glad to get to my bed she thought to herself.  The sudden sharp tone of the phone ringing insistently made her start and make a grab for it. Who could be ringing her at this time of night. What could they be thinking of, waking the whole house up.
May felt quite cross as she answered , "Thurton 632".
"Mum, its me". May could bearly hear her daughter over her crying. "Doreen is that you? What on earth is wrong?  Is Sarah ok?"
"Sarahs' fine but I need you to come and get her before Carl gets back, you must hurry, please". It was obvious to May that her daughter was very agitated and distressed. "Doreen what has happened?" she asked worriedly. " I will tell you when you get here, but please you must be quick". May heard the receiver go down with a click. 'Oh my God', she thought, what mess has she got herself into now.
May quickly took off her dressing gown and pulled a cardigan on over her nightdress. She kicked off her slippers and putting her  bare feet into her shoes, grabbed her coat from the hall and was gone.
Doreen had recently moved into a new house on the edge of town with her boyfriend Carl. Carl had always been polite and friendly towards May but there was just some undefineable thing about him that May could not take too.  Carl had a good job as a telephone engineer and at first had seemed like a blessing after Doreen's long line of past disastrous relationships. However, Sarah had told her that sometimes Carl got very cross and threw things around the house and shouted at her Mummy.
May's feet felt like they could not move fast enough to keep up with her thoughts. She walked as quickly as the arthritis in her knees would allow and shivering, buttoned her coat to the neck. It was a cold night, the wind blew through her thin coat and she felt cold to the bone. The high street was almost deserted.  Just a few courting couples, huddled together. She turned right at the Swan pub, towards the new estate where Doreen lived. As she walked by the pub she glanced through the window- she saw Carl leaning on the bar.
'Looks like he's had a skinful ',she thought. May was relieved that she had beaten him home and quickened her pace.
As May neared Doreen's house she saw that the lounge light was on and noticed Doreen flick the curtain back. The next minute Doreen was at the door. May was not prepared for what she saw.
Doreen's face was bruised and an angry gash ran the length of her cheek. Her nose was swollen and bloody and her eyes were almost closed.
" My God what has happened to you?" May asked, although she already knew the answer.
Doreen did not reply just urgently beckoned May inside then locked and bolted the door behind her.
" I have packed Sarah a case. Now you are here I will just get her up". Doreen walked towards the stairs.
She turned as she climbed "Thanks for coming" she stuttered and sank down onto the stair, clutching her hair and sobbing into her hands. May walked towards her feeling more love towards her daughter than she had for years, Doreens distress was obvious, she looked like a small bird sat there, a broken spirit. Whatever her daughter had done wrong in the past May was sure she did not deserve this. May sat down on the stair next to Doreen and tenderly held her close. It was as they sat there that Carl came home.
They heard the key in the door,  the shouted obscenities as he realized that the door was bolted.
Then he started hammering on the door. "Open the fucking door Doreen or I will kick it in" . May and Doreen sat where they were. Carl shouted again and above them May saw her 5yr old  grandaughter Sarah standing bleary eyed with sleep at the top of the stairs. Woken by the commotion Sarah's eyes were wide with fear.
May got up and went to Sarah, picking her up and  uttering reassurances that she did not feel; she carried Sarah back into her bedroom and closed the door. Carl was still shouting and kicking at the door.  May heard Doreen talking, giving out her name and address,she guessed Doreen was calling the police. 'Oh please get here quickly', May silently pleaded.
May lay down on Sarah's bed with her. "Wrapping her arms around the childs head trying to shield her from the vicious shouts below.
A loud crash of breaking glass and a scream from Doreen told May that Carl had broken through the patio door.
" You bitch" he bawled.
"Carl please, no more " Doreen pleaded.
May got up from the bed and pushing  the door  ajar saw Carl with his hands around Doreens throat, spitting furiously into her face. " I will tell you when you have had enough you slut". Doreen was trying to back away from him, feeling her way along the wall, she grabbed the table lamp and hit it smartly over Carls head.
Carl stumbled but regained his balance and grabbed at Doreen, he held her still with one arm and punched her in the face. Doreen fell to the floor and he kicked her in the stomach.
May was terrified  for Doreen but her feet were rooted to the spot. She was shaking from head to foot.
What should she do?. If she went down and Carl started on her, what would happen to Sarah?
May had never been so glad to hear the sirens of the police cars as they sped up to the house.
Carl on hearing the sirens ran to the back of the house and throught the back door.  Seeing him run off  May hurried down to her daughter who lay clutching her belly.
"Oh, my dear girl" May sobbed - remembering her daughter as a child- so full of  spirit and anger that May had never understood and had never been able to curtail. "My poor,poor, child.".
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Consequences
May suceeds in persuading Doreen to let Sarah live with her.
There is a greater empathy between May and her daughter although they struggle to co-exist.