They werent happy with her

as a matter-of-fact (not that facts served them) their unhappiness with her had eroded

any sense of decency she should have civilly been allotted

by some venal Go-Ahead

they were curt

derogatory

crude

dabitch

was their handle for her  almost  behind her back

as if running their words together was so very clever

and somehow the office men  and women  felt safe and vindicated by attacking her

as if she

culled by their attack

particularly by the women

had separated her from their Sex

and that they were magically absolved by some kind of illogical cover

offsetting any blame they might suffer 

   

by defaming her  with scarcely a thought  they werent bitches themselves

their words lacked any consequence

it wasnt that she didnt know they were unhappy with her

she didnt care

she was courteous and remained buoyantly courteous in the face of their unhinged 

crudeness

she entered their dens

and gladly payed out the ropes they eagerly wrapped around their throats to hang 

themselves with later 

                                        

if they chose to jump

she didnt encouraged them

they did it themselves

they opened the office windows and climbed out onto its sills

they stood precariously on the black fabric seats of roller secretary chairs

ascending easily 

because there were no arms to restrain them

and tethered to stout lighting fixtures and crossbeams

the women

nifty little packages

were like delicate colored glass ornaments hung in Christmas pine boughs and wreaths and

swag

she didnt put them up there

anymore than she put their words in their mouths

absent or not thoughtful or unthinking when they opened them

                                                         

far be it for her not to regurgitate or refresh them in their ears

if she didnt deny their words

shed be the liar

she left lying to others

because

evidently

                     there is something in their failing processes to lie and foment

or bolster some abject fiction

incurred at the expense of someone who wasnt in the room

who otherwise  immediately  would challenge their deliberate and arraigned deceits

challenge their belligerent misappropriation of actions they deemed veiled

and corrosive

                                                                                               they had distaste for dabitch

because she habitually forced them to turn around and face into a full-length mirror 

whose glass was as keen as razor blades

and wasnt squeamish about blood

unhappiness follows someone who doesnt get what they want

1357,  Monday,  22  9. 14