A Civil Tone


"Always expect the unexpected", is what Poppy used to say I guess I was too
relaxed and let my guard down or maybe because Momma's saying, everyone
deserves a second chance" working in me at the same time that made me so
vulnerable.  My name is Colesta Milian I am an employment counselor for ex-
convicts, not to blow my own horn but I am a highly qualified professional
with fifteen years of experience. I am not as my critiques put it "the
perfect minority"

My dad is Puerto Rican and my mom is African American I am multicultural
and BI-lingual and that's why 'red neck's' and common 'nigg's' make the
affore-mentioned remark. I pride myself on being able to handle any and
every situation that arises. I even talked down a convicted killer who was
holding one of my CO-workers hostage because he could not find employment.
"Sista Cool" is what the brotha's called me and it caught on with my staff.
No one would have ever expected me to loose it and end up in a bad spot.

It was Friday afternoon 4:00pm one hour away from closing, one hour from
freedom, one hour from recuperation from the rigors of counseling,
coaching, teaching and holding our clients hands. Enter Heather at 4:15pm,
we heard she was coming earlier we were warned by a sister location that
she was coming armed with a bad attitude. Heather had been to 4 of our five
locations and because she through a fit all of them several times no one
wanted to deal with her.  She would not follow instructions, would not fill
out paperwork properly, would not ask questions when she was unsure of
procedure, then when things went wrong she would rant and rave making a
scene blaming everyone but her self. Now it was my turn; Heather was an
Australian immigrant, a tall slender fair skinned woman about 30-something
of European and Australian aborigine heritage, black locks adored the tops
of her shoulders and encased her long swan-like neck. Heather on looks
alone could land a job if she could keep a civil tone but alas the broad
had no social skill and was frankly just down right rude!

She storms into our office slamming our door open as if she is walking into
a bar

I was up front because I was covering for one of the receptionist who was
in the restroom. "Oooh's in charge 'ear she bark in a gruff Australian
accent. "I am Heather," I said in a voice loud enough for her to her but
soft enough to let her know the tenor of conversation I preferred. A fat
lot of good that did, this fool was crunked and on a mission as my 14-year-
old would say. "Well you not much are you?" she said flippantly. I bit my
lip closed my eyes took a deep breath then said Heather there is no need
for that kind of talk I'm sure given a chance I can help you". "That's what
all you bleedin' people say I can't what around for you to "exhale" before
I get a job!"  It was like the girl was a Bose speaker she just got louder
and louder! "You are too loud," I said gesturing with my hands to get her
to keep it down. "Well let's step outside then!" she shouted pointing to
the door with her right hand. "Don't be ridiculous" I whispered forcefully.
I will talk to you in my office" "All right then your office it is" agreed
Heather. She followed me to the back; as I was walking I felt as if my
skirt was hiked up in the back and tucked in my panties. All eyes were on
me and I knew it by their silence; there was no low talking no strokes on
the computers no breathing just these loud eyeballs burning holes of
unwanted attention in my soul. She had a sidekick with her who started to
follow us to the back, I halted my steps turned slightly held out the palm
of my hand and said "I don't need you back here please stay up front" She
agreed and mumbled something apologetically and turned back. I opened my
door motioned for her to enter then I shut my door and turned my back
listening for the auto-lock to catch. I came in sat down behind my desk and
invited her to sit down.  "I'll stand" "Sit" I said sternly pointing to the
chair opposite my desk. "Now we are going to keep a civil tone and first
you are going to listen then if you have any questions I will be more than
happy to answer them.  Heather's eye's and mouth were wide open in
amazement I guess she never imagined that a soft-spoken lady could be so
assertive. I explained how our program worked what she needed to do in
order to succeed which included proper people skills which I would be more
than happy to assist her with. Heather calmed down considerably and listens
to everything I had to say wearing the most pleasant smile. "Thanks so much
for explaining that to me Ms. Milian no one else really took the time and I
guess I did not give them the chance she offered in an embarrassed tone. We
rose to our feet simultaneously; I escorted her toward the door with my
hand on her shoulder, "Are there any others concerns that you have Heather
any questions?" She stopped and said, Yes there is one thing" "What is it?"
I inquired. CRACK! Heather elbowed me in the nose sending me toppling back
to my desk daze confused and bleeding. "Just where do you get off talkin'
to me 'loiek' aum a bleedin' choild! You B!%@#!

She started at me again grabbing a fist full of my hair then pounding me
with her other fist until I was beaten to my knees. Once I was on all fours
I figured it was all over but then she stomped me in my head twice then
headed for the door.

Because I had Poppy's temper Mama always tried to keep me around Christian
influences; Sunday School, Youth Services and things like that. I continued
participation in those things into my adult life and insisted that my
children did also. My husband said my commitment to the church was the most
attractive thing about me to him. I took pride in the fact that I kept a
good Christian attitude no matter what but this was just too much! As
Heather reached for the doorknob I sprung up and rammed my forearm in the
back of her head crashing her forehead into the door.  I spun her around
and started to whale away at her like I was a crazy woman she fought back
but her blows were glancing.  You could not tell from her cursing and
screaming that she was getting the worst of it, "Is that all you got B!%@#!
Come on get some more you F()@%!ng C()^!%! . Then I grabbed her by the neck
and hair and slung her to the floor and mounted her. Wanting to lock her
legs in order to pin her properly for the next phase of butt whoopin' but
my skit would not allow me too perform a proper grapevine. Abandoning all
decency with my left elbow I pinned her in the throat and with my other
hand I hiked my skirt to my waist exposing my panties riding into my butt
to locked her legs. She was struggling to free herself before this but I
was heavier and she could not move from underneath me. To keep me from
pummeling her further Heather engaged me in a fingerlock with my free hand,
but to no avail because I cracked her with six swift headbutts to the face;
she was still growling threats and cursing. Saying nothing I just continued
to whoop that tail; headbutting, driving my nails into her flesh with the
fingerlock and stretching her groin with the double leglock. Loosing
contiousness indicated by her labored breath and her crossed eyes let up on
her not for mercy's sake but in order to inflict more pain; she was not
getting off that easy. Converting my grapevine into a schoolgirl's pin her
arms viced between my legs and thighs my butt on her chest once again I
grabbed her hair and started to punch her in the mouth, that mouth that I
hated so much I just wanted to destroy it! Blood was sprouting from her
battered lips as she attempted to beg for mercy but I was not done yet, I
then rolled her over on her stomach shifted my butt to the small of her
back then interlaced my fingers under her chin and pulled back she
screamed, gagged and choked but those sounds I were not what I was
weighting for. By this time there was a crowd at the door and someone was
bagging hard on it and screaming for us to open it. Heather couldn't get
the door and I wouldn't I bent her back like a Brave's Bow until I hear d a
snap then an abrupt exhaling accompanied by muscular twitching and then I
released her to shutter in the cold reality of defeat.

(A buzzer rang out then the sound of moving machinery after that a stern
loud voice "Milian you made bail! Time to go!) "catch ya'll later" said
Colesta  to the other inmates as she walked to the cell door. "See ya'
later Sista' Cool cried one girl wth a big Gold toothed smile. " Yea right"
she said with a chuckle.


Deacon