Ten Minutes

I was really irritated about having to stop in the office tonight. Driving in from the ‘burbs on a cold Chicago Sunday night is not high on my list of fun. Then I met Lisa. She was trying to get directions to a domestic violence shelter after the previous two she visited had no room. Lisa didn’t ask me for money, just help finding her way.

I learned that she had been on foot for 3 hours trying to find a place for the night. She had a list of phone numbers but no phone. It took us about 4 phone calls and 10 minutes to find a place that could take her in. But they couldn’t help her get to their shelter in Kenosha.

Lisa didn’t make a single complaint when explaining her circumstances to the social workers on the phone. Yes she had filed a police report. Yes, she had the hospital discharge report. No, she could not drive as her husband had beaten her so badly that she had just become blind in one eye. No she did not feel safe. Yes, she was determined to get to a safe place.

Ten minutes of help to get her somewhere warm and safe for a night. A few phone calls. A few dollars for a cab an a meal. That’s all she needed. I almost walked past her like everyone else in the crowd. I’m really glad I had to go to the office tonight. Hang in there Lisa.