[Critique Group 2] my submission for September 27 critique session

[Alice Massa]

*Three Puzzle Pieces of Life*

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

How many 5'3", one hundred-pound, blind women have received threats on 
their lives?Not many, one would think; but I have--not once, but 
twice.Now, I am slightly wondering if I may add a third to this 
incredible listing.

In 1971, when I was enrolled in a semester of student teaching, I recall 
that my supervising teacher, trying to somewhat cover his great 
surprise, told me: "When you get in front of the class, it is like you 
are another person.You are like an actress on a stage."At age 21, I 
never thought my change from one side of the desk to the other was that 
drastic.How we are perceived by others is sometimes a curious thing.

In the midst of a five-year long political effort in the 1980s, on 
behalf of my rural hometown which was being significantly impinged by a 
massive coal company, my name was in the newspaper again.The 
reporter--not from the small town nearer to my hometown, but from the 
largest city in the next county--used the cliche that I was "the mouse 
that roared."While the piece was flattering, I was not exactly pleased 
with my comparison to a mouse.Nevertheless, the reporter was nice and 
gave my side some much-needed positive exposure.

While continuing this political goal, very late one night, the phone 
rang.I picked up the receiver of what now would be considered an 
old-fashioned phone with ten rectangular buttons stretching across the 
horizontal base.The man's message was short and to the point:due to my 
political actions, he threatened my life.Although I knew I was "playing 
with the big boys," as some would say, I never dreamed someone would 
threaten my life.Hearing an unexpectedcar pull into the white-rock 
driveway when I was home alone, I was a little worried; however, 
eventually the trial was over.I moved on.With a fellowship grant for a 
second master's degree, I moved to a university town in another state.

In the 1990s, at a workplace, a co-worker, who had periodic bouts with 
mental illness, became belligerent with me for no apparent reason.Since 
only she and I were in the office at the time, my guide dog and I 
hurried out of the very large room, crossed the hallway, and went to 
another office where I knew there would be at least one secretary--at 
least one witness.The ("normally sighted") person who threatened me with 
bodily injury followed my guide dog and me into the other office and 
continued her outlandish threatening words in front of the witness.The 
secretary immediately called security.

When I gave a complete statement to a security officer, he encouraged me 
to press charges.Due to the mental illness of the co-worker and due to 
the age of my parents (who would not have wanted me to pursue the matter 
further), I chose not to press charges; however, in a file, I still have 
the documents of this incident.Temporarily, my supervisor had me move to 
another office; then, the co-worker took yet another leave-of-absence 
for another year.Eventually, she retired; I continued working without 
having to worry about her.

Now, over two decades later, I am in another one of those 
situations.This time, I know the circumstances.My journalism degree 
served me well in this retirement year.I take some satisfaction in 
thinking that even Mike Wallace, of /Sixty Minutes/ fame, would be 
pleased with my persistence, my relentless questioning to find an 
astonishing answer--so astonishing that within minutes, I e-mailed all 
of the details to the most well-known talk-show host of local radio.A 
couple of hours later, I asked a relative to write down a name and a 
telephone number.When I told her the entire findings, she firmly agreed 
that the information which I had gathered was indeed "astonishing."I 
joke that I may need some protection, but she was too serious in telling 
me to be careful.At this point in my life, I only worry about the 
well-being of my guide dog.

I do not want to be momentarily famous as a result of this finding:I 
just want to be at peace and be able to move on with my retirement life 
with my guide dog.I really do want life to be easier, less exciting.

Some puzzle pieces of life one never expects.I wonder what tomorrow will 
bring.

September 19-20, 2018 (11:45 p.m.-1:22 a.m.)


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