Collateral Damage

**twiney** · 04-23-2011, 11:57 PM

Re: Collateral Damage

**ILP** · 04-24-2011, 12:20 AM

Re: Collateral Damage

August of 2006, Nigel joined the staff of.....of.....Severn School. His main duty was to revamp the running programme. When he joined the staff, he was just returning from his honeymoon. Him and his wife were new to the area. As with all people and things that are new, Nigel was extended dinner and cocktail invitations. Once he settled into the area he quickly proved that he was more than capable of delivering the results he was hired to do. He was personally introduced to "the people to know" at Severn School. He was introduced to Joy, as he'd have to work closely with her in the sports dept. He was introduced to Allison. She was a fellow islander and could give him some tips about the "Caribbean community" if he needed it. Nigel quickly got to know Felandre, as she was always with Joy. Nigel met Q when she (being who she is) introduced herself and let her know that "she knew people" if he needed anything.

Things got off to a great start and Nigel's programme grew exponentially. Nigel's personality lent itself to him accepting most of the offers he received for dinner and drinks. He regularly attended (or hosted) "Happy Hours" and Q attended every single one of them. Joy and Felandre were never in attendance. Joy claimed that "I don't eff with those people he invited when I am here at work and getting paid, why would I spend time with them when I am not?" Felandre made her passes by saying she needed to get home to her kids. Allison would make an appearance every now and then, usually when most of the invitees were from the Caribbean community.

At work, Nigel, Joy, and Felandre would do lunch together. Allison used the excuse that she was on a different schedule to eat alone. She preferred it that way. Q would join them when her schedule allowed. Lunch conversations usually dealt with all the questions that Nigel had about people he had seen at Happy Hours. Joy and Q always had a story about everyone. It usually went something like, "Well I heard....."

**ILP** · 04-24-2011, 05:14 AM

Re: Collateral Damage

It didn't take long before Nigel began to make waves with folks in the Severn School community. He had listened to Joy and Q for almost a year. He had begun to stop sending invitations to certain folks on the staff and in the community, as he said, "I've seen (and heard) enough." On the surface, many folks on the staff felt like he had allowed his friendship with Joy, Q, and Felandre to sway his opinions. Basically, Nigel's newness has begun to wear off.

However, his programme was still performing better than everyone was expected. He was gaining attention from competitor schools. Parents and other community members were pleased with how he was doing (with the programme), so they turned an eye to decisions they felt were his personal prerogative.

**Nunya** · 04-24-2011, 07:54 AM

Re: Collateral Damage

Hurrup!

**ILP** · 04-24-2011, 08:55 AM

Re: Collateral Damage

Allison had numerous opportunities to spend evenings with Nigel and his family. Initially at a White Party (everyone must wear white...duh) and then regularly after that once a month for informal dinners in his home. Those evenings were spent reminiscing about their respective homes and mutual cultures. Allison was soon introduced to members of his immediate and extended family.

At work, Nigel would deliver meals sent by way of his wife (or mother) to Allison. She was kept abreast of the goings on with Joy, Felandre, and Q through workplace gossip and from her own dealings with them when attended sporting events at the school or ran into one of them. Outside of school, she did have 3 select colleagues whose homes she would visit or she would meet for drinks and dinner occasionally. One was her Dept Chairperson, the other a teacher in Felandre's Dept, the last another counselor in Q's dept. When she was invited to things by Q...it was really hit or miss if Allison attended. Because Q knew everyone (literally)...Allison found some of Q's social events to be kinda dicey.

At one such gathering, Q mentioned to Allison that she was interested in possibly applying for membership to the Social Organization that Allison was a member of. Allison really thought nothing of it. She told Q to go for it and ask questions of her if she had any.

**Tulip** · 04-24-2011, 10:57 AM

Re: Collateral Damage

Where is the rest of the story?

ILP, before you post another word, type this thing out on Word and cut and paste as needed lol.

**ILP** · 04-24-2011, 12:53 PM

Re: Collateral Damage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tulip</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Where is the rest of the story?

ILP, before you post another word, type this thing out on Word and cut and paste as needed lol. </div></div>

Tulip...mi notice that you is very impatient. You neva know seh writing is <span style="text-decoration: underline">very</span> emotional and can drain a person

**ILP** · 04-24-2011, 01:02 PM

Re: Collateral Damage

It didn’t take long before Q began her quest. Allison began to hear that Q had made an appearance at that function and this next function all in an effort to gain membership to the Social Organization. Allison thought that Q’s actions were a bit too eager and came across as disingenuous. She told Q as much, “Relax and simply be yourself. If you are the right material for the organization, it will show and you will get in.” Q asked if Allison would be her sponsor. Allison said that she would be happy to sponsor her in theory, however, she needed to remind Q that she was hardly active and would be better served working with someone else who could sponsor her officially. Q made the decision to ask Joy to be her official sponsor.

Joy loved the attention from Q, as it was a long time that she felt needed by someone. She soon found out that Felandre was seeking membership to the organization too. Before long one didn't see Joy and not see either Q, Felandre or both. Joy asked Allison to assist her with the two, as the time would come for the both of them to work on their application packages and Allison had awesome skills when it came to writing, editing and the like. Allison agreed.

The daily goings on at Severn School seemed to be going as they were. Work as usual Mondays through Fridays. Nigel had coaching duties in the afternoons, along with Joy. Allison would make her way home to what was her life with her family. Felandre also, except now she picked up the kids and brought them back to work. She began to stay after work with Q. The guise was support for Nigel and Joy’s student athletes, but for them it was a way to show Joy that they could be counted on. They were expecting Joy's “final support” once applications to the organization were due.

Joy had a losing season with her team. Nigel won the state championship.

At the end of the season, Nigel’s wife hosted a huge party in her home for her husband and his accomplishments. Everyone that one could think of was invited. Joy and Felandre made an early appearance, but left as the main crowds began to show up. Allison missed them both. She arrived much later (after a bulk of the crowd left and she knew that mainly his family and other Caribbean friends would be left). Q arrived early and was still at the party when Allison arrived.

Allison took notice that Q had taken an interest in Nigel’s cousin Andrew (folks called him Drew). Drew was young, attractive, a Captain in the US Air Force. He too loved to tell stories about being a young boy growing up in Trinidad. He carried 2 cell phones. Drew explained that one was for work and the other was his personal phone. Allison thought that his carrying 2 phones (at all times) made him look like a player, but…to each his own, right? One of his phones seemed to be going off (with texts) most of the night. After sending what seemed to be a long text, Drew was asked by Nigel’s wife to put down the phone and enjoy the evening with the guests. Drew complied. He put the phone down on the kitchen island and went to fix himself a drink and plate.

It wasn’t long before the phone went off again. Allison noticed that Q had picked up the phone and was reading the text on the screen.

**diabolical_Tanya** · 04-24-2011, 01:13 PM

Re: Collateral Damage

**Nanook** · 04-24-2011, 01:37 PM

Re: Collateral Damage

wonderful story so far!

**Tulip** · 04-24-2011, 01:39 PM

Re: Collateral Damage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HIELPEE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tulip...mi notice that you is very impatient. You neva know seh writing is <span style="text-decoration: underline">very</span> emotional and can drain a person </div></div>

I know. I am trying to work on it, but you can't expect me to fall back when the story is interesting.

**ILP** · 04-24-2011, 02:33 PM

Re: Collateral Damage

Q didn’t make any bones about picking up Drew’s phone and reading the text that had come in. At first, Drew seemed alarmed, but kept cool when he returned to see Q with his phone. Because Drew didn’t take the phone from Q or ask her to put it down, she kept the phone and then proceeded to go through the messages. She seemed entertained, but had this sneaky grin at the same time. When she got to messages that she felt needed explanation, she asked and Drew would “entertain” her.

It was into the next morning that Allison finally said goodbye. She left Q at the party. After that evening, Allison seemed to run into Drew a lot in different parts of town. He never mentioned Q when they saw each other.

Back at Severn School, things continued the same. Nigel began the next season of his sports programme and things were going well. Members of the staff began to complain that Nigel seemed to be getting unfair and preferential treatment. They didn’t like that he seemed to be doing as he wanted to do and not being held to the same work standards as the rest of the staff. Joy began to field complaints from the staff. Joy’s normal response was to tell the complainers to go to hell. As far as she was concerned, Nigel brought in results and as long as the results remained and the boss’ were happy...she was happy.

Felandre and Q continued their “support” of both Joy and Nigel.

A few weeks later Allison stopped by Nigel’s home to return some plastic meal containers to Nigel’s wife. Nigel’s wife asked Allison to stay, as dinner would soon be ready and Nigel wouldn’t be home from practice for a bit. Allison asked if anyone else would be coming by for dinner. Nigel’s wife replied, “Who knows? You know I just cook and if someone comes by they can fix a plate and eat. If no one comes then Nigel has food to take to work with him. Anyhow, most times Drew stops by on his way home and eats.” Allison and Nigel’s wife were well into their meals when the doorbell sounded. Sure enough it was Drew. He fell into the routine of someone who routinely eats at Nigel’s home after work. He fixed a plate and joined the ladies at the table.
Allison said howdy and jokingly asked Drew where his phones were. He didn’t get the joke. After looking puzzled for a minute, a light bulb went off and Drew laughed and responded, “In the vehicle. I didn’t have time to empty any of the folders.” Dinner was delicious. Nigel soon joined them.

Allison decided to assist Nigel’s wife with cleaning up the dinner dishes. She told the men to finish their drinks in the other room. Nigel asked his wife if any cake was left. She said she would slice some and bring it out to him. Allison made the delivery instead. She asked the two if they wanted anything else. They said no and she turned around to head back to the kitchen. While walking away she heard Nigel say to Drew (in a ‘Boys will be Boys’ manner), “Your girl Q has been trying to reach you.” Drew’s responded, “Which girl? Drew has no girls and definitely no pressed girls. I’ll call her when I call her, man.”

Allison continued to the kitchen.

**ILP** · 04-24-2011, 04:45 PM

Re: Collateral Damage

Weeks had passed and things continued on Severn School. Nigel’s team again exceeded expectations and was on their way to another state championship. Felandre and Q had begun their formal application process for membership into the social organization. As promised, Allison began to assist them both with research materials and suggestions for proposals and mock interview sessions. Joy was totally in her element. She was pleased. She was active in the organization and someone needed her expertise in an area where she was always successful. These two women needed her. They began to spend even more time together.

One particular late evening, Allison was leaving work and noticed that Q was being directed to turn around by the security officer at the gate. She was being denied access to the grounds. Q looked rather upset and was talking on her cell phone. Allison hit the horn and got Q’s attention and asked her if everything is alright. Q looked horrified to see Allison and immediately changed her facial disposition. She responded, “Oh yeah, things are alright. It’s just that security isn’t trying to let me through the gates and I am trying to tell him that I work on the grounds.” Allison wondered why Q would be trying to gain access to the grounds at such a late hour. Surely Q knew that school employees were only allowed entrance to the school grounds during certain hours? Allison asked if there was anything that she could do for Q. Q responded, “No, Thanks though. Maybe, I'll just head home.” Allison proceeded to leave the property.

That same weekend, Allison found herself at Nigel’s home for a grilled dinner. Drew was there with a lady that he introduced to her as his girl friend. Allison was not familiar with this woman, but Nigel and his wife seemed at ease with her. They seemed to be familiar. During the evening, Drew kept leaving the room to attend to his cell phone. Nigel seemed to be doing the same. Finally, Nigel’s wife gave her husband the “hang up the phone look” and Nigel did one better. He turned his phone off.

About an hour later the house phone rang and Nigel answered, “Hello. Oh hey Q. What’s up?” He continued, “Nope, we’re just chillin. Having a quiet evening at home. What are you up to?” He continued, “Naw, haven’t seen him since Tuesday when he was over for dinner. I think he said something about going out of town for work. You called him?” Nigel’s wife began conversation with Drew and his girlfriend. Allison was supposed to be engaged with the table conversation, but couldn’t help eavesdropping on Nigel’s conversation. After a short pause to allow Q to talk on the other end, Nigel said, “Well if I talk to Drew, I’ll tell him to buzz you. Yeah,yeah. See you Monday. Oh and I wont forget lunch either. The woman (his wife) is doing it up big for Sunday Dinner.” He hung up.

Nigel walked to the fridge and opened the freezer before returning to the table, “Ya’ll want this ice cream now?” He took out the ice cream and placed it on the counter and returned to the table. Drew looked at him with eyes that asked, “It was her, wasn’t it?” Nigel returned the look with a “Yeah, Dude. You need to handle that.” Drew rolled his eyes.

Allison put together that something was up between Drew and Q. She was going to find out what it was.

**MsExced** · 04-24-2011, 05:33 PM

Re: Collateral Damage

Collateral Damage

Collateral Damage

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