Standing Up Again
Chapter 5- Uneasy
After Audrey and Orin left the flower shop Seymour had an uneasy feeling in the pit of stomach. His every thought about Orin and the way he treated Audrey had been correct. He could only assume how much worse the physical abuse could be than the verbal abuse it was any worse at all.
Mr. Mushnik had been conducting the end of the day inventory and had heard the dialogue exchange between the three young people. He noted the look on Seymour's face as he entered the main store.
"Boychik, I sense you are feeling some what concerned for Audrey."
"Even more so than before sir, did you hear the way Orin was talking to her?"
Mr. Mushin had a solemn look on his face. He nodded.
" I certainly did. Have you and the girls tried to talk some sense in to her about leaving him?"
Seymour nodded.
"Yes sir, we have. We just hope she'll listen to us."
"She will my boy. I think she knows deep down how much you all care for her."
"Would you ever consider talking to her sir?"
"I just may do that. I am just as disturbed by the way he treats her as much as you are."
Seymour nodded his head. He felt he couldn't contribute much more to the conversation.
"Good night my boy. Be sure to lock up."
"I will sir."
Mr. Mushnik grabbed his jacket from the coat rack and left the store.
Mr. Mushnik got to the store early the next morning and saw Audrey in the break room.
'Ah, what a perfect opportunity." He thought to himself
"Good morning Audrey. You're here early this morning." He said
Audrey nodded .
" I know Mr. Mushnik, I wanted to talk to you. I know you've been worried about me."
"Did Seymour tell you that?"
"No, sir I kind of figured it out on my own."
Mr. Mushnik sighed with relief because he didn't have to feel awkward about instantiating the conversation. He then cleared his throat and looked at Audrey sternly.
"Audrey, I heard the way Orin was talking to you yesterday when he came to pick you up. I didn't like what I heard.
Audrey looked down at the ground, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that sir."
"You shouldn't need to apologize how awful that hooligan treats you."
Audrey was silent.
"Audrey why haven't you tried to be firm with Orin about the way he treats you?"
"I have sir, he doesn't seem to want to listen to me."
"Have you even tried to talk to him about the abuse?"
"Once, he just dismissed the subject as if nothing was wrong then he accused me of being a slut and hit me."
Mr, Mushnik looked at his young female employee and then reached out to put a comforting arm around her.
"Audrey, you need to be stronger with Orin. Put your foot down a little harder. You have people here who love you and are standing behind you. We want what is best for you."
"I know that sir."
Mr. Mushnik pulled her in to his arms in a warm embrace and whispered something in her ear. It was a simple sentence of advice.
"Do the right thing."