He said, she said.
Sunday 15 July 2007
I've written in the past how they are always at least two opposing sides to any story - two versions to the truth, which I suppose means the truth is always somebody's version - and an item tonight highlighted this yet again.
I got called up to Burger King because two blokes had been playing up. They were clearly drunk, and there was talk that they'd been abusive to one of the young girls who works there. Because I didn't see anything I gave them the benefit of the doubt, but when they decided to start throwing their drinks about enough was enough. The venue manager wanted them out, and I walked over to take care of business.
"Sorry lads," I said, "I think you've had enough tonight. Let's go outside and get some air."
Now, both of these blokes were bigger than me. The main one was over six feet tall and probably eighteen stone. He was the only one who spoke.
"Yeah, I'm just finishing my burger," he said.
"Take it with you mate," I replied, "Let's go."
And then he threw the burger down in front of him. Oh-oh, I thought, here we go - elbow to my face time.
But no; he got up, enquired as to whether only he had to leave ("No, both of you, mate.") and then both quietly left. No hassle, no moaning, no problems. Out they went.
I went back to the girl who'd been subjected to the verbal abuse and got her side of the story; basically, there'd been some delay with their order and as she was nearest to them, she got a fair bit of stick. "They called me 'bitch'," she said, adding, "I don't mind that as I hear it all the time..."
What?
But then it all went a bit pear-shaped and one of the guys - the main one, as above - asked her what time BK closed, and that when she revealed it was midnight, that he'd be back to sort her out later.
Right, fair enough then. You ain't coming back inside, like ever.
Except... then it all went weird. The guys came back half an hour or so later, and I was called down to the main gates to speak to them. Seemed that the main one's female friend and her young daughter were still inside, and would it be okay if, escorted, he went in to look for them? He was incredibly polite and apologetic and I thought: why not? We walked around the complex for a bit looking for his mate (who, later, turned up outside) and the entire time he was very polite, very confused about what he had been accused of, and seemed entirely sincere that not only had he not done anything of the sort, but as he was here with his friends and nephew, "in a holiday park with kids", he'd never do anything to cause trouble. He also seemed fairly sober. It was either an Academy Award-winning performance, or someone, somewhere, had fucked up.
Eventually he and his mate left - but not before apologising again - and I told them that if they behaved and their story checked out, they were welcome back tomorrow night. I went back to speak to the girl in BK and asked her to describe the guy who'd threatened her and she described the main bloke (as above) to a tee. Now, this girl in BK is young and incredibly sweet and demure and I cannot believe for a second she'd make any of this stuff up. But could she have misunderstood? Could the guy(s) have said one thing and she heard another? She was so matter-of-fact and passé about it all that it was difficult for me to get a grip on the reality. I mean, there's jaded ("Bitch!? Ha! Is that the best you can do?") and there's jaded.
Much like a frickin' tree falling over in a wood with nobody else around, who knows what the fuck happens? And this is the problem, and something that, as I believe I've mentioned before, we - as almighty DS - have to be very careful over.
Unless you've actually seen it yourself, you have to act as if it might not have happened.
At least, not like 'they' say it did. They lie all the time. The catch is, they could both be telling the truth. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.
posted by Sheamus @ 3:00 am
