previously:
Bullying part One *****
Part two:
Lois sulked awhile about having to meet the latest floozy of Jimmy’s, but quickly became quite involved in making lists with Clark to write his human-interest article. Perry (unfortunately as far as Lois was concerned) was very impressed with this new endeavour of his star investigative team, and wholeheartedly endorsed their project.
“This is a hot button issue today kids. The public will have to listen when their favourite reporters put all the facts in black and white in Metropolis’ number one publication.” Perry boomed loud enough for the entire newsroom to hear. “We’re not just about corporate money laundering and political scandals. The Daily Planet is about the folks in this town!” Then quiet enough for only Clark and Lois to hear, “If at any time writing this article interferes with an active investigation, you are to put this story on the back burner.” Lois smiled to herself at this, she didn’t have to worry about missing out on a mass prison breakout or a mad scientist terrorizing New Troy University. Not that she would want either of those to actually happen, but it was nice to know she would have the choice of covering them if they happened.
“Ok, so after we take a look at the facts your intern finds, we’ll need to call for interviews with the police commissioner, the mayor, the principals at the smallest and largest high schools, and . . . hmm . . . Can you think of anyone else, Lois?” Clark looked expectantly at his wife, who seemed to be distracted.
“What was that Clark?” She looked down at the list between them and realized she was still thinking about a man in a white trench-coat brandishing an unknown poisonous bow and arrow around the dormitories of NTU. “Oh, I think that’s about it Clark. Until that intern reappears, there’s not much more we can add to this list.” Lois wished she’d paid more attention while ‘they’ were advance planning this article, but since she didn’t really want to be a part of it in the first place, she brushed off any feeling of guilt the same as she would a request for help from Ralph.
“I wish there were something Superman could do about school violence. He always seems to make it at the last moment, and with these kids, he really needs more time to make a difference. It seems as soon as he leaves to stop the next disaster, someone else turns around and the circle of violence continues.” Clark slumped further into his chair and ran his right hand through his hair, unconsciously pushing his hair into a shape resembling Superman’s.
Lois stood and moved behind her husband. She put her hands on his shoulders and began to rub them firmly to help ease his tension. As she was doing this, she lifted her own right hand to shift Clark’s hair into a less ‘super’ position. She leaned in near to Clark’s ear, “Honey, I know it’s been a hard day for you, but you don’t want to give the newest gossip columnist any reason to do a double take as she passes us. She already thinks it’s odd how often you’re away from your desk. Don’t give her reason to scrutinize your appearance.”
Clark looked bashful as he heard Lois’ words. He was usually so much more careful. This bullying situation must have been getting to him more than he thought.
It was then that Jimmy appeared in front of Clark. “Hey CK. I can’t wait for you guys to meet Penny. She says she’s pretty nervous about actually meeting you two, but that she’s looking forward to dinner.” Jimmy was visibly excited by the prospect of being out with his ‘best girl’ and his closest co-workers, after all, they were practically family. “I haven’t made a reservation anywhere yet, is there somewhere you’d like to go?” Lois could see that asking this made him nervous. She was aware that the younger man made significantly less than Clark and herself, so she racked her brain to think of a nice place that wouldn’t hurt anyone’s wallet or ego.
“Well, I can think of a couple places we could eat . . . There’s always my Uncle Mikes restaurant though, and he always makes room for us there.” Lois looked at Clark who nodded his appreciation that she wasn’t trying to get out of the double date.
“Yeah? You think so Lois? I think that would be great. What time would be best to meet there?”
“Hmm . . . I’d say about 8pm Jimmy, that way we’ll miss the early birds, and the after movie crowd will start coming in after us. It’ll be intimate that way.” Lois wasn’t sure yet if she wanted to be seen with a girlfriend of Jimmy’s, so this seemed like a happy medium to her. “I’ll call Uncle Mike myself to save a table for us.”
“Perfect! I gotta go tell Penny.” He started to run off toward the elevators, but then turned around “Lois, here are those articles you wanted from the archive. I was downstairs, and grabbed these for you since she was taking a coffee break.”
“Thanks Jimmy, Clark and I will be able to start our article now, thanks to these. Oh and I’m sure we’re both looking forward to meeting Penny tonight.” She smiled a smile that was half gratitude and half distaste. Jimmy gave her an odd look, but said nothing. Something told him not to cross Lois right now. So instead he said goodbye to Clark and headed back the way he had come, to tell Penny about their plans.
“Alright big boy, where do you want to start?” She held up two piles of notes, one that held facts about bullying nationally, and the other thinner pile held reports of violence in Metropolis schools.
“Hmm . . . I’ll take facts and figures please.” As she passed the pile to Clark, he leaned in and lightly kissed her on the cheek, “thanks honey, it means a lot to me that you’re helping with this article.”
“I’d do anything for you Clark.” She knew it was true, she might complain about some of the ‘warm the cockles of your heart’ articles he liked to write (she’d always remember that article about the demolition of the opera house that got him hired), but she knew that no matter what, he would always be there for her. It also didn’t hurt that just about everything they wrote together had the potential of being nominated for a journalism award. “Now, let’s get this party started.”
*****
“Listen to this, ‘there is no legal definition of bullying, but it encompasses the act of purposefully harming others through verbal harassment, physical assault and other more subtle methods such as manipulation. These can include behaviours such as name calling, verbal or written abuse, exclusion from activities, exclusion from social situations, physical abuse, or coercion’ This is from a report by NTU professor Patrick Picard.” Clark was now several pages into the reports collected by the intern. “Did you hear the Part about manipulation Lois?” He looked at her meaningfully.
“Yes, what of it?” (What is he getting at? I don’t manipulate anyone but him.)
“Don’t you think you manipulate interns here at the office?”
“WHAT, are you suggesting I’m a bully Clark? I am NOT a kid. Therefore I can’t be a bully. Put your nose back in those papers and see what you can find that’s relative.” (Am I? I can’t be, no way). She looked genuinely hurt by the suggestion.
“I’m sorry Lois, but according to these articles, there are several types of bullying. There’s of course school bullying, but the experts also recognize Workplace bullying, Political bullying, and Military Bullying. I’d say what you did to that intern this morning was clearly a case of workplace bullying through manipulation and coercion.”
“I did NOT coerce her to do anything!” (Watch out, I may let Mad Dog Lane out if you’re not careful).
“Maybe not directly, no, but she’s here doing a work placement for school, and is making peanuts compared to even Jimmy, so if someone she idolizes asks her to do something, she’s not going to say no. Did you give her a chance to speak? To tell you she already has an assignment?” Clark said all this to her with a tone of voice that didn’t blame her, but made it clear that she should feel bad about her behaviour.
“Well, put it that way, I suppose you’re right ‘this’ time. I guess I ‘may’ have bullied her, just a little bit.” (Damn, I’m going to have to apologize to her. I hate admitting when I’m wrong). “How about we finish reading these notes, and then head home to change for dinner. We still need to find some facts relevant to the bullying that’s been bothering Superman.”
The pair then continued in companionable silence for the remainder of the afternoon.
TBC
