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I called 911. The neighbors across the street and down a bit were yelling at each other. Threats and the f-word filled the air. I heard breaking glass and somebody scream in pain. Then more curses and threats. I went outside and saw them pushing each other. In the darkness it was hard to tell who was doing what and who was hurting who. It continued to escalate and my son, Derek, came to the door to see what was going on. I told him to get the phone and I called 911.
It took a bit to make it past the operator. Lots of questions about what I could see. When I was handed off to the police there were more questions. Were there weapons? Was anyone bleeding? I told the officer I wasn't close enough to see and didn't intend to get closer. More breaking glass. More screaming. More threats. I told the officer it was making me nervous. He told me he could hear them over the phone and that he would get an officer there soon. I hung up.
The arguments and shouting continued. I heard her say, "The neighbor just called the police." I heard him say he didn't give a damn. More pushing and shoving. He got in his car and drove away at a high rate of speed. No cops. Everything got real quiet. The girl was sweeping up glass. Still no cops. I thought about calling them back and canceling. I wonder if they do that? Eventually the cops showed up. I went back outside in case they wanted to talk to me. They walked a man out in handcuffs. It didn't look like the man who had driven off before and his car wasn't there. He had seemed to be the bad guy, but they had another man in custody. I heard the woman say, "Just take him to jail. I can't stand this anymore." One cop took her back into the house. The man in cuffs was cursing while the officer tried to calm him down. Cops have an amazing gift of deescalating situations with voice inflection and tone. I went back inside.
All is quiet now. The lights are out and the police are gone. I feel sad. Sad that in the week we celebrate the birth of the One who brings peace, there is war. Sad that neighbors I nod and wave at have such painful problems. Sad that I have to call 'peace' officers to come and make peace. Not real peace. Probably just a truce and a bit of time until the next time. May God give our neighbors his peace. May they lay down their death words and their weapons and their violent ways and learn to love. May God use me, if he is willing, to be a peacemaker.
I hate the words 'domestic violence'. They have come to sound too familiar and bland for such a horrific pain.
Rod | 
