Page 6 of Conflict Mediation
“Pick that up from your minions?”
A laugh burst out of James, like maybe it wasn’t something he was used to doing. “Yeah, I actually did. It means–”
“No, I know what it means. My neighbor’s kid kvetched at me when I didn’t know what the pin was on her pack. Pink, yellow, and blue, right?”
James gave a lopsided grin, and then his eyes narrowed. “You know a lot of yiddish.”
Leon nodded and shifted his grip, surprised to find he was not only used to holding James’ hands, but was actually beginning to appreciate the warmth and stability they provided. Now that they were substantially less damp, that is.
“My bubbe was Jewish. I spent a lot of time at her place growing up… anything to not be at home, and I picked up some phrases over the years.”
James tipped his head to the side in a curious way and his lip curved up in a small smile. “What doesmenschmean? I always thought it was a good thing.”
Leon let out a startled laugh, and when he saw the perplexed look on James’ face he laughed even harder. “It is a good thing. My bubbe used to always call me her littlemenschbecause I took care of things around the house once da died. It means someone of honor and integrity…” Leon trailed off and both of their expressions sobered.
“Ah… but… when you said it about me–”
“I meant it as a jab at your whole prim and proper, don’t want to get your hands dirty schtick, but I guess I didn’t have the full story. I–” Leon rolled his shoulders uncomfortably again as more memories from his childhood flashed across his mind.
It had taken him a long time to begin standing up for himself, and an even longer time to stand up for others. He’d been a bit of a punk in middle school, angry at his dad for dying and his mam for… well, for being who she was. Even though he’d been getting his fair share of bullying at home, it hadn’t stopped himfrom going along with the slurs and jabs his crew would make at other kids.
For a long time he’d thought he couldn’t afford to show weakness, not at home or at school, but that had gotten him nowhere. He’d made his fair share of transphobic, homophobic, and bigoted comments to fit in with the rough crowd he felt trapped in. When he finally began standing up for himself, he was able to begin standing up for others in his life too. It sounded like maybe it had taken James a bit longer to get to that point. Yes, maybe he could have done better and tried harder, but Leon could see now how James wasn’t ready at the time.
With others, Leon wasn’t usually one to hold grudges. Hell, he’d even forgiven his mam before she’d passed the year before. If he poked a little harder at his feelings, something he tried to do on occasion, he could admit James had been a special case because Leon had expected better of him. From the outside, his life seemed so simple and easy, with his tightly buttoned shirts and pristine office space, but maybe he’d misjudged him. The same way he’d been letting James form his own opinions about him being the resident “bad boy” or whatever some of the younger staff giggled behind their hands. Leon didn’t really mind it, but it meant few of his coworkers actually knew him.
Perhaps Leon didn’t know James, either. It seemed they both put up walls to protect themselves.
The bad boy and themensch, what a pair.
He took a deep breath and shot a glance at Katherine. She nodded back like some sort of mediation bobble head. James fidgeted nervously as he waited for Leon to continue.
The weight of James’ hands, still held securely in his, made the decision for him. He could give James this, and maybe give them both some solid ground to start over on.
“I will admit, I didn’t have the most supportive parents. I mean, my da never really got the chance to be supportive.Died before I ever came out. Mam never really cared what my sexuality was but when her boyfriends did, she never said a word. I learned to stand up for myself, but only when it really mattered. I chose not to stand up to Antonelli because his opinion doesn’t mean bupkis to me, but it sucked thinking you believed what a dumb schmuck like him said because you not only kept quiet, you laughed. So, it felt like you thought I didn’t matter, even though you just met me.”
James nodded, his grip tightening, and his knee pressing into Leon’s. “I hear you, Leon, and I’m sorry. I promise I’ll try to do better and… maybe try to be an actualmenschfrom now on?”
The smile James gave him was sweet and tinged with a hopefulness that made the final tension in Leon’s body release. It would be nice to not have to fight anymore. Hell, he could probably be doing a better job of being a trans ally in the workplace too. Maybe instead of fighting their own lonely battles, they could try fighting together. Queer allies facing down the old guard. At least until they all finally retired.
James’ thumb began to trace an absent pattern on the back of Leon’s hand and when their eyes met, it was almost like they were meeting again for the first time.
“I guess only time will tell, but… if–”
The clock behind Katherine began to chime as the minute hand reached the top of the hour.
“Well, gentlemen, that’s the end of our session today. I think we’ve made some incredible progress towards fixing your relationship, and I can feel a palpable difference in the energy you’re leaving with versus the energy you arrived here with today. I think that’s a perfect place for us to end and pick up again next week,” Katherine said, closing her notebook and standing up.
Leon blanched, and James hesitantly pulled his hands back as he turned to sit facing forward on the couch. “Is thatcompletely necessary? It sort of feels like the conflict has been mediated, and we have next steps in place to further improve our work together.”
Katherine cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at them. “Well, typically in couples counseling I recommend a minimum of four to six visits, so as to give us time to delve into any additional problems that arise.”
Leon nearly fell off the loveseat, and James made a choking noise. “Couples… couples counseling?”
Katherine’s other eyebrow lifted to meet her first one. “Yes, couples counseling. I am a couples counselor?” she said, gesturing to her diploma and the bookshelf behind her. If Leon squinted he could just make out a few titles, which… yes, all definitely pointed towards this being a couples counseling room.
“We… this was supposed to be conflict mediation. We’re coworkers?Justcoworkers?” James sputtered, his voice rising to a rather impressive octave as his cheeks tinged an endearing pink.
Endearing? Well, that was definitely a new thought. Maybe Katherine knew what she was doing after all.
