Mel has a good friend who has Autism. He works for a pittance during the day and once a week Mel and him meet to watch a movie or cook each other dinner. It is a lovely friendship and that is all it is. He laughs readily and sees good in everyone. Mel delights in his friendship. Her friend is not looking for a relationship and I doubt whether he is capable of having what most of us would term a 'normal' love interest.
This friend with all good intentions gave Mel's number to his brother. His brother like Mel has mental health issues.
Mel told me about this and I listened. It wasn't long before I realised this person was ringing her a number of times a day. I began to feel concerned, but it wasn't until Mel came to stay for a week that I realised the extent of his presence.
Mel had turned off her phone's volume which I found unlike her, she loves to receive calls. Most of us do. I was concerned she would not only miss my calls but calls from her beloved friends and family. Most of all I was concerned about her obvious stress.
I soon saw a list of her recent calls and then I understood. This person was ringing her every 15 minutes and continued to do so because she was not answering her phone. Oh a stalker...
I did the Mummy thing and discussed this with her before blocking his number. It worked well to stop his disturbing text messages but he was ringing her phone using; No Caller ID.
I bombarded Google to find a solution, but nothing which was suggested worked on her iPhone 5c.
Then my head went into overdrive! I thought I could answer her phone; shouting at him,
THIS IS THE POLICE, WE ARE WATCHING YOUR EVERY MOVE. DO NOT RING MELANIE, DO NOT LEAVE HOME - YOU WILL BE PUT INTO A POLICE VAN NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.
I wish I could have laughed, but I just scared myself. Visions of me being carted off in a police paddy van filled my cranial spaces instead. I shuddered at the thought of how this person's obsession with Mel was affecting the both of us.
Then I turned my thoughts to Telstra, the phone service provider. I rang the next day on a Saturday afternoon when I thought no one would be manning the call centre. A lady with a strong Asian accent answered the phone. She listened to my concerns. She wanted to wait 30 days and Mel to answer the phone for 3-5 seconds each time the stalker person rang. NO WAY I retorted.
"Do you want to change her number?" she asked. I thought about the long list of people and professionals we would need to contact with her new phone number. I thought about her automatic prepaid recharge which would have to be reset. I asked Mel and she agreed.
That is what we did. Mel has a new number and now her phone once again blares out Ed Sheeran's, Thinking Out Loud ringtone when someone rings.
It is sad Mel has had a disturbing experience when it was with only good intentions of her autistic friend. What is even sadder is the loss of this friend. She knows if she gives her new number to him, his brother will probably bully him until he shares her number.
That is what his brother is. A bully.
 |
