Sally Sharp

As one views the cultures of some Third World countries, one finds the women of some cultures have few rights. They may suffer beatings in public for even small infractions such as the exposure of part of their face for only a small moment. Frequently, women are denied the tight to an education. There is only one reason a women in some Third World cultures is needed, and that is to procreate.

American women are not denied an education. However, sometimes within a marriage they may be denied further education as even in our society today the career of the husband (head of household) is stressed.

In the 21st century, this is a mistake because the husband and wife should share the advantages of extra schooling or career enrichment.

Countless divorced women have paid a huge price for educating a spouse. Frequently, a woman is left to endure the hardships and abuse because financially she cannot support her children with meager child support payments. So, year after year, she is forced to suffer physical, psychological, and verbal abuse. In addition, she frequently must hear how "worthless" she is as she is told this over and over by her spouse.

Deep within herself, she knows that once upon a time she won a college scholarship. She remembers always seeing her name listed on the Dean’s Honor Roll List. She remembers all the offices she held in college, and she remembers even playing a movie star in the high school junior play!

Sally Sharp distinctly remembers that her father taught her to stand tall and use her brainpower to deal with life’s challenges.

The message that Sally Sharp wishes to convey is "Get Out of the Abusive Situation." Find a way to leave. Have a rainy day fund for that purpose. Tell a family member or friend. Don’t be afraid! Remember, you live in the United States of America. You are a person in your own right. Don’t lose sight of all your accomplishments prior to being married. Have faith in your own ability to solve problems.

The story begins with a brief summary of Sally Sharp’s life before she met Tom Sharp.

Sally works to help Tom through medical school and his Specialist Medical Degree (Radiologic Technology). While working Sally was leaving her young children to work to support the household. (This was frowned upon years ago, but Sally thought she was doing the right thing.)

With their children, Sally and Tom move to another city in order for Tom to set up his medical practice. Shortly after their arrival, Tom begins to co-author a book. He works earnestly for eighteen months on writing the material. Three weeks before the material is to be mailed to the publishing company, Tom tells Sally he needs X-rays, and she will have to be his guinea pig as he secures the necessary X-rays. It turns out to be 127 X-rays in a three week period.

The first night of taking the X-rays, Tom discovers Sally has a medical problem, but he doesn’t tell her. Instead of telling her, he is sitting outside the doctor’s office every time she goes to the doctor and anxiously awaits the news as to whether the doctor has discovered her problem. (The radiation swept her off her feet, as she was constantly going to doctors.)

Sally goes into detail on the traumatic experiences of being X-rayed over and over again. She describes the head and skull and facial bone positions and the hours spent on the X-ray table while her so-called loving husband stands behind a lead door!

After the taking of the X-rays, Tom starts to treat Sally very badly and later is out drinking every night, while Sally sits home with three children and a full-time job. In addition, she is very frightened by his presence. There is no crisis shelter for women.

At the time of the divorce, the judge hears the testimony of Sally’s plight under an X-ray machine. Her case is heard by a three-man jury. (The judge, her attorney and Tom Sharp’s attorney.) Her case is kept open because of the radiation she received.

Twenty months after her divorce, Sally discovers her medical problem as she suffers a fall at her home and has to be x-rayed at the hospital.