The Suitemate and The Sugar Fix
Moral Dilemma #6: A Wrinkle
Introduction:
Now we’d like to complicate Megan’s dilemma just a bit more by telling you what happened next…
Need to get up to speed with the first part of the dilemma? Read it here and vote/comment before moving on to The Wrinkle.
Read our Expert’s Analysis of the dilemma and your responses.
THE WRINKLE
Megan didn’t know what to say. She’d heard rumors when she was in high school about various classmates who were bulimic or anorexic but she had no experience with this sort of illness before. Elle looked desperate.
“I’ve never told anyone about this” she told Megan. “Please, don’t say anything.” Tears streamed down her cheeks and her face was twisted in obvious agony and shame.
“Look” Megan finally spoke up. “I’ll make you a deal. I won’t say anything as long as you promise me you’ll get help.”
Elle laid back in the bed and blew her runny nose several times.
After a few moments silence she said “OK.”
Taking Care Of It
Over the next few weeks Megan would check up on Elle by asking her if she’d gone for help. Elle said she was too embarrassed to visit the campus counseling center so she decided instead to go to an outside clinic that she’d read about on the net. Megan asked for the name but Elle became frustrated. “I said I’m taking care of it” she said. “I don’t need you looking over on my shoulder.”
Later on that weekend Megan returned to their suite early after watching the first half of a football game on campus. Elle said she couldn’t go because she had another appointment at the clinic but when Megan got back Elle’s door was closed and her TV was on. She noticed that the trash can they all shared was overflowing for the second time in the past three days. When Megan tried to pick it up the bag inside ripped open exposing countless candy wrappers stuffed together at the bottom exactly like the ones Elle had bought before when she was bingeing and purging.
It was just a few days before the Thanksgiving break and Megan decided that—since Elle clearly wasn’t holding up her end of their bargain—she was justified in discreetly saying something to Elle’s parents over the upcoming holiday.
Immaculate
When they arrived at Elle’s parents’ place on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Megan couldn’t believe her eyes. Their house was enormous and inside it was immaculate. She’d never seen a home this big or this clean before. Everything was so perfect that she was afraid to sit down.
As soon as they put their bags down, Elle’s mother Eliza bounded into the room and hugged her daughter. Megan couldn’t believe this was Elle’s mother. She looked half her age and had an amazing figure (Elle’s mother was at least three sizes smaller than her and even a size or two smaller than Elle herself).
Up close Megan noticed that Eliza’s skin was nearly perfect with no wrinkles at all. She couldn’t believe Eliza was in her mid 50s.
Fine
What’s The Right Thing To Do?
- Apologize to Elle and her mother for saying anything?
- Drop it and start trying to make new friends?
- Move out of their suite, forget Elle’s problems and start over with some new people?
- Stay in the suite and try to patch things up with Elle?
- Alert the Residence Director of Elle’s health issue?
None of these sound right to you? Want to qualify one of the above answers? What do you think Megan should do now?
The next day, after breakfast, while everyone else in the family went for a walk, Megan stayed behind and helped Eliza with the dishes. After a few minutes of small talk about school, Megan told Elle’s mom about what had been happening during the semester with Elle. Eliza just stood there by the sink and stared coldly while Megan tried to explain that her daughter needed help.
“That’s just ridiculous Megan” she responded. “Elle looks wonderful and she seems to be doing well in school.”
No matter what she said Eliza would have none of it. Her daughter was fine and she even went as far as commenting that perhaps Megan was a bit “jealous” of Elle’s attractive figure. Megan was stunned and didn’t know what to say.
Later that night, Elle began acting very differently toward Megan. She was very abrupt with her and Megan could tell that Elle’s mother had said something to her about their talk.
Before she went to bed Elle stopped Megan outside the guest bathroom. “I can’t believe you told my mother” Elle said.
“Elle, I only said something because it was obvious you weren’t getting help and I was worried” she replied.
“Spare me” Elle shot back. “Fortunately she thinks you’re just being dramatic. When we get back to school you might want to start looking for some new suitemates.”
Time for you to decide again. What’s the right thing for Megan to do now?
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