2020-11-16 New Patient Intake - Gene and Jasper
Shelly Newcastle is behind the reception desk when a tall Indigenous young man walks into the clinic. She looks at him expectantly “Yes? May I help you?”
Jasper Rogers has just finished up with Mrs. Wong and has stepped out of the exam room while Tarek Nadir bustles around in the room doing a quick tidy up and sanitize for the next patient. He slowly walks with the older couple to the front “I agree with the OT, Ling-Wei, that’s a much better walker for you. And it has a built in seat?” He gives her an encouraging smile “Keep doing your exercises. Take care you two.” He has her file in his hand and walks behind Shelly to drop it into the right slot for completed appointments. There is someone approaching the desk he’s noticed but not focussed on them.
Gene walked into the clinic and looked around. Somehow he’d gotten the idea that is was larger, even though Dante had told him it was small. This was really small. Natalie Sokal had made the appointment and all he had to do was call on Saturday and pick from the two doctors on duty, so he did. Dr Jasper Rogers. Nothing against the lady but … he’d just prefer another man. The woman at the receptionist desk asks if she can help and he nods. “I have an appointment with Dr Rogers at four.” he pulls out his card and slides it over.
Shelly takes the card and clicks away at her computer for a moment “Eugene Sinclair …...ok …...and this is an intake……”
Jasper heard the patient was coming to see him and turned around with a smile “Hi there Eugene. I’m Doctor Rogers. Good to meet you. Shelly I can take him in right away….just let me peek to see if Tarek is all done prepping the room.” He walks the short distance back to it and then comes back “Yes we’re ready to go in. Follow me please.”
Shelly looks a little flustered “Doctor I haven’t finished…..he needs a waiver…..the paperwork.” She's been a bit curt with Jasper ever since she saw him kiss Levi goodbye one day. Not only was he unavailable...but a man? Shelly fumbles around on the desk for the waiver and a clipboard “Eugene...take this with you…” She offers a pen. Drop it off on your way out.” She huffs.
Gene blinks when the doctor comes right out to bring him back personally. He takes the pen from the sort of flustered receptionist and nods. “Um … sure .. Doctor…” he moves into the room and sets his bag down. Then he begins to fill out the form. He knows the appointment had been made for him, but he didn’t know what all Natalie had told this doctor, if anything, So he takes the position of the silent patient until asked..
Jasper had a file started on Gene already. Since the appointment had been made Natalie did tell him there might be a chart and records to requisition from the Prince George Youth Correctional centre so the clinic had done that. While Gene fills out his form, Jasper looks it over again. He’s sitting on his little rolling stool as he often does and reading with an unreadable expression “I have some of your information from Prince George. So we’ll talk about the healing of your jaw…” He nods “But this is a full physical so when you’re done writing just take off your shoes and hop up on the exam table here for me. I don’t make patients wear paper gowns. Those things are humiliating.” He chuckles. “But if you have any questions for me or concerns I should know about health wise just ask away as we go ok?” Jasper gets up to wash his hands and glove up properly.
Gene quickly fills the form out as best he can while slipping out of his shoes. Once he’s done with the sheet, he sits on the table and nods. “Yes, sir. I will.” he tells him. He knows that he’s thin … maybe even underweight but .. he was on a liquid diet for months followed by prison food .. and he had always been lean and muscular.
Jasper looks a bit taken aback by the formality of being called sir and smiles “With your permission...I’m going to start with the jaw? May I touch your face to look at the alignment and see if there’s any remaining tender spots?” He’s stood up now and is in front of Gene looking at his jaw but not touching until he has consent.
Gene takes his turn looking taken aback at being asked permission to touch. “Um … sure. Whatever you have to do … right?” he pauses. “I’m sorry I’m not used to … whatever all this is …” he admits.
Jasper notices Gene’s reaction and hears his words. He’s seen a lot of broken individuals, broken by life, the system...many things. “Ok….well I’ll ask you before I do anything to physically examine you...unless you’re unconscious and I can’t…” He smiles a bit sardonically and then runs two tingers along the jaw where it was broken giving little presses “Tell me if if any of this is uncomfortable...pain or pressure...beyond just my fingers pressing into your jaw.” He watches Gene as he goes for his facial expressions.
Gene barks a laugh. It’s not a disrespectful sound as much as it is incredulous. “I … guess .. sir.” he tilts his head back a little bit while his jaw is examiled. It seems alright to him. The problem is with his cheeks and tongue and, of course, his teeth, but this isn’t that kind of a doctor. BUt he assumes his doctor his his childhood records when he was a kid.
Jasper chuckles “You don’t need to call me sir. “ He’s still got a kind expression as he gently turns Eugene’s head to one side so it’s pivoting in a way that would stretch the jaw “Ok what about that? Full range of motion?” He’ll let go afterwards and grab a tongue depressor “And what about chewing food? Are you able to eat with comfort?” I’d like to take a look inside...I understand there’s extensive dental damage but my interest and ability to help you is actually with the skeletal side and just more general. Can you open wide and let me just take a peek please?”
Gene nods. “Yes, sir .. Doctor.” he corrects himself. “I can eat OK, I guess. My tongue and the inside get cut sometimes. I try not to chew a lot, if that makes any sense.” He looks around as if looking for someone and then gives the odd laugh again because no one else is there to make sure he says the right thing or answering for him. After a pause, he opens his mouth wide. He has 5 broken teeth and three badly chipped ones, plus a few clear cavities that can be seen with the naked eye.
Jasper smiles at the correction and then looks serious “You’ve trained yourself to eat in the way that’s the least hassle….that makes sense. But it’s not ideal for the long term and I’m sure it’s not the most comfortable.” Jasper is studying the teeth but doesn’t look judgemental, just curious as to what’s going on in the mouth. “Mmm k. I definitely think we need to figure out how to get you into the dentist. And then we’ll probably have to consult.” He backs up and tosses the tongue depressor which he had used but very minimally. “How long has it been since your last regular physical?” He flips back through the chart and isn’t finding anything recent enough to pinpoint.
Gene nods about how he’s trained himself to eat since his jaw and teeth were broken. This time when he laughs it is disbelieving. “I got a job this weekend, but it’ll be a while before I can pay a dentist anything.” he explains. Then he considers. “They took me every year because they had to with foster kids, so … I think it’s been about a year. Summer before last before school started.” he pauses, a little uncomfortably.
Jasper nods “Well there might be insurance…..programs you can apply for for assistance. Let’s not rule it out based on income. I know it’s expensive. But sometimes there are resources that we don’t even know about.” He nods about the last physical, noting the discomfort “Alright well then you know the drill. I will check your blood pressure, listen to your heart, height, weight, check your eyes, ears…..” He shrugs “We’ll take some blood for the standard checks. I’ll give you a little cup to take to the bathroom with you. Try not to miss.” He jokes. “So I’ll ask your permission about all of the upper body stuff now.” Jasper looks earnest “If there’s anything you don’t feel comfortable with, please tell me.” The prison experience and the word foster makes Jasper extra cautious but in general he always is with kids of all ages. He’s met guys like this….sometimes 10 or 15 years later and in worse shape. He puts the stethoscope ear pieces in ready to start by listening to the heart when he has consent.
Gene looks doubtful, but nods. “I guess if there is a way to pay besides cash, I’ll take it.” He listens to the procedure and nods. He does look a little uncomfortable and swallows hard. “Sure .. go ahead…” he gives his consent but his mind is on worrisome things so his heart may be working overtime.
Jasper lifts Gene’s shirt and listens at the front and then the back “Little fast...but still within normal.” He saw the look “Maybe we should have done this before we checked the jaw…..” He wonders at his own order of operations. He’s wondering if he triggered memories of what caused the jaw to be what it is. He tries to relax Gene by making more casual conversation “How are you liking the island so far?” He moves on to looking in his ears and then eyes “Look to the left...right…..good…” then he checks the reflexes before getting the blood pressure cuff ready to pump “Just going to give the arm a little squeeze here…”
Gene takes in a breath and tries to calm his fears. The casual conversation helps a little bit. “I like it here a lot.” he admits. “Never had a foster family like this one before.” he looks left and then right as he’s told. But thinking of his new foster family does calm him a little and he holds out his over thin arm.
Jasper is pleased to hear this kid has a good foster situation now as he pumps up the blood pressure cuff and then observes the indicator on the little monitor. He makes a note on the chart "110 over 70...your blood pressure is normal. And the Walsh family seem like really good people. I'm glad that's working out." He gestures to the scale "Let's check your weight and it says here you're 6'2? Then we'll do the blood and urine samples and you can come back in for a last few questions I have to ask you."
Gene nods slowly. “They are.” he agrees. Then he stands to get on the scale. “Yea … the last time they checked was in the prison. The usual comments, you know.” he pauses and looks at the doctor, who Shea had said was an OK guy and he also trusted Natalie. “Doctor …” he hesitated a moment. “What ... what kind of blood tests are you running?”
Jasper noted the weight “A bit underweight. But you were on liquids for awhile and then prison food so I suspect that will rebalance.” He chuckles “I used to be a prison doctor.” Then he rolls back on his stool to talk with Eugene as he moves back to the exam table “Well a standard blood test checks your glucose level, red and white blood cells, liver function, kidney function, metabolic panels, cholesterol.....” He tilts his head “Is there anything we should be aware of? Are you having any unusual symptoms? And maybe we should do the questions first. Do you regularly consume drugs or alcohol? Are you sexually active? And if so, have your practices been safe as in with the use of condoms? If you feel you’ve been exposed to anything, we can broaden the range of the testing.” He offers all this out with neutral and non judgmental professionalism. This was his role.
Gene isn’t surprised that he is underweight and he knew he could gain weight in a place like this. He tenses visibly when Dr Rogers mentions being a prison doctor, but then takes in a deep breath and lets it out. Shea trusted this guy and that was enough for Gene. “I’ve … well …” he blows out a breath. “There was sexual abuse in my foster homes… starting when I was 12. Right after my 15th birthday, my foster parents …” he bites his lip and immediately regrets it. His eyes drop to the floor. “They … well they whored me out to people. Mostly women but a couple of men as well.” he shrugs. “When I was arrested here, they said they tested me for HIV and stuff, but … well I’ve had some discrimination problems in my foster homes and with .. doctors.” he holds up his hand. “Shea told me you’re different and so far you are. I was just asking … I mean I don’t know if I should trust them.”
Jasper feels a pit in his stomach as Eugene talks about the sexual abuse, the exploitation and the discrimination. He looks pained as he listens. There are a few things that can shake his neutrality and this kid has three layers of them. He exhales and kindly says “I know sorry doesn’t even scratch the surface of that... but I am so sorry all of this happened to you. Am I the first doctor you’ve disclosed this to? And please know that what you tell me in this room is always confidential. But if you did tell a previous doctor about ongoing abuse or exploitation they had a duty to report...” He looks gravely serious. “We will expand the testing and I also want to check in about mental and emotional health.”
Gene watches the doctor, but there doesn’t seem to be any negative judgement. When Dr Rogers asks if he is the first doctor he’s told, Gene nods. “I never told anyone. Hell, I only told my lawyer because she insisted on knowing everything.” he admits and sighs. “Partly at first because I was like 12. I wasn’t sure it was even wrong, but also it made things easier. For me and the foster siblings. But when I moved in with the Laurents and they … expended things … I got clients and whatnot. But no, I never told anyone before my lawyer.” he blinks at the mention of his mental and emotional health. “Um … no … I mean therapy is like dentistry, right? Extra? I don’t have any money and I know the foster system isn’t gonna send an Indiginous kid to a therapist.” he scoffs.
Jasper understands his concerns “A certain amount of counseling can be covered by healthcare. Mental health is part of health. Like seeing me today. We have 2 therapists associated with the clinic here. I can refer you. They’re both good. Basically like choosing a doctor here...man or woman. Whatever is most comfortable. Eugene you’re facing some pretty significant trauma. We don’t want you to do that without support. But it sounds like the home environment is good? You feel like you can turn to Shea and that feels safe?” Jasper acknowledges the scope of what Eugene has had to face and likely alone. It’s heartbreaking but right now his duty of care is to make sure that somehow this shifts, if he can help. He’s also definitely going over the scheduled appointment time but he doesn’t care.
Gene shrugs. He doesn’t have a great deal of faith in the system. “I’ll look them up, sure.” He agrees. “”Yea. Shea’s place is incredible. I’ve never lived with other Indigenous people before. Only .. well..” he shrugs and looks a little way from this Caucasion doctor. “White families. French Canadian specifically. So I feel safer .. I guess. I’ve been with them all my life so I didn’t know .. half of it until I was like 9 or 10 and met another Indiginous person. Anyway, yea … it feels safe .. as safe as it gets for me.”
Jasper nods “I completely understand why being placed with an Indigenous family would be and feel safer and I’m glad it finally happened here at least. OK...so the next and close to last part is the least pleasant. I’ll take some blood and then I’m going to send you to the bathroom with …….two things you need to do. One is the cup for the urine test.” He hesitates “If you want us to check you for all the STIs….you need to do a swab. I can do them for people but based on everything you’ve just told me I think you might feel less triggered if you do it yourself. Now I have to ask you some awkward questions. In your recent sexual history, did you use condoms...or did other people? You mentioned women and men so asking both ways. And were you….sexually active in prison?” Jasper gathers the supplies to take blood as he talks.
Gene looks carefully at the testing supplies. “Yea … all the tests. Please.” he sighs softly and nods. “Yes, I used condoms and if a guy .. he used them on me. I was sort of safer as a commodity.” he states, matter of factly. Then he shakes his head. “No, I wasn’t sexually active in prison.” he offers his arm for the blood draw before he gets ready for peeing and swabbing.
Jasper ties on the rubber band on Gene’s arm “Safe is good, very good. I know a lot of it wasn’t your choice with what you went through. OK you’re going to feel a pinch.” He had poised the needle and now found the vein and did the blood drawing. “And all done….” He pressed a cotton ball into the arm “Hold please.” And there was a momentary clinking of phials and then he dealt with them and came back to Gene’s arm with a little piece of surgical tape and taped the cotton ball on before handing him the cup and swab with a container for it “Have you done this before? Clean hands is key….bathroom down the hall.”
Gene shrugged about not having any choices. He watched the needle take his blood and held the cotton ball until it was taped in place. Finally he took the cup and swab and shook his head. “No, but it seems simple enough?” he offers. If he can he’ll take the tests or take instructions to take the tests.
Jasper concurs “It’s simple. Only one place it can go. Pee in the cup first. The swab can make the next time you urinate a little tender. Then use the wipe, ash your hands, do the swab and put it in this..” He gestures at the container. Everything is labeled already. “There’s the little cupboard in there to leave the samples in. We ‘ll make follow up appointment to discuss results and also check in on the counselling referral. If you want to put your shoes on that could be your last stop. You don’t have to come back to the exam room. Just let Shelly at the front know you’ve left samples and we’ll take care of the rest. It’s good to meet you Eugene.”
Gene nods. “Good to meet you, too, Dr Rogers.” he does put on his shoes and then takes everything into the bathroom. There he washes his hands before and after each of his tests , putting them in the cabinet as he was told to. He heads out then with a pause at the receptionists desk. “I left .. samples…” and then walking out and standing on the sidewalk. It was Monday and he didn’t start his new job until Tuesday. He could still take some time to himself. He looks around. He’d been with Shea on Saturday when they went around taking care of everything. Now he could explore himself. He took the tape and cotton off of the injection site and tossed it into the public waste bin and walked towards the pharmacy. There was some kind of construction going on that involved the parking lot between the clinic and the pharmacy, but it wasn’t interesting enough to stand by and watch. Going on, he passed the dentists office and the lawyers office and the breakfast nook and the grocery store. He was interested in the pink and purple building before the post office. Without hesitation, he opened the door and walked inside and arched a brow to see it was an adult store.
Megan had just run to the back office for an invoice when of course she heard someone come in the shop door. Murphy’s law. She called out “I’ll be right with you!” As she hunted through a pile on the desk and then found what she needed. She waddled back out to the sales floor and saw a man...possibly a teenager? He looked old enough she decided “Hi there. Can I help you find anything?” She was in a tunic style black maternity shirt and a pair of stretchy patterned leggings that were purple and black a top little black flats. Her thick brown hair was wound up in a messy bun with tendrils falling out. From her otherwise slender frame there was no wondering if she was pregnant….and she was quite pregnant now.
Gene heard the woman’s voice as he sort of scanned the store. Many toys apparently aimed at women. But he was at the counter when the woman returned, obviously pregnant. You didn’t see that every day, at least not in an adult toy store. “Hi … I’m just looking for condoms. Never know, right?” he was a little amused with the pregnant lady already.
Megan gestures and walks a little ways towards the display shelves of condoms “We have some choices….” She looks down at her belly “And I swear to god they work.” She giggles “This was on purpose. I’m Megan by the way. And I like your optimism….you never know...so always be prepared.”
Gene goes with her to the shelves. “I believe you, but I bet you get that a lot, eh?” it was such an odd thing that it relaxed him a bit. “Hi Megan. I’m Gene. New in town .. and no it’s not a come on. But .. yea .. you never know and a guy can always hope.” he isn't shy … after all he’s been through that is the least of his problems.
Now Megan really laughs “Nice to meet you Gene. And I wouldn’t assume it’s a come on when my belly is this intense and entire world. Welcome to Alexandra. Where did you move from?”
Gene chuckles. “It DOES strongly suggest you're already taken.” he nods at the welcome. “Thank you. I’m originally from Ottawa. Moved out this way about 6 months ago. Ultimately wound up here.” he pauses and considers that this is a small town, so he won’t lie. “I’m staying with Shea Walsh and his family?”
Megan holds up her left hand but frowns “Got too puffy for my wedding ring again but the line’s still obvious. Ottawa…..Canada’s cleanest city the one time I went out there.” She nods a bit “Yeah I know Shea...and the girls a bit.” She laughs “Occupational hazard….and no i don’t know them from here specifically, especially not the littler one. But my husband is the mayor so our lives are ….a bit public. I’m not complaining. We have a great community here. So are you a relative or a foster? I know he did foster….not assuming….you don’t really look like the Walsh family facially. Mind you I don’t look like my father facially….or even look like a Semiahmoo person at all. My sister and I got more from the Spanish side from our mother.”
Gene snorts. “I guess … but the water sucks. Here .. best water on Earth.” he proclaims. Then he learns this woman is the mayors wife and he blinks, sputtering a bit of a laugh. “Seriously. The mayors wife runs a toy store?” he shakes his head. “I love it.” Then he considers facial features and who looks like who. “I really suck at that. I never would have guessed you were Semiahmoo. Basically I just am not that good with stuff like that. I would see you and think maybe Latina, maybe Indiginous .. but honestly I would probably not be able to tell you and your sister were related. My mind just doesn’t work like that.”
Megan smiles and nods “Yes she does…..well I’m part owner with my dear friend Kitty who also works at the clinic. I mean we fill a need...pardon the pun. Adum gets it and he’s very supportive.” She looks intrigued “Interesting how we all interpret visual information in the world…..like some people are colour blind. I have always been a watcher of people, their faces, their expressions…..eye shapes nose shapes….teeth..” She looks at him with interest “Not to put you on the spot. You speak with a very closed mouth but when you let your guard down and laugh….sorry I’m prying. I do that.”
Gene grins and then, when she mentions teeth, his hand goes to his mouth. “Well … to answer your earlier question … I’m a foster. I got released from Prince George last Friday.” he wipes at his now closed lips. “My teeth got pretty messed up in the fight that led to my arrest. He holds up his hands. “I’m not dangerous. It was .. personal.” he shrugs.
Megan looks curious bit not judgemental “OK. Prince George? Interesting we have another teenage guy from Alexandra there. You didn’t happen to know Dante Mendoza? I have no idea how big a facility we’re talking about. And that’s not the one that had rioting is it?” She grimaces a bit. “Regardless…..fresh start right? How it’s going?”
Gene gives a closed mouth grin. “Yea, I know Dante. We’re good friends. I don’t know if Prince George is so much big or this world is small but … Dante told me a lot about this place and, then a lawyer picked up my case … from here … and then I wound up assigned a foster family .. from here. It was the other prison that had the rioting.” he shrugs. “So far .. it’s OK … my teacher sort of let it slip I was from Prince George, but that probably happens to everyone from the town of Prince George. So … everyone in my class knows I was in the same place with Dante … but so far .. so good.”
Megan looks thrilled that Dante is what lead Gene to Alexandra “I know it was maybe not the best way to get here…..but you ended up in a good place…” Then she cringes about the reveal at school “Ugh….that’s…” And she breaks off mid sentence as the door opens and another customer walks in, a buxom bottle blonde with intense red lipstick on. She’s wearing a jacket but open to reveal a low cut red top above skin tight jeans.
Brooke Martin saunters into The Love Shop “Hello Meg….you look….maternal. Must be hard not to feel fat?” She jokes and then takes in the tall guy Megan is talking to with an unabashed eye rove up and down his body “Well hello….haven’t met you before. I’m Brooke….”
Megan just shook her head and pursed her lips “Hi Brooke. I actually just feel pregnant but thanks for the weird words.” She doesn’t introduce Gene, like she’s avoiding putting him in the spotlight of this inappropriate vixen.
Gene nods. “Yea, it’s…” but then the door opens and the conversation ends. A woman walks in and she is undeniably eye catching. But she’s a little rude to Megan. Not that Gene and the mayor's wife are close, but the fat comment felt like one of those swipes women took at each other. Then he hears the name Brooke and feels the urge to be a little reckless come over him. “Hello there, Brooke.” he replies to her and grins, very careful not to show his teeth to her. At least not yet. “I’m Gene. You look incredible today.” he raises his brows and, if she takes her eyes off of his face, he will drop a quick wink at Megan. Mischievous like.
Megan gives Gene a warning look but then sees his mischief. What was he playing at? She leans her arm on a display rack and settles in to watch where this might go.
Brooke walks right up to Gene now, encouraged by his friendliness “Gene….well aren’t you tall dark and handsome….and I would love to get into your jeans.” She teases. Subtly was not her thing.
Gene keeps the grin on his face, and nods. “A lady who knows exactly what she wants.” he looks her up and down again. “And you like the dark meat, eh Brooke?”
Megan blinks at Gene, hoping to god he’s still playing at something.
Brooke steps in and slides a hand up Gene’s chest, sticking hers out more “Oh baby I like all the meat but you look tasty. I came in here for a toy but I think I found something nicer and warmer to suck and ride.”
Megan can’t help but stifle a laugh now and mutters “Jesus…” She knows how old Brooke is but she’s unclear on Gene. He’s over 16 for sure…
Gene’s brows both go up when Brooke touches his chest. He was planning to string her along a bit, but then she speaks. Megan stifles a laugh, but Gene doesn’t bother. He lifts his hand to his mouth and laughs a rather sharp ‘Ha!” he takes her hand off of his chest. “No thanks. I … don’t think they have hazmat suit strength condoms here and I wouldn’t come near you without at least that.” he takes a step back. “You know, I didn’t need my friend Dante to tell me to stay away from anyone with the name BJ Brooke, but I’m glad he gave me such good advice.”
Brooke’s jaw drops, revealing her sizable mouth and she huffs “Pricks...both of you….and I bet it’s a small one to boot. Dante can suck it for you.” She turns on her heel and walks out the door calling back “I’ll order online for curbside delivery when Seamus is on shift.” She liked the look of the beefy redhead, always had.
Megan has to hang onto the shelving unit for laughing so hard she might lose her balance. “He’s not doing you either Brooke but we’ll happily take your money…” Then she smiles at Gene “That made my day…..I was worried about you for a minute there. And dammit now I have to pee again. I’ll be right back...sorry...baby on the bladder and laughing..” She starts to waddle off.
Gene doesn’t seem upset at Brooke’s insult. He watches her go and turns back to Megan in time to watch her waddle off laughing. “Sorry not sorry…” he calls after her and, by the time she comes back he’s looking at a line of lubricants near the condoms.
Megan settles herself into a little chair behind the till that’s high enough to still key things in “I can still hear you from here if you have any questions. Just need to sit for a bit.” She chuckles “So Dante gave you the low down on who’s low down?”
Gene grins. “Take your time, Megan.” he nods a bit. “Yea. He told me a couple stories. Enough to know that I’m not gonna be desperate enough for anything she has to offer, because she’ll give me something down low I’ll never get rid of … if I’m lucky.” he snorts again. “And if she’s any indication I think I’d better pick up a little lube with the condoms. Better to wait for someone a little less … toxic … any recommendations?”
Megan snorts “On the lube or a less toxic date? That blackberry flavoured one has the most testimonials both for flavour and performance. As for dates definitely someone a bit more subtle….like you know a circus performer or an auctioneer…..” She laughs “That woman. But if you meet her parents you’ll understand. And she and her sister have the mother’s nose…..and the father’s dim wit.”
Gene realizes the second the words are out of his mouth how it might sound. “The lube ..w ell … both I guess.” and he laughs as she gives him an answer to both. “Then the blackberry .. the medium container. And the dozen pack of these in large.” he taps on the display case. He doesn’t point to the extra large or the magnums. Just large. Then he arches his brows about Brooke’s parents. “Yea … and the mother’s sex drive, if Brooke is any indication…” he shakes his head.
Megan selects the things he’s pointing at and brings them up and starts ringing him in “They’re like watching a bad porno in slow motion with the actors who are well past their stride. Cruel but accurate…..ok that’ll be $35.60…..and I hope you meet that auctioneer.” She grins.
Gene pulls out his wallet and his temporary bank card. Handing them over. “Not MILF sounds like.” he hands the card over and chuckles. “I sort of hope more for the circus performer. If she talks as much and as fast as an auctioneer there's only one way to shut her up.” he winces and waits for his discrete bag.
Megan cracks up and deals with the card and then does put all the things into a discreet nondescript brown paper bag “Well now you have the resources. It’s been insanely fun doing business with you. You almost made the pregnant lady pee…..so far so good on the front. You have a good day Gene and I’m sure we’ll see each other around town.”
Gene grins a bit wider. “It’s been a blast buying from you too, Megan.” he tells her. “I’ll see you around and try not to make you pee in the street.” It amuses him that the mayor's wife might know his success or failures based on which he needs more of first; the lube or the condoms. He waves as he leaves and heads down past the post office. On the other side of the street he sees the coffee shop he’s heard so much about, but avoids it. There are kids inside and outside and, after his school day, he doesn’t really want to talk to anyone from school. He turns away from it and goes past the Olin, thinking of what Dante told him, as well as the Blue Door, the theatre and the gas station. Finally he goes past the Storehouse and comes out on the dock. He makes a mental note of the money he has left and looks at the burger shack, walking up and looking at the menu.
Yuki Tanaka was cutting and blanching fries to be ready for more orders when he noticed a tall young man with long hair looking at the menu. He walked up to the order window and looked out and up at him “Hello. What can I get for you?” He was cheerful as always.
Gene was making his final decision. The smells were incredible combined with the salt in the air. “Let me have the chili cheese burger, sweet potato fried and … and unsweetened ice tea, please.” he paused and looked at the man. “You’re Yuki … right?”
Yuki writes down the order and then smiles but a bit confusedly “That’s right…...but I don’t know your name?” He was a young man, from the looks of it a young Indigenous man possibly. So was he a friend of one of the grandchildren? Kaitlin’s of course.
Gene shrugs a little bit. It’s a little strange for him to introduce himself to people he knows about but has never actually met. “I’m Gene Sinclair. Um … a friend of Dante Mendoza? In um … Prince George?” so far everyone seemed to know which prison Dante was in, but he wondered if this was the one time he’d have to explain everything.
Yuki smiled brightly “Nice to meet you Gene Sinclair.” Then he nodded vigorously “Dante! Aww how’s he doing? When does he get out?” Because it was a small town where people knew one another’s business. Yuki started fixing up the drink first and passed it over while he started on the food.
Gene took the tea and a straw, then drank deeply. “He was doin pretty good last I saw him. If he keeps his grades up and his head down, he’ll get out early. Maybe even by the end of the year. He has a real good lawyer.” he sounds hopeful for Dante and is. His lawyer was good, if his own experience with Natalie was any indication. He casually watches the small man cooking. “He told me this was a great place to eat, so I figured I’d give it a try.”
Yuki nods, smiling as he tosses a burger patty on the grill and drops down a basket of sweet potato fries into the deep fryer “Well nice of him to advertise for me….even there. He’s a good kid. They never should have locked him up for what happened. So you ended up here….well small world. Where did you live…..before?” He realizes if this kid met Dante in juvenile prison there was a big before to his story.
Officer Chris Peterson was walking the beat down by the ferry terminal and the docks. There had been a break in in the area so beat patrol was a bit more frequent. He had been walking for a while now and he was feeling thirsty. He knew he couldn’t eat at the burger shack a sa vegan but he would often buy a drink so he lined up behind the tall guy with the long hair talking to Yuki and looked around, still on duty.
Gene watched Yuki work his magic. “Yea, it sounds like he got a bum deal.” he agrees. “And yea. It was pretty strange to find out the system pulled me a foster family from here. Really small world..” he pauses. “Before, I lived in and around Ottawa. All over in different homes all my life. But I did my crime and got arrested in Vancouver and got nothing to go back to in Ottawa so…” he hears the low sound of ‘cop radio’ behind him and turns, seeing two cops standing and waiting. Now he knew about Marcus, but Marcus was also Indiginous … half of him … and the other half was of African descent. This cop … about as white as they came. “Oh … um … sorry … officer.” he quickly gets out of the way, staying close to Yuki and trying to remember what Dante told him about cops in Alexandra.
Frank had immediately agreed to a break at the Burger Shack. They did it a lot. Yuki and Giovanni before him had taken to frying in vegetable oil and in a separate place from fried meat, so they could cater to the town vegans, which the town vegans appreciated. She herself was looking forward to something deep fried in that vegetable oil to make it through the shift. She sees the tall guy with the long hair and immediately knows he’s new. That, and a little nervous.
Chris smiles at the tall guy and as he turns notices he’s Indigenous and also pretty young like a teenager. “Oh hey no worries. You were here first. Us cops don’t expect preferential treatment. Especially not from this guy.” He smirks at Yuki “You’re uh pseudo related to too many of us.” He looks back at Frank, including her in his joke and then over to the teenager, who does look a little nervous “But he makes some kick ass sweet potato fries.” He nods as Gene’s food arrives at the window.
Yuki laughs at Chris and smiles at Frank “No special treatment.” He chides jovially “Here you go Gene. With the drink it’s a combo so that’s $10.50 please.” Then he looks over at Chris “ Hey congratulations. I hear you and Noelle got married. And Frank if I forgot to say it to you and Tams, belated congrats.” He qualifies to Gene “Everyone seems to be getting married this year. Just went to a wedding where the DJ proposed to his girlfriend before the cake cutting.”
Frank also smiles at the kid and laughs about the weddings and engagements. “Some years I guess it’s like that. But Chris and I married our spouses nice and relatively quietly at the Municipal building.” She looks at the new kid. “Are you new to town or just visiting … on a school day.” she says aloud as she realizes it’s a Monday. With a shrug, she introduces herself. “I’m Frank Sharp.”
Gene smiles a little nervously at the banter. “I don’t think I’ll get engaged for desert.” he murmurs. Then he looks at Frank and realizes that she’s the bad ass Dante told her about. He doesn’t mention it immediately, but just nods. “Good to meet you, Lieutenant.”
Chris snorts at the engaged for desert comment and replies “Yeah maybe not at your age... not to assume. And I’m Chris Peterson.” He had heard Yuki call the guy Gene he thought. “Gene, is it?” He’s curious about the fact that Gene calls Frank Lieutenant. “You an expert in the subtle details of rank in police uniforms?” Every now and then someone knew... but usually other cops or military.
Yuki jumps in on the joke “Sadly we don’t have that on the menu. “ But then he smiles “Got the lowdown on our island.” He winks at Gene but doesn’t reveal his source yet.
Frank arches her brows. “And you … Gene.” she is curious how this kid knows her rank. Some kids were into police or military rank, although she’d never met an Indiginous kid who was. First time for everything?
Gene takes his food and realizes his error. “I .. um … just got released from Prince George.” he confesses. “I was pretty good friends with Dante Mendoza. He … well he told me a lot about this place.” he relaxes a bit, as so far, Dante hadn’t exaggerated anything.
Now Chris looks even more curious, not judging just curious “Ok well that explains it. We know Dante.” Sadly the cops knew him pretty well. But then Chris qualifies “Small town. So he inspired you to visit? Do you like in Vancouver now?”
Yuki finished the transaction for Gene with his food and then looks at the cops “Hey what can I get you anyway? Chris I have a vegan question for you later. I need gravy ideas... gonna try to give your family more options.”
Frank nods as Gene replies. Chris’s speculation does make sense. Alexandra was a beautiful place to visit. “How is he doing?” she asks. “I know if he keeps his nose clean, he could get out early.”
Gene looks at the officers. “Well … no.” he replies to Chris. “I was assigned a foster family here, because I’m 16. Real small world. I … would have lived wherever they put me. But they put me here with my first Indiginous placement.” he huffs. “I didn't even know they would let Indiginous be foster families.” he looks at Frank. “He’s top of his class and keeping his nose clean. He wants early release.” and Gene now understands that better than ever.
Chris looks happy for Gene “Well it sounds like it might be a good move then. If you don’t mind my asking, who’s your family?” He looks encouraging about Dante “Tell Dante we’re rooting for him. He’s part of our community.” Chris felt an empathy for Dante he couldn’t explain to someone he didn’t know well. Now he looks at Yuki “Sweet potato fries and iced tea please. You know I’m pretty newly vegan compared to Noelle but ask away.”
Yuki gives Gene a warm look. He already liked the kid “In Alexandra anyone can be anything. And I’m sure Dante will do it. Besides he has a buddy waiting for him.” He grins at Gene. He knew Dante had a girl and a good foster family too but he was bolstering Gene “What would you and Noelle use as a base for vegan...” He makes air quotes “Gravy. I found some fake cheese shreds.” He looks at Frank “Anything for you Frank?”
Chris chimes in quickly “Mushrooms, garlic, sautéed in olive oil and then flour and either water or veggie broth?”
Gene feels a little more relaxed. “I’ll let him know. I’m working on a letter.” he blinked a second, not knowing at first what Christ means by family. Then he realized he meant the foster family. “Oh, Shea Walsh. Over on 4th street.” he digs into his sandwich.
Frank nods. “He’s a good student when he applies himself.” she then smiles. “Yea. The Walsh house is a good place to wind up. He just renewed his license after … a few years of difficulties.” she doesn’t mention the fog by name of course. “He’s helped a few of the Indigenous kids.”
Gene chews and swallows. “Ya, he mentioned that he got into fostering during the fog.” he tells them. “Dante told me about that.” he grins a little. “And when it was over Shea said the Indigenous kids went back to their Indigenous families. Just .. wow.” that amazed him. He takes another big bite. He chews and gives Yuki a thumbs up since he can't rave about the food with his mouth full of it.
Chris chuckles “Yeah I know Shea. My parents….well the house I grew up in is two doors down. And uh...Noelle and I are moving back into it with our kids….renting it from them so you’re about to get us as neighbours. We’re fostering Olivia until we can adopt her and I can...adopt Blaze too…..it’s a process. And a bit of a weird complicated story about the kids….but they are ours and siblings. I mean if at all possible keep families together….like with the kids who went back to theirs from Shea. And I think especially for Indigenous kids…...to keep the cultural connections, language…..undo some of the settler racist crap that goes on.”
Yuki half listens and jots down Chris’s gravy suggestion before dropping more fries down for him and waiting on Franks’ order when she’s ready.
Frank looks at Gene’s amazement with a slight bit of sadness in her eyes. She looks at Yuki. “Sweet potato fries for me.” she orders. “And some sweet tea.”
Gene swallows and listens to Chris. OK, so there's a cop a couple doors down. He isn’t sure what to think of that. But then Chris starts talking about keeping the connections of Indigenous kids together and he can’t help but to look a little shocked. “You mean that?” it’s half statement and half question. “Man … it’s definitely different out on this side of the country.” he scoffs softly and eats more, betraying his thin teen aged appetite.
Chris looks earnestly at Gene “I mean that.” He sighs after “I get it if you’ve met some shitty cops…..we try not to be..” He chuckles a bit sardonically “But there’s always room for learning. And I don’t know if you can say everywhere is like Alexandra. And we can’t even say everyone here is...you know woke or whatever. But people try, most of them.” He looks at Frank with a look that suggests he feels bad this needs to be explained.
Yuki is cooking both orders now and chimes in “We got a few racists…..homophobes….and then we get tourist season which adds a layer of unknown. Mostly good though, mostly good.” He comments.
Frank nods in agreement with Chris. “Most try. And you’ll have to forgive Officer Peterson here. He’s on that fine line between being a kid himself and being a parent.” she stage whispers at Chris. “I don’t think we’re supposed to use words like woke because we’re dinosaurs.”
Gene blows out a breath. “Well, I don’t have a lot of experience with BC to be honest. I came in, committed my crime and got put in prison. The only thing I’m sure about is that the water is great straight from the tap.” he nods, being a true and faithful convert to BC water. Then he goes back to his food, as if he might be starving.
Chris pretends to look wounded “I’m not Jurassic yet…..they’re not even in grade school Frank. Aren’t they supposed to be teenagers before I can embarrass them by using politically trendy vocabulary?” He snorts. “Noelle’s younger...I think I get my street cred for longer right?” He smirks using another possibly forbidden to dinosaurs expression “So is it the parent thing? Can Pat say woke? Can you and Tams? I feel a little scrutinized here….”
Yuki looks happy that Gene is wolfing his food. “Someone’s hungry…..that’s good. I love to feed people. And the water...well don’t have the same water as Vancouver or Prince George….which might be the same source but i think we’re all part of the same water cycle so it all tastes really fresh out here. Maybe it gets stagnant when it’s too closed in by land?” He shrugs and then comes to the till with Frank and Chris’s food and drinks. “You both owe me $6.75.”
Frank looks completely bemused by Chris. “True, it’s usually the teens who don’t want adults homing in on their special talk. And Noelle might argue that. Pat … now he’s your twin brother BUT he isn’t bogged down with a wife and two kids yet.” she laughs. “I know all the words because I also teach at the school. And Tams … she’s just old, you know.” she looks at Yuki and pulls out her card. “We also have our own cistern and small desalination, so ours might be even better as far as water quality goes.” she hands Yuki the card. “I’ll pay for the young hip and happening father.” she snorts. “He’ll need all the savings he can get.”
Gene watches the banter and nods at Yuki, finally swallowing and taking a breath. “It’s really good. Thanks.” he looks at Frank. “I’m really interested in the history of the island. I met Mr .. um .. Detective Lawry yesterday and am going to take his class.” he grins but doesn’t say anything aloud on what language those older than he is can use.
Chris puts a hand on his heart “Bogged down? Only when they cling to your legs as you walk...the kids I mean…” He snorts. “I won’t tell your old lady you said she’s old. Only because you called me both hip and happening. And you’re buying my food….thanks..” He laughs and looks at Gene “It is good water. Oh I wish I could take Marcus’s class. And I grew up here.”
Yuki does the transaction for the cops food with Frank “Thank you kindly young and old.” He looks amused by the conversation.
Frank laughs at Chris and also nods. “Yea … maybe we can get him to teach us locals. I know he mostly takes non natives, but … if I look up at him with my most short people are kids expression …”
Gene lifts a napkin to his lips in time to laugh. Frank was pretty short. But Dante said she was tough and not to let her size fool you. “I’m looking forward to it.” he announces, inhaling the last of the burger and starting on the fries.
Chris laughs at Frank’s suggestion of how to sneak into Marcus’s class. “I’ll wear my old school sweatshirt. Maybe he’ll forget we’re coworkers.” Then he nods at Gene “I’m sure it’ll be great.” He takes his fries and drink “Thanks Frank...and Yuki.”
Yuki puts his hand on himself “I’m child size if you ignore the grey hair...Kaitlin too. But I don’t want to go back to school. I was terrible at it.” He chuckles “You’re welcome.”
Frank looks up at Chris. “You’re too tall.” she tells him straight up. “I will gather we short adults for a run on the school.” she raises her hand, dramatically. “But they’ll probably literally go over our heads.” she shakes hers. “Yuki you’d make a fantastic cooking teacher … but I also know you’ll turn it down.” she grins at the little shack, fondly. Then she looks at Gene. “Will I be seeing you in any of my classes?” s he wonders. “I’m one of the music teachers. Music appreciation.”
Gene grins as he eats his fries. He really likes these people and it makes up for a tense beginning at the Academy. Frank asks if he’ll be in any of her classes and he shakes his head. “No ma’am. I’m not very musically inclined.”
Chris gestures with his drink “Hey he’s taller than me. I wasn’t that tall until after grade 12….still a few inches shy I’d say. And that’s the beauty of music appreciation. You don’t need to sing or play anything you just get to appreciate those who do. Isn’t that the deal Frank? I mean maybe identify styles or eras? Could be fun.”
Yuki shakes his head “Oh I’m not a teacher. Plus don’t you have Judith? Are her classes so full they ended more?” He smiles. “I appreciate music too.”
Frank chuckles. “Music appreciation is teaching people what to listen for and how to understand what they are hearing in different types of music.” she explains. “And it can be very subjective. In theory you can’t flunk it. But I understand if you don’t want to.” she looks at Yuki. “I was only joking. We have so many incredible chefs on the island. More than our fair share, but that’s life, right?”
Gene grins. “I’m not sure where I’ll top off at, but I dont think I’m done growing yet.” he replies to Chris. “And I think I’ll stick to my comfort zone for a while yet. Computer sciences and history.” she shrugs and finishes his fries and begins to concentrate on his tea.
Chris nods at Frank about music appreciation and then smiles at Yuki “Maybe you could let a budding chef apprentice with you. Learn the vegan poutine.” He looks at Gene with encouragement “Computer science and history are good….especially the first one. You’ll always find work if you understand computers.”
Yuki thinks about it “Yeah maybe.” Then he looks at Gene “Damn you’re gonna be like Father O’Keeffe or Uilick if you keep growing.”
Frank grins and looks at Chris. “Compete with the wife for Alexandra’s top vegan chef … well her and Rain.” she teases. Frank isn’t put off by anyone not wanting to take her class and she looks at Yuki. “Just what we need … more giants.” she scoffs, but it is in jest.
Gene nods. “Money in computers. It’s my one money making talent, so I’m glad to have it.” he grins. “Hey, I know Father O’Keeffe. He brought me some books in prison. Fishing magazines and whatnot. “ he thinks about it. “I could probably also be a fisherman.”
Chris chuckles “Well yes Noelle is amazing and really can’t be competed with. Sorry everyone. Don’t tell Rain i said that. We love her...I’m just biased.” He smirks at Frank “You could sit on Tam’s shoulders and then you two could get one of those long trench coats and you could feel tall for a day.” He glances at Gene about Father O’Keeffe and fishing.
Yuki tunes in about the fishing and calls over to Gene “Lotta competition out there in the water. You gotta pick your times. Even on the docks. Night is better. People get spooked, especially in October but we’re done with that.”
Frank snorts and points at Chris mock threateningly. “Keep it up … you’ll be on a desk until your son is taller than you are.” she shakes her head. “Let’s take our food to go. Go through the bottoms and up past the community center.” she suggests.
Gene grins a bit at the police banter and then at Yuki. “Nighttime. I can do that.” he nods his thanks. “I’ll probably look to the computers for money. Fishing relaxes me and I don’t want so much pressure that doesn’t happen anymore, if that makes sense. It’s like my haven or whatever.” he finishes his food. “Now … back home in time for dinner.”
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