Dummy Dust – 2 May 2014

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2 May 2014

I looked out an office window and saw that the sun was shining. I found it hard to believe. Scattered showers were forecasted, but for now we have a warm, sunny noon hour. I walked to the park where I was greeted by Loretta.

I said, Hi, Loretta, tell me again how many months you’ve been sober.”

“It’s fourteen now.”

“Congratulations, again. I’m so proud of you. Are you starting school soon?”

“I’m still waiting for my transcripts. I’m getting so pissed off.”

“Where are your transcripts?” I asked.

“They’re sending them from home.”

“Where is home?”

“Coppermine.”

“That’s a beautiful place; big trees, hills, valleys. I love it there.”

“So do I, I miss it so much.”

I greeted Mariah, Jacques, Debbie, Wolf and Shaggy. Before I sat down, Mariah handed me a cushion. “Thanks, Mariah, how have you been? How is your back today?”

“My back isn’t too bad today. I don’t know how it ‘ll be tonight.  My Crohn’s disease is acting up. I’ve had cramps and pain for the past few days. I don’t know how long that will keep up.” Mariah’s cell phone rang.

Jacques said, “I found my lighter. Do you know where it was? In this secret pocket in my coveralls. I thought I had checked every pocket, but I didn’t even know I had this little one.”

Wolf said, “Jacques, you’re going to have to get Debbie to sew on some more pockets for you. I don’t think you have enough.”

I said, “I see you have a hammer loop on the side. You’re going to have to borrow Hippo’s hammer to fill that loop. He won’t be needing his.”

Jacques asked, “What’s this about Rhino’s hammer?”

Wolf said, “Don’t you remember? He was charged last fall with attacking a female cop with a hammer. He’s lucky they didn’t shoot him. That’s why he’s on probation, and he’s not allowed to carry a hammer.”

Jacques said, “These coveralls are great. I bought them from Rhino. New they’d be eighty dollars. A couple of years ago I bought a couple of pairs of these from Giant Tiger. That was the green ones. There’s nothing left of them now.They cost eight dollars apiece. If they ever have that sale again I’m going to buy four. With a couple pairs of joggers under these, I’m cozy warm in the winter.”

Wolf said, “Dennis, I want to show you the new book I got. I haven’t even opened the last one, but the same lady gave me this. It looks even better than the other one. Have a look.”

Wolf passed me the book. The title was Path of the Assassin by Brad Thor. It’s on the  New York Times Best Seller’s List. “This looks great Wolf, just the kind you like.”

Wolf said, “All my books are on hiatus right now because of the hockey. Once I get started these, I can’t stop. Have you been following hockey at all. My Montreal team is  going strong;  beat Boston four to three. My guy, P.K. Subban, the Canadiens’ star defenceman, and token black player, scored in double-overtime to give Montreal the win. I’m German, my dad fought for the Nazi’s in the Second World War. There might be someone more racist that me, but P.K. is my hero. The games have been so tense that I can’t watch them with anybody, but my girl here,” pointing to Shaggy. “I don’t even go to the bathroom; I don’t want to leave the room, so I piss in the kitchen sink.

“Down 2-0 after 40 minutes, Boston came on strong in the third to force overtime. Boston outshot Montreal 14-6 in the first overtime period for a 50-29 overall edge. The final count was 51-33. Price, in goal, deserved the victory after staving off the Bruins comeback the way he did. He was nearly standing on his head for some of those saves.

“Anyway, that’s our first win, and it was on Boston ice. Tomorrow they play again in Boston, so we’ll have to see how that goes.

“Payday was the day before yesterday. I didn’t come down here because of the rain, but I stocked my freezer, bought my beer for the weekend, some pot, some dummy dust. So, I’m all set. I’m broke now, but that’s the way it goes.”

I asked, “Is Shaggy still wearing her sock?”

“No, unfortunately, the problem isn’t with the pad on her foot. All her legs are going, one at a time. She even asked me to turn her around after supper so she could watch TV. I have to put her in her caboose even to go to my beer store. That’s only a couple of blocks from my place, but it’s too far for her. See what a lady gave me this morning; there called Mutluks; top of the line dog boots. See the price, fifty bucks. I just wish that was the problem.

“So, Debbie, how are you doing in your new place?”

Debbie said, “Not so good. I told too many people where I was living. Now I’m being visited by people I don’t want to see.”

Wolf put his arm around her shoulder and said, “I thought you were lonely!”

“Don’t do that, Wolf. I don’t like it.

“I am lonely.”

Wolf said, “I’m sorry, Debbie. Here I just wanted to comfort you, and I’m making it worse.”

“It’s okay, Wolf. Jacques, have I told you how much I love you.”

Jacques said, “No.”

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