.
.
Walking to the park at noon, I was greeted first by Shaggy. She knows me too well to bark. Wolf handed me two dog biscuits to give to her. She ate them contentedly then put her head under her caboose.Joy and Big Jake were also there, but left a short time after.
“Dennis, I wanted to tell you what I bought with the Tim Horton’s card you gave me. I got my two Boston Creams, two Canadian Maple and two of the ones with the raspberry, strawberry goop in the center and the white fluffy stuff on top. Of course, I shared with Shaggy.”
Joy asked, “Did you give her chocolate? I heard that dogs weren’t supposed to eat chocolate.”
Wolf responded, “When I said I shared with her, I didn’t mean that I gave her six chocolate donuts. But a little piece here and there won’t hurt her. She deserves a treat. I don’t know how much longer she’ll be with me. I want her to be happy in the time she has left.
Joy said, I ordered a chocolate glazed donut this morning and a bottle of water, because I forgot to bring water with me. The woman at the counter asked, ‘Are you sure you want water with your donut? Wouldn’t you rather have tea or coffee?’ I said to her, ‘I’m not going to drink the water when I eat the donut. It’s for after.’ She seemed to think that was okay.”
“Anyway, back to the donuts. After I used the card I had thirty-two cents change. I wondered what I was going to spend thirty-two cents on. I wasn’t planning to roll a line of crack. Then it came to me, I’ve got lots of coffee at home, but no milk. So I asked her if she’d give me a dozen of those creamers. I’ve eaten donuts with black coffee, but it’s not the same. So, I walked out of there with a box of six donuts and twelve creamers. I just wanted you to know how I used your card and how much I appreciated it.
“I guess I told you I’m reading The Inquisitor. It’s that big hardcover book that one of my ladies gave me. I think I showed it to you. Anyway, I’ve been reading it. It’s sort of my kind of book, except this guy tortures people. I don’t mind if people get shot, but this torturing the truth out of people makes me a bit squeamish.
“It reminds me of prison. I wasn’t in very often, or for a long time, but I didn’t like to see people getting beat up. I remember there was this big sign that said, ‘Don’t take things that don’t belong to you’. I thought that was a bit stupid. If I went to Joy’s place or your place I wouldn’t take anything.
“When you’re in a cell with a bunch of guys they may bring out a joint. It would cost you five bucks to join the circle. They’d light a match by sticking it in an electrical socket. You would never say, ‘I don’t want any because it’s illegal’, or ‘because it’s against the rules’. Every guy in penitentiary is there because he did something against the rules. That’s a sure way to get your head bashed in. Now, if you said, ‘I can’t afford it.’ They’d understand that.
“When I was inside I learned to look straight ahead, keep to myself and read my book.
“Do you know what Doreen said to me this morning?”
“I’m not sure if I know Doreen.”
“Yes you know her, a native girl. She’s been here lots of times.”
“I think I know who you mean. She goes out with Nicholas, doesn’t she?”
“I don’t know. I can’t keep all these people straight. Anyway, that’s not important. She said that I should have Shaggy put down. Can you believe that. I know her legs don’t work so good any more, but the rest of her works fine. It’s like, if someone said that Big Jake should be put down because he’s in a wheelchair.”
“Well,” I said, “You might find a lot of people would agree with that.”
“Okay, poor choice of names, but you know what I’m getting at.”
.
Streetsister 