Check Day – 28 May 2014

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28 May 2014

“Good morning Chuck. Is it going to rain today?”

“I don’t know, it wasn’t forecast, but I can feel it in the air. I hope it holds off until I get home.

“I didn’t see Joy down there. I wonder where she is.”

I said, “It’s her check day. I don’t expect to see her for a week or so.”

“What day is it today?”

“The twenty-eighth.”

“There aren’t any checks due today. I wonder what she’s talking about.”

“I can’t keep track, Little Jake gets his check a day early. There are Trillium checks, that I don’t know anything about. Joy mentioned yesterday that today was her check day, or maybe it’s Big Jake’s check day.”

Chuck said, “Well, she should still be down here.”

Goldie started barking fiercely. Chuck pulled on her leash and lifted her into his lap. “It’s okay girl, working dog.” A black Standard Poodle leading a blind man passed close to Chuck’s wheelchair.”

“I didn’t see that dog coming. It’s not his fault but if any dog comes too close, Goldie goes nuts. If I didn’t have her on a leash she would attack. A surprise like that is bad for my heart.

“There was a guy walking his dog earlier, a big Malamute, beautiful animal. The owner deliberately crossed the street to push the dog in my face. He said, ‘I pay taxes, you got no right being here!’ I also had a problem on the bus. Goldie was sitting contentedly on my lap, just like now. This woman came up to me and said, ‘If your dog is allowed on the bus, mine should be as well.’ I said to her, ‘This issue  was brought before city council in 1999. It was rejected because pet dander could be life-threatening to allergic or asthmatic riders and drivers. There are also concerns about driver distraction if animals escaped their cages. Service dogs are exempt, because they save lives.

“I was at the liquor store the other day. I don’t drink, but my neighbor does. Each month when he gets his check he buys a forty ounce of Captain Morgan. It’s a treat for him. He has one glass before bed each night. I was bringing the bottle to the cash and when the guy behind the counter  saw Goldie, he yelled, “Someone take over my cash. I’m allergic to dogs!’ He left his till wide open and ran out of the store.

“I was waiting for the bus the other day when a Muslim driver, wearing a hijab, refused to stop for me. They believe  that dogs, and especially their saliva, are impure, so pious Muslims avoid them. This also happens in the case of Muslim taxi drivers, not allowing guide or service dogs in their cabs.

“That reminds me of the Bible story about the guy, what’s his name… God ordered him to kill his son… Abraham, Isaac  and the burning bush. That’s the story, anyway, before that time they allowed human sacrifices. Abraham, by sacrificing a ram, defied the Israelite practice of child sacrifice to the deity Molech.

A man with a beard, wearing scruffy clothes came by. He was pointing in the air and saying something about surveillance. Chuck agreed with him and said to me, I don’t know what he’s talking about, but it’s safer to agree with him.

“I saw Little Chester yesterday. There was a cop on either arm just holding him up. He was laughing and singing, without a care in the world. He’s crazy even when he’s sober. I always have to tell him to get lost when he hangs around me.”

I asked, “Do you have any more news about having your wheelchair fixed? Big Jake had his fixed right on the street. Check with Joy, maybe she knows the name of the guy or the agency that does that.”

“Yeah, I’ll ask her. When my last chair finally gave out, I phoned this place that would come to pick it up. They didn’t pay me for it, but the guy said they have volunteers who will refurbish them. They give them to people who can’t afford their own. Maybe they can help me.”

I said, “I have to rush now, Chuck, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

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