19 June 2012
This morning was overcast and becoming muggy. It had rained overnight and we’re expecting a heat wave over the next few days.
Joy said, “I was late getting down here because of the rain, but once it stopped, I hopped the bus. I was here about seven thirty. It was too hot for me to come out yesterday.
“We had a barbecue on the weekend with Toothless Chuck’s parents. Chile had smashed some coke and was swinging on the pipes above Chuck’s mom’s head. Chuck was not impressed. He threw her out.
“She told us that Daimon and Lucy had jumped her for her drugs. Her eye is black and swollen now. I told her to keep away from people like that. Lucy is psychotic around women. The other day she saw my phone hanging out of my pocket and she asked to borrow it. I said, ‘I have no time left on it. it isn’t working.’ Then, of course, it rang. She grabbed the phone, we were struggling for it when Daimon came up behind me and smacked me in the head.
“Stealing from panhandlers is bad. Friends double teaming friends is just sick.
“I have to get away from people — into the woods somewhere.”
I said, “Shark and Irene have mentioned vacationing someplace near Georgian Bay. I think Anastasia also has a place on a lake somewhere.”
“I’d love to go somewhere with Irene or Anastasia, but Shark and I would be at each other’s throats after a few days.”
“Daimon and Lucy are bound to be at the park today, because this is the day that Shark gets his meds. I don’t think that Irene will come down again. She’s too scared.”
“Shark said that Anastasia is a bit crazy.”
“Irene and Anastasia like to drink together. Usually Anastasia has gone through a bottle of vodka before she even comes to the park. She’s so pretty, but she can get wierd.”
“So, is there any news about your birth certificate or your other cards?”
“No, I’m going to go to The Womens’ Center to see if I can find out what’s holding things up.”
…
At noon the sky was threatening rain, but it held off. Finally, the sun came out. There was palpable tension at the park. Three groups had formed. Daimon, Lucy, Jake, Hippo and Andre were sitting on the lawn in one group. Joy, Chili and I were sitting on the curb. Facing us, on the opposite curb, were Outcast, Chester, Silver and Rocky.
Chili’s right eye, cheek and chin were bruised and swollen.
Joy asked, “Does it hurt when you smile or laugh?”
“Yes, it does.”
Joy said, “One time I was on the floor when Big Jake hit me in the cheek with a billy club. I had a bruise in the shape of an “L”. The cops asked Jake if he had done it. He said, ‘One of your finest did that.’
“I’m going to phone Toothless to see if he’ll change his mind about letting you stay at our place.”
“Hi Chuck, I’m sitting with Chili. She’s sorry for what happened on the weekend. She knows she fucked up, but she has no other place to stay and I’m trying to keep her away from Daimon and Lucy. Chuck, don’t hang up okay? Chuck… He hung up.”
“He’s still pissed about that thing with his mother.”
“I know I fucked up.”
Andre came over and gave the women a hug. “Andre,” said Joy. “How can you sit with that pair of assholes after seeing what they did to Chili?”
“It’s just that I’ve known Daimon for over twenty years. I used to hang out with his older brother who is three times his size.”
“Has Daimon always been an asshole?”
“Yeah, he’s always been the same.”
“Will you come with us to the bank? Chili needs to deposit some money, and she’s afraid that Daimon and Lucy are going to jump her again.”
“Sure, I’ll ride shotgun.”
“Thanks, Andre, you’re someone I know I can trust.”
Daimon and Lucy eventually walked away together.
Joy said, “I really wish someone would boot fuck those assholes until they were just twitching. Then, maybe, we’d call 911 — sorry too late.
“I’m really the matriarch around here. Jacques and I are the last two left from the old group, now that Rip is dead.”
…
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