1105

 "What are your plans once you are out of quarantine?"   

"I will have to look for work, since I do want to support myself.  Can I stay with you for a little while?"

"Erik, you may stay with me for a long while.  For as long as you want, provided you don't mind sharing space with the others, and I am sure they are going to welcome you."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously.  you and I are still family.  Remember?"

"Yes.  I remember.  Staying with you after Greta had gone to Sweden, I didn't want to go back, but Mom had already died and I was needed back in Sweden.  But I always wanted to return, to stay with you again."I

"As long as you are here with us you will be safe from them."

"They have a lot of power."

"So do we."

"Sven, he is not like us.  He is not human."

"Why do you say that?"

"Do you know how old he is?"

"From Kenny's diary, I would say that now he would be at least sixty."

"He does not look a year over thirty, and not just his face.  His body, his skin, his hair, his hands, his voice, his strength, his resilience."

"He is also fragile, mentally, I mean.  He was hospitalized here."

"And also in Sweden.  The guy is clearly a nut case."

"Just like your ex-brother-in-law."

"Sorry, man.  I didn't mean to sound crass."

"No offence taken.  Listen, I hear Carl calling me.  They want me to watch Star Trek with them."

"Phone me in the morning?"

"I will."

"Beam me up, Scotty!"

The Peacock 1104

 "Wait a minute", say I, for I have suddenly recaptured one certain incriminating detail and I must share it with my ex brother-in-law, "Didn't you tell me that Greta was married to a Turkish guy named Mehmet?  And they have a son?"

"That is also true."

"Well then, how can it be both, unless she is a bigamist."

"She is married legally to Mehmet, but he lives in a different apartment with their son."

"Then what exactly is Lindstrom doing in the picture?"

"I can't explain."

"What do you mean, you can't explain."."

"It's because I don't know.  They never tell me anything, and I was also forced by both, under pain of consequences, that I never disclose to anyone about Lindstrom's presence in my sister's life.  Especially you."

"Have they threatened you?"

"Yes."

"In what way?"

"They were going to have me abducted and sent to an uncharted island somewhere.  And they weren't joking.  Those two have connections.  Big connections, and I am quite terrified of them."

"Why did they want to drive you to the airport?"

"I had been eavesdropping the last couple of days on some of their conversations, and they seemed to be in the process of making contacts to get me to some other place."

"That island?"

"I don't know.  But Greta was complaining to Swen that I was not cooperating, and that was when they started devising a plan.  They were talking in their bedroom, and I had hid myself in the bathroom next door with the express purpose of eavesdropping.  I was afraid of being found out, so I quietly snuck out of the apartment and went for a walk.  i suppose this all sounds kind of crazy to you."

"Not in the least, Erik...not in the least..."

The Peacock 1103

 I do prefer talking to Erik in the privacy of my father's bedroom.  I still don't feel the need to close the door, but I want some sense of apartness right now.  Erik occupies a part of my life and my past that I am not quite ready to share, perhaps never will share, but here he is looking at me through the screen, appearing pale and tired, and certainly less than delighted.  

"Greta and Swen both wanted to drive me to the airport.  I didn't want them to, so I went by Uber instead."

"What did they say?"

"Nothing.  But that is also what I told them.  Nothing."

"You left them hanging?"

"I suppose that could be said."

"Have they tried to contact you?"

"You must be joking.  They would never follow up with me.  Instead, they are going to plot something."

"Plot something?"

"That's the way those two operate.  They are not going to that willingly let me escape from their control or influence.  They will think of something.  They always do."

"From what I've heard of Lindstrom he is both determined and resourceful."

"They both are.  But here, for a while, I have some breathing space.  And the quarantine might be just the blessing in disguise to really keep me away from them...

The Peacock 1102

 "Bad news?" wonders Carl.

"It's from Erik.  He says, "Slept all day because there's nothing else to do in this fucking hotel room.  Thanks for the books, I'm already reading one of them.  Got time to talk tonight?"

I text his number.  "Hi Christopher," he says.

"Hey.  Good morning."

"It's already morning in Sweden.  Bloody jet lag.  Where are you right now?"

"Sitting at a table outside Blenz on the campus with Francois and Carl."

"What are you having?"

"Lattes with Nanaimo bars.  All three of us."

"How original.  I'm envious.  I remember those Nanaimo bars.  They were so exquisite."

"Haven't you tried any of the chocolate I bought for you?"

"You bought me chocolate?"

"Didn't front desk send you up the bag I brought you?"

"Wait, just a sec...Yeah here it is, right next to me on the bed...Lindt!  And orange chocolate!  My faves!  how can I thank you!"

"You just did.  Can I call you back in half an hour when we get home?"

"I'm not going anywhere..."

1101

 "But that is exactly what you are doing right now.  By coming out here with us, Carl, and by purchasing that house today", say I.  "how are you feeling since leaving there Sunday with us?"

"Two hundred percent better."

"And you still don't think you can break away?"

"I've broken away."

"Just as I am doing from the holy mother church", says Francois. "Carl, don't feel guilty.  Enjoy this."

"But my sister..."

"She is an adult" say I.

"But not entirely."

"You mean to say her Asperger's", says Francois.

"I mean to say we've always been together."

"And you feel like you are abandoning her?"

"That would be impossible!" says Carl with poorly contained emotion.

"I think this is a conversation that you need to have with Melissa", say I, and now I am receiving a text.from Erik...

The Peacock 1100

 "Couldn't she just buy you out?  You are each part owners, aren't you?"

"It isn't that easy."

"She doesn't want to?" say I.

"Probably not.  But it is also a stipulation in my father's will.  That Melissa and I are to live there in perpetuity."

"And if you just get up and leave?" says Francois.

"We are still tied to the place.  He meant to keep on controlling us from the grave."

"But what if you were to just forget about it and put the place up for sale and get on with your lives."

"That is what I intend to do.  But I don't know if I can pull it off."

"But what is stopping you?" say I.

"My mother.  I am not going to know what to do, not until she is out of hospital.  If I can just give the whole place over to her, that would also set me free.  Or somewhat."

"You couldn't just walk away?" says Francois.

"That is exactly what I am afraid of doing..."

  

1099

 "Like", says Francois,"The house was never there."

"Exactly", says Carl, his voice suddenly charged with emotion.

"There is something unreal about that place", say I.

"Yes", concurs Francois, "Like it's built of fairy dust.  And nothing else."

"Like it's an illusion."

"I only wish", says Carl.  " I don't know if my mother can really take charge of the place.  "And until or if she's recovered from covid, I think all bets are off."

"Why don't you put it up for sale", say I.

"Melissa would never stand for it."

"Have you asked her?" says Francois.

Carl puts down his fork, letting it nestle against his half-eaten Nanaimo bar.

"I could never ask her something like that."

"Why?" says Francois.

"I'm afraid to."  And now Carl does look truly terrified of something...

The Peacock1098

 "I guess all bets are off.  But, what is the plan?"

"Your guess would be as good as mine", says Carl.

"Why did you buy that house?  Do you plan on living there?"

"I did it for the community, because a number of them are about to transition away from the mansion.  and, you could say that I am operating on a hunch."

""A hunch", says Francois.

"Or, an intuition, a discernment. I have been having this recurring dream about the mansion, and it isn't reassuring."

"Now it's your turn to disclose", say I.

"Okay", says Carl.  "This began the night before we left the mansion Sunday morning.  Simply, that I was driving back from Vancouver, and when I arrived there was nothing there.  Nothing.  just a wide open green space.  I have been having that dream every night."  

The Peacock 1097

"Any word from your bosses", says  Carl.

"I've been laid off"

"Since when?"

"since yesterday."

"And you haven't told us."

"I'm telling you now."

"So, thanks for telling already."

"Sorry.  I think I was needing time to digest the news before I could tell you guys."

"I understand", says Francois, and yes, he does understand, unlike Carl who must have every single detail clear and transparent as  virgin mountain spring water.

"What happened?" says Carl.

"I got an email from my supervisor, Laura, yesterday in the van while we were driving out to New West.  She explained that the pandemic has made operating the hospice unsafe, and they would be closed for at least a year if not longer."

"So, now what are you going to do?"

"Cerb benefits last until October, then I should still be good for employment insurance benefits.  Or I could sell the condo and pull in a few hundred grand of equity."

"And", says Carl, "You might also sell the house for a few extra million and we can all live in New West together..."

The Peacock 1096

 "Why do they call them Nanaimo bars?" says Carl.

"They're made in Nanaimo?" I reply.

Francois pulls out his phone.  "Nanaimo bar.  Origin..  Listen:

It was first deemed the Nanaimo bar by Vancouver Sun columnist Edith Adams in 1953 when she wrote that the dessert came from Nanaimo. This is important to note, Newman says, because other places such as Mississauga and England have tried to claim it as their own.

"It stands to reason", says Carl.  "England already has the queen, and Mississauga has Pearson International, the airport closest to experiencing hell without having to die first."

"I used to enjoy Nanaimo bars", say I, but I went off them for a while."

"Too sweet?" says Francois.

"No, because the beer was cheaper in Parksville."

"Parksville?" 

"A town just a few miles north of Nanaimo."

"Oh, yes, I get it now", says Francois, not quite smiling.  "Nanaimo BARS."

At least Carl is laughing...

The Peacock 1095

 "Point taken", say I.

"So, what happened?" says Francois.

"After we confirmed the house sale with Wee Willie Wang in New West, we stopped at the apartment for a coffee.  Then, on our way to the parkade we saw some street homeless people on the sidewalk and this guy coming out of the Mcdonald's with a couple of bags of food for them.  He knew me and said hi and explained that he is with a Christian street ministry."

"What's it like, seeing him again?" says Francois.

"A bit nerve wracking", say I.

We have arrived at the university village of small shops and Carl says suddenly, "I have a hankering for a Nanaimo bar.  How about you guys?"

We concur, and I hold sentry duty seated at one of the tables outside of Blenz while my friends go in to get our desserts and lattes...

The Peacock 1094

 It's overcast and there is no promise that we can see the sunset.  But it is pleasantly cool this evening.  The other houses in this neighbourhood are bigger, more elegant and more imposing, and Dad would sometimes remind us both that we must be grateful that we can live in this beautiful neighbourhood.  I think he was battling with his own incipient chateau envy.  Some houses have been replaced by tacky mcMansions, or monster homes and they are concrete behemoths housing for the most part wealthy Chinese immigrants.  I don't think they have done much to integrate into the neighbourhood, but to be fair, on these streets, all the householders have generally tended to keep to themselves.  Dad always tried to fight this, with little response.  We have always felt like strangers in a strange land.

"We met an old flame of Christopher's" says Carl to Francois.

"Where?"

"Downtown.  He is now a Christian minister and takes care of the local homeless.  He gave Chris his card.  Gonna call him, Chris?"

"What should I do, invite him for dinner?"

"For starts, sure", says Francois.  "How did you meet him?"

"At Wreck Beach, almost a quarter century ago."

"He means how did we meet him today, smartass!"

"He was feeding a group of homeless people with a bunch of food he bought them at Mcdonald's."

"If you could call that food", says Francois, "Or kindness."

1093

 "And you said he was inappropriate with you?" say I.

"That would be a very kind way of saying it."

"Is there a story there?" says Carl.

Francois puts his fork down and stares a challenge at Carl.  "Aren't we a bit early?  You're still writing about Amanda."

Carl pauses, faltering, swallows his food and says, "Sorry."

"Carl", says François, in a conciliatory kind of voice.  "Please give me a couple of weeks to sort it all out in my head first.  I can take some notes, and maybe by month's end we can begin our collaboration?"

"That sounds fair enough."

"You guys want to watch Star Trek after dinner?" say I.

"I thought it would be nice if we could first take a walk in the neighbourhood, us three, and maybe you could tell me more about your day", says Francois.

"Deal", replies Carl...

The Peacock 1092

 Dinner is a combination chili and stirfry concocted by Carl.  I just emerged from a delicious nap in the sanctuary of my father's bedroom, and apparently, Francois also retired to his quarters leaving Carl free rein in the kitchen.  His creation is delicious.  No one seems to have a lot to say as we quietly fill our mouths.

"What was that nickname you had for the Abbot?" says Carl.

"Polonius."

"That is rather curious." say I.

"Polonius Monk?" says Carl, smiling.

"That too", says Francois.

As I produce my phone to do a quick search, Carl says, "no phones at the table.  Or are you alone allowed to break your own rules"

"Sorry", say I, I just thought this would be interesting to the conversation.  Polonius, Wikipedia.

Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. He is chief counsellor of the play's ultimate villain, Claudius, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. Generally regarded as wrong in every judgment he makes over the course of the play,^[1] Polonius is described by William Hazlitt as a "sincere" father, but also "a busy-body, [who] is accordingly officious, garrulous, and impertinent".^[2] In Act II, Hamlet refers to Polonius as a "tedious old fool"^[3] and taunts him as a latter day "Jephtha".^[4]

Polonius connives with Claudius to spy on Hamlet. Hamlet unknowingly kills Polonius, provoking Ophelia's descent into madness, ultimately resulting in her (probable) suicide and the climax of the play: a duel between Laertes and Hamlet.

"Yep", says Francois.  That's him alright."

The Peacock 1091

 They wouldn't let me see her today, but her condition has been upgraded to stable, so there is light at the end of the tunnel."

"How about her friends."

"No word.  I'm going to try to see them all tomorrow if I can."

"And you bought that Victorian mansion?"

"From Wee Willie Wang."

"I'm sure that isn't his real name", says François, maintaining a very convincing poker face.

"well, you know what they say about Asian men", say I, and I suddenly regret dignifying this with commentary.

"What do they say about Asian men?" says Francois with Spock like innocence.

Says Carl, "Exactly the opposite to what they say about black men."

And now I see Francois become noticeably uncomfortable.  "Let's keep this appropriate for audiences of all ages", he says.

Then suddenly Carl says.  "Hey you know the story of Hiawatha and his woman Minnehaha."

"I don't know.  Should I?" says Francois.

The first time she saw Hiawatha naked, just after he took off his clothes he said to her, "By the way, what's your name again?  And she started to laugh, and pointing to him says, "Mini...ha-ha!"

"No dessert for you tonight, Carl", say I compulsively grinning at his little quip, and francois, silent and taciturn, returns to his laptop.

The Peacock 1090

 Francois stares at us blankly, then with an anguished face says, "Carl, please forgive me."

"For what."

"For being so wrapped up in myself and my own small issues that I didn't even give you a moment to say what kind of day you had, especially with your mother and her friends suddenly in hospital.  How are they?"

"I wouldn't worry about it, Francois", he says.  "What's happening to you is also pretty significant.  I mean you have just lost both your job and your church."

"It isn't that bad.  I am trying to be rational about everything."

"You are very good at that", say I.

"It's almost like living with Spock", says Carl, grinning.

"Spock?" says Francois.  "Who is that?"

"Oh, never mind!"

"He's the Vulcan character on Star Trek", say I.  "All reason and logic.  But doesn't feel emotions."

"I think I've heard of him."

"You've never watched Star Trek?" say I.

"Heard of it."

"Okay, says Carl, "After dinner we are all going to see an episode or two."

"How are they?" says Francois, "Your mother and her friends..."

The Peacock 1089

 "I don't suppose she imagined that a lot of said virtuous college kids' were already tanning their toned little butts down in the gay section", says Carl. "And likely doing other stuff as well while in the neighbourhood."

"Bernice, Dad, that whole class of ministers all had one thing in common.  Their tunnel vision.  Pro-life, or anti-choice, anti-queer, anyone with a same sex attraction was at best considered broken or damaged and at worst, a prime candidate for the Lake of Fire, and they were anti-women, and women were expected to shut up and submit to their husbands and simply be exemplary mothers and homemakers, children were to have the Ten Commandments beaten into them, every morning by mother, then again every night by father, and they were anti-labour, anti-environment.  And they hated any free self-expression.  They were a complete embarrassment."

"Your father was that bad?" says Frank.

"He was an Anglican.  He felt theologically compatible with those people, but never really spoke about their embarrassing right wing dogmas.  But he also found them, Bernice anyway, to be pretty extreme and rather embarrassing."

""I remember reading about her when she was on City Council and how she really had it in for gay people.  She must have been a dyke", says Carl.

"Point taken", says Francois.  "Anyway, what did you guys get up to today?"

"My mom and her friends are in hospital with severe covid and I bought that house in New West..."

The Peacock 1088

 "Well, Bernice was sort of a personal friend of my dad's, or let's say she took rather a maternal interest in his life for a while. As well as being a Pentecostal minister and missionary, she had been elected to Vancouver City Council, which she used as a platform for her group of righteous fundamentalists, called Citizens For Integrity.  I only met her a few times when I was a kid, since she was trying to be particularly supportive just after my mother's death, but she was nice and warm and and funny, almost like a great aunt, if not a grandmother.  And quite a voice.  She sounded like a veteran trucker but without the cuss words.  I really wonder now if she might have been a potential transman.  Or at least a diesel dike wearing a dress, since Bernice, as a good Christian  woman of her era, eschewed pants or trousers,. So, anyway, Bernice did not want the wild naked party bunnies of Wreck beach to corrupt the morals of the young innocent university students.  I guess she didn't know or guess just how well they could do that kind of job with each other.  Anyway, dad only mentioned it to me once, I was thirteen so he must have thought I was old enough for the facts of life.  I still have the newspaper clippings stored in his office somewhere if you guys want to have a look..."

"How did you react when he told you?" says Carl.

"What else could I do!  I laughed."

The Peacock 1087

 Your dad went to Wreck Beach only once", says Carl, "And it became a media event?  Did he take off his clothes?"

"My father was never what we could call studly, if I may be so bold as to assess my own dad's sex appeal without coming off as a total creep about it.  But he did go there once as part of a protest."

"He was protesting the nudists?"

"They all were."

"All?" says Francois.   "How many were there?"

I think there were between ten and twenty.  They were carrying placards."

"And none of them were naked'" says Carl.

"You have a one-track mind.  And anyway they were being led by a middle aged pentecostal preacher named Bernice Gerard, and I can't imagine her getting naked not even to take a shower, nor would I want to!"

"So, what happened?" says Francois.

The Peacock 1086

 "How goes the job search?" say I.

"Meh.  Can't say I've been trying that hard.  I took off for a hike in the forest.  That is a beautiful place.  I made it as far as the beach."

"Wreck?" says Carl, grinning.

"I wasn't feeling that adventurous.  Maybe next week.  We can all go."

"Yeah, sure", say I.

"And we can all take off our clothes", says Carl.

"Bring lots of sunscreen if you  do", says Francois.  "But it might be worthwhile exploring the area from start to finish."

"That's a lot of ground to cover." say I.

"And Francois will keep us out of mischief." says Carl.

"You bet I will."

"Did I tell you guys about my father's one and only visit to Wreck Beach", say I

"Now you can", says Carl.

"I was just a baby then, but later he told me all about.  And he showed me the newspaper clippings"

"He showed you what!" says Francois....

The Peacock 1085

 Francois leans back on the sofa, his eyes tightly shut and lets the phone fall from his hand onto the keyboard of his laptop.  "Please, you guys, just give me a minute."

Carl and I each remain frozen in our armchairs, unable to say anything at all.  Sheeba the cat comes in and advances straight towards Francois, and sits down on the floor in front of him, letting out a gentle meow.  he reaches down and strokes her on the head gently.

"That was the Abbott?" says Carl.

"That was the Abbot."

"Then it's all done."

"Now I can move forward."

"He used to call you the little black boy?" say I with a sense of revulsion.

"I consistently refused the old pig's advances while I was a seminary student.  That was his way of getting even. Microaggressions."  He looks momentarily at his laptop screen, then says, "Carl.  When you're done writing your article about Amanda, I'm going to be next.  Got it?"

"Agreed..."

The Peacock 1084

 "You will understand, Father Augustine, that I have already refused to meet with you people, but I thought that a little farewell chat just between the two of us would provide us with all the closure that we need."

"Do continue."

"It is about this matter of my chat two years ago, when I was just a freshly minted cleric, with a certain Rwandan gentleman at the abbey."

"He came to you for confession and absolution, it is understood..which you refused to him."

"I can explain."

"There is nothing to be explained, Father Francois.  The seal of the confessional."

"And I have already broken the seal."

"You what?  Listen, you cannot under any circumstances divulge to me anything that was said in the confessional  Do you understand.  You know the consequences."

"It is too late for that, Father Augustine  Right now I have you on speakerphone and my two friends here have already heard everything, and don't interrupt, I am not finished yet..." and here Francois voice begins to rise in an angry cadence, "That monster is a Hutu, and it turns out that he murdered my father, a Tutsi, during the genocide in 1994, and that he had the colossal gall to come for absolution, not for murdering my father or anyone else but for setting fire to the church they were all butchered and burned to death in and I told him to get out and that if he ever showed his face again that I would kill him myself, so there you have it father Viper, I have broken the seal of the confessional and I am automatically excommunicated from Holy Mother Church, and boy does it feel good.  Father viper, I have never felt so good in my life and now I can say to all of you and your pack of lying cowardly pedophiles, go fuck yourselves and may you all burn forever in the lake of fire!"

"Father Francois", he protests feebly...

"Goodbye!"

The Peacock 1083

 Francois is in his usual place, stretched out on the couch, his laptop on his lap and his hand just reaching for his phone when we come in.

"Oh, hello, you guys, your timing is as always, just impeccable", he says with a very forced, almost manic smile.

"What---" say I but am interrupted by a dismissal wave of his hand.  

"Sit down and listen, because I need witnesses."

He marks out some numbers on his phone, and by the loud ringing we can tell he is on speaker phone. "Hello, Father Polonius", he says, his voice tinged with sarcastic laughter.

"Excuse me, that is not my correct name", enunciates an indignant mature male voice, "And whom am I talking to""

"Francois."

"Francois?"

"Bernard..."

"Do we know each other?"

"Father Francois Bernard.  Remember me?  The little Black Boy..as you used to call me."

"Oh..yes...Father Francois.  And what can I do to help you", he says impatiently, and it is already nakedly clear that there is no way that this conversation is going to end well...

The Peacock1082

 "Is that the guy that followed you from Wreck Beach?" says Carl as we walk into the parkade.

"Yes", I reply, still rather stupid from the shock of this encounter.  I am still holding between the thumb and index and middle fingers of my right hand his business card.

"Are you going to be okay", he says as I open the passenger door and heave myself onto the seat.

"I would imagine so."

Carl starts the engine and backs out of the parking space.  "I can see that would be quite a jolt for you."

"And now he's in Christian ministry.  In the area.  He might know your cousin."

"Cynthia?  Yes, you could be right."  As we are taking Pender Street west to Burrard, he adds, "I trust you'll be calling him."

"I suppose it would be the least I could do."

"Chris.  Call him.  Soon."

"Tomorrow."

"Yes.  Tomorrow.  Call Chuck tomorrow."

The Peacock 1081

 "Christopher...Do you remember me?"

I cannot move, I am motionless, stupid and stunned.  Yes, there is no mistaking.  The same force of presence, and I am paralyzed.  Stronger than before.  There has been a change. And not just because he is older.  I force a weak smile, "hi Chuck.  How are you", and my response falls flat and insincere, like the politely minced words of an Anglican old crone politely greeting the rector at the annual parish garden party.

"How've you been!" he effuses, then Carl takes his cue and comes to my rescue.

"I'm Carl", and they shake hands.  "And you would be..."

"Chuck.  Grayston.  I work for interchurch ministries here in the DTES", and he gives me his card.

"I think we have a lot of catching up to do", say I.  "how long has it been, almost twenty-five years?"

"You are looking wondrously young, Christopher", he says.

"Thanks."

"Well, I have to be off, back to the office and then I will be running the needle exchange for a couple of hours."

"You have to tell us more of what you are doing", says Carl.

"Yes, please get in touch.  Christopher, it is so great to see you, and nice to meet you, Carl", he effuses some more before walking off towards Chinatown...

The Peacock 1080

 There are three homeless men and one woman crowded together on the sidewalk, seated just next to the entrance to a McDonald's.  One of the men, who appears to be the youngest, is swaying back and forth while seated, his eyes tightly shut, and I can scarcely imagine what drugs he is on.  Carl wanders off ahead as I stop to observe, not knowing what to do, but somehow knowing that I have to see this.  Then, a man, possibly in his fifties or early sixties, comes out of the Mcdonalds, carrying a large paper bag.  He gives it to the woman and I hear him say something, "Here is all the food you ordered.  I hope it's enough"  and I recognize the voice and the Australian accent as Chuck wanders off in the opposite direction.  He appears well, dressed in beige slacks and green T shirt.  I stand paralyzed, wishing I could call out to him and knowing I cannot.  But he appears to have noted my presence, and as I sense Carl returning to check in on me, Chuck rapidly approaches us, a wide smile illuminating his aging face...

1079

 Carl is drinking his coffee underneath Greta's purple tulip.  It is a beautiful painting, but I still want to get rid of it.  I still haven't figured out why.  We are not quite ready to return to the house.  I have telephoned Francois and he is completely wrapped up right now in his job search.

"How long do you think she'll be in hospital?"" sys Carl.

"It could be three or four weeks.  Maybe longer.  It's hard to say.  She hasn't been vaccinated and I imagine the same of her friends."

"I'm going to see if Melissa can come out to see her."

"She could stay here in the apartment if the house is too crowded for her.  But there is still plenty of room for her."

"I'd want her at the house with us.  But I don't know how easy it would be to tear her from the mansion.  She seems to have become habituated to living there over the years."

"Plus, she seems to feel committed to the wellbeing of the others."

"My sister has always been super responsible.  She is just amazing."

"Are we ready to head home?"

"I imagine we should be", says Carl, carrying both our dirty cups to the kitchen sink...

The Peacock 1078

 The drive home has been quiet, without a lot of conversation.  I have come across an interesting bird article about Arctic terns and their migratory patterns and the impact of global warming and climate change and Carl appears to enjoy the distraction as I am reading it to him.  We both have some things to digest, and already I feel again the joy returning to me that was released for me yesterday in my experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  I am suddenly hearing in my head the eternal words of the medieval woman mystic, Julian of Norwich, "All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well", so now I am doing a search on my phone.

Here's what she said. "He said, Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be distressed; but He said: Thou shalt not be overcome." And "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."

"Thank you so much, Christopher", says Carl from the steering wheel, and I can tell that he is struggling not to weep.

The Peacock 1077

 "You just did what!" hollers Melissa over speakerphone.  She called her brother just as we were getting up to leave.  Now we are waiting here at the table in Starbucks, held hostage to the wrath of my friend's indignant little sister.

"I said", says Carl calmly, "That I just bought us a vintage Victorian era mansion in New Westminster."

"Does Mom know about this?"

"Mother is in hospital."

"With covid?"

"Yes, with covid."

"How is she?"

"They won't let her have visitors today, but said she's just been upgraded to stable, but will be on a respirator for a while."

"Why didn't you phone me?"

"Sorry Mel.  We got super busy.  I am going to try to see her tomorrow."

"What about John and Frida?"

"They've also been hospitalized."

"why did you buy that house, without telling me?"

"I did it with my money.  Why should I tell you?"

"But what are you going to do with it?  Are you going to live there?"

"I don't know, but I do know that Lazarus, Jason, Michael, his mom and others, are all getting anxious to leave the mansion.  This will provide them with housing in a safe place away from the demonic insanity of that house, and they can still be together, and that includes you too, little sister..."

The Peacock 1076

 

"Do you think we were too hard on him?" says Carl.  We are intentionally tarrying so that we don't have to walk back with Wee Willy Wang.

"Nah.  People like him need to be handled rough."

"Agreed."

"Greed is right."

"What is it about all those greedy Chinese coming here?"

"They're not all like that."

"I guess it's easy to categorize.  I think it's more from mental laziness than racism."

"Perhaps both."

"You could be right."after gulping down the rest of his americano Carl says, "What if he refuses to sell us the house?"

"How are your credit  and references."

"About the best anyone could be offered.  And of course there can be no question about assets."

"Then if I were you I wouldn't worry my pretty little head.  That guy is interested in one thing and in one thing only, and you have lots of it."

"Too true", says Carl, sighing very deeply.  "Way...too...true..."

"

The Peacock 1075

 "It is very lucrative", says Will.  "Just doing this part time, while staying with my aunt, I should still be able to put myself through university."

"Do you ever give a thought to those who can no longer afford to buy or even rent a home here because the housing market has become so lucrative?" says Carl.

"They can live in other parts of Canada.  Vancouver and its municipalities really ought to be for those who have the money."

"You really actually believe that?" say I.

"It's helping me with my university education."

"And that's all that matters to you?"

"It's dog eat dog world.  You fight to survive."

"And of course it helps having wealthy relatives to help cover your little backside", quips Carl, handing him the now completed paperwork.  "And I should know a thing or two about that being myself a child of wealth."

Wee Willie Wang does not deign to dignify this with a reply.  "I will see that you are advised of the results of our credit checks and references", is all he says, as he gets up and leaves.  "A real pleasure doing business with you.  I shall be in touch in a few days", and off he slinks out through the door...