CHARLIE'S STORY

William Fung

"Sally, I know what you mean, but to leave him at the altar like this is completely ridiculous," I said to Sally about why she boarded this train instead of the train to Calgary. Sally just sat there with that know-it-all look, "This train that you're on also goes to Calgary, silly". I faked the best smile I could.

"So what about my little dilemma? The man of my dreams can't make me any Ginko juniors. I want a Ginko junior!!!", said Sally with an aggressive look in her eye. I was about to mention some alternatives to childbirth, but thought better of it, "Well, you've just got to be more flexible with Dr. Ginko, if you love him enough, you two will work it out." She agreed. "Charlie, do you know why he can't make babies?" I really didn't care, but felt like I should respond, being the gentleman that I am, so I said "He just can't?" "That's right, he just told me that he can't make babies."

Little did Sally know about the truth about Dr. Ginko. His marriage to Sally was only a vessel to cover up his homosexual orientation in a less than tolerant society. His story not only protected Sally's feelings for him, of which he's sympathetic for, but he also was able to protect his family and himself from unwanted embarrassment. By marrying Sally, he is able to protect his illustrious career as a doctor, however, there is also the question of children, and the fact that he has reservations about "making babies". Taking advantage of Sally's lack of knowledge (Sally doesn't know about the birds and the bees), he is able to hide his sexual orientation from Sally by telling her that he can't make babies, when in fact he can. He is also hoping that Sally will be the woman to set him straight, but that hasn't happened yet.

I didn't want to get into this with Sally, fearing that she doesn't really know about how to make babies. I let her continue. "The two of us met at the Calgary rodeo. While I was watching, I got really ill and had to go and see him in the exam room. Anyhow, remember when I told you he was checking me out, and he was holding a razor blade?" "I seemed to recall something about an exam room, Sally." She continued, "I don't know why he was holding a razor blade, but it slipped out of his hand and cut him." This was getting interesting, "So he cut himself?" "No, Charlie, may I continue?" "Yes you may, Sally." "He fouled up and thought that he made a fool of himself in front of me, so he did something that he thought would impress me: he tried to ride a bucking horse." I could just see where this was leading…"My precious Ginko fell off the horse, and the horse hurt him and he had to undergo some surgery…"

This was more than I needed to know about how they met. I had heard about enough at this time, so I told her that I needed to go to the little boys room. I then proceed through the train car and reached the privy. Occupied. Great, now what do I do, I actually have to go now. One minute goes by…five minutes go by…the lavatory tenant finally reveals himself. While he walks by, I give him a scowl to show him my displeasure with how my bladder was under extreme pressure. I proceed. One minute goes by…2 minutes.

I leave the lavatory and proceed back to my seat, where Sally was waiting to tell me more about Dr. Ginko. Before she had a chance to continue her story, I cut in, "I'm thinking about taking a little trip to Ottawa while I'm in Ontario…" "Oh, Ottawa, that's pretty far away from Oshawa, but I hear that Toronto is closer." "Well, Sally, I've got a friend, Cassie, in Ottawa that I haven't seen in a while." "Must be a really special friend of yours for you to travel such a distance." Oops, I should have known not to get into this. I should have known she would pry. "I guess so." I didn't want to hear about Dr. Ginko, but I had no choice, because I also didn't want her to pry about Cassie.

All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Miles. I was saved from Sally's story and her prying. I waved waved Miles over, "Hey there, old chap, how have you been?" Miles was my old poker buddy back on Water Street, the two of us were infamous for our streak of luck back in '95. "So, who's the lovely lady, Chuckie?" "That's my friend, Sally. Sally, Miles. Miles, Sally." "So where'd you find yourself a nice lady like this one Chuckie? Your streak of luck hasn't ended." Apparently, Miles didn't know that I hated that name, and he thought that Sally and I were (it turns my stomach to even ponder it) an "item". I quickly corrected him "She's a friend who's getting married in Calgary, I'm on my way to Oshawa to visit my grandpa."

"Ah, boy, I'm sorry for mistaking ya. So, would you like a game of poker, for ol' times sake?" I agreed, after asking Sally if she wanted to join in. She decided to join, and we began playing. After the first hand, Sally mentioned that she had to go to the little girl's room, so she left.

By the time Sally returned, we had ended our poker game. She asked me about Cassie again, bringing her up in front of Miles. I was in a pretty bad situation, and I was forced to tell Sally, and Miles, the truth about Cassie and me. I told them…

© Copyright 1998 Writer's Very Limited

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