‘Yes we do. That would be great Mam. Ma?’
‘Yes?’
‘I’d like to bring Tenille to meet you then too. Could I?’ Sid was tentative, but she longed to present Ten to her family. They were such an important part of her life. She wanted everyone to like each other and to get along. Perhaps Thanksgiving would be the perfect opportunity. It was also the weekend of Ten’s birthday. The whole thing would be really cool.
‘Of course, Siddie. We’d like to meet your new friend. You’ve told me so much about her, it would be good to meet face to face.’
She knew her mother wouldn’t be a problem, but she wasn’t sure how Ten would take to Billy and Chelsey. She’d kept her pretty much in the dark as to her family background, but after that disastrous trip to Lindsay, she’d thought discretion truly was the better part of valor.
‘OK Mam, I’ll see what I can arrange.’
‘When do you leave and when do you actually start?’ Mavis wanted all the details.
‘I finish work Saturday. I’m going up Monday to get settled into the residence. Tuesday I have to register, get my books, equipment etc. They give you a big long list and Wednesday is the actual Orientation. The sophomores take you around …’
‘Enough with those big words already,’ her mother joked.
‘I’ll return to Toronto Thursday and don’t have to be back again until Sunday. Classes start Monday. There you are Mam; blow by blow.’
‘Thank you, daughter mine.’
‘I’ll come over and visit with you Friday, if that’s convenient. I’ll be able to get away then.’ She knew that with Ten working the late night shopping hours, she’d not be missed.
‘I’d love that Siddie. I’ll make your favorite stew with pumpkin.’ Mavis was already planning.
‘Hold it Mam.’
‘What?’
‘I’m vegetarian now.’
‘Oh no. How can I cook for you? I don’t know all that fancy stuff,’ her mother lamented, perplexed by this news.
‘It’s OK,’ Sid hastened to assure her, ‘Don’t panic. Just cook your usual meat and two veg. and I’ll double up on the veggies. Simple.’
‘I can’t just give you that. It’s not enough.’ Her mother was adamant.
‘Mam, listen if you’re going to be difficult over this, I won’t come at all,’ Sid threatened, getting impatient.
‘No, no. Vegetables it is,’ Mavis capitulated. A visit from Sid was all too rare.
‘That’s settled then. I’ll call you before I leave. What time do you get home these days?’
‘I just beat Chelsey’s bus at four thirty. The boss doesn’t like that I leave early, but what choice do I have? So I lose an hour’s pay every day, but that’s better than no job at all.’
‘Too right.’
Mavis was a machinist for ‘Fruit of the Loom’, a company with a more sensitive social conscience than many in the rag trade. She appreciated the concession they gave to the fact of her having a handicapped daughter. After talking to her mother, Sid decided to call Milka and Edina, they were unlikely to be out midweek. They both had a stint on the line and were delighted for her that everything was turning out so well. They too, wanted all the details. By the time she got off the phone it was pushing it to get to the Centre in time. “Oo..ps, twice in one day would definitely be too much,” she thought.
Sid need not have worried, at that time of night it was a smooth run. Everyone looked pleased to see her. She was getting to know the crew quite well. One of the clients always came along with her friend who didn’t like to leave their pet pooch at home. He would make a big fuss of Sid as soon as he saw her. Sundance was a lively Wheaten Terrier his glossy, full coat a golden champagne. Colleen tied a red and white check bandana round his neck, the point hanging down in front. Sid found him irresistible and gave him as much attention as he gave her. His bright eyes sparkled in her presence with his tail wagging in joyful abandon. ‘He never makes this much fuss over anyone else.’
‘I love animals. Perhaps he senses it?’
Colleen kept him well groomed making it a sensual delight to pet and play with him.
‘It must take you quite some time to keep him like this,’ she commented.
‘A labor of love.’ Colleen looked down fondly on Sundance. Noting this response, he turned to his mistress and began giving her great licks with his big pink tongue, the tail going all the while. “He really is a love,” thought Sid. “One day Ten and I will have a pet. Perhaps one for her and one for me.”
At last all the closing up chores were done and they could get away. ‘How was the evening, Babe?’ she asked once they’d gotten themselves settled. Ten was wearing a navy sweater of soft mohair, over her pale pink shirt and navy pants. She always wore pants or jeans these days being too self-conscious about her leg.
‘It was a good night. Busy. But I like that. How about you?’ Sid thought better of talking about her sorting and packing so launched straight into her telephoning. She got Ten caught up on Milka and Edina’s goings on, the main event in their lives being their trip up to Parry Sound to take in the music festival. The weather had been perfect, the scenery magical and the music … out of this world.
‘I guess they had a good time then,’ Ten laughed broadly.
‘Speaking of trips, Ten,’ Sid began: ‘How would you like to visit my Ma for Thanksgiving?’ Ten turned and looked at her. This was the first time she had mentioned any involvement with her family and she was delighted. ‘I know it’s only to Mississauga, not really a trip, but it would be an outing.’
‘Sid, I’d be thrilled to meet your mother and …’ now she had to wrack her brains for their names.
‘Chelsey and Billy,’ she supplied.
‘Yes. Will your mother be happy to meet me?’ she voiced her concern, that usual frown appearing.
‘Don’t.’ she said, smoothing Ten’s brow with a gentle hand. ‘No need to frown,’ she reassured her. She wanted to say: ‘My Mam isn’t Doris,’ but instead repeated her mother’s words that she’d love to see her face to face. As they got themselves ready for bed, she continued: ‘I’m popping over to Ma’s next Friday, for dinner, so I’ll drive you to work and then head on out.’
Ten settled herself down under the covers. ‘No need Honey, the St. Clair streetcar stop is right on the corner and it takes me into the station, next to the escalators. Anyway, you don’t realize how good I’m getting on my foot. I hardly need the cane any more.’
‘Now listen here, Smarty Pants,’ Sid admonished as she climbed in beside her: ‘Don’t run before you can walk. That tendon can flare up as quick as a chipmunk’s tail. You set yourself back, especially if I’m not around to help out, then you’ll really have a long face.’ The reminder of Sid’s imminent departure sobered their mood. She took Ten in her arms and kissed her softly.
‘Darling. I’m going to miss you so much,’ Ten confided. ‘I love you so desperately, it feels like my heart will break when I think of you leaving.’ She clung to her as if she would be taking off right then.
‘My Sweetness,’ Sid said, soothing her with gentle caresses: ‘It’s hard for me too, but you know it’s something I have to …’
Ten interrupted, placing her fingertips over her mouth. ‘I know Sid, I wouldn’t stop you for the world. This is important and you must do it. I don’t mean anything like that, it’s just … well, I will be longing for your return,’ she finished helplessly, her large, dark eyes reaching out to Sid imploringly. They were moist from the threatening tears.
Sid adjusted her body more snugly so she could feel Ten’s breasts pressing against hers. She loved it when they were this close. Great Goddess Sophia, she would miss this woman. Those eyes went straight to her heart.
‘Listen my Love. Yes I leave Monday, but I’m back down again Thursday and then we have the whole weekend. We should plan something special to do, how’s that?’ She tried to lift her darling’s spirits. She didn’t want her going off to sleep with sad tho
ughts.
‘Mm..m yes, let’s do that. Make it special,’ Ten endorsed. Her eyelids were beginning to feel heavy. ‘You must get off to sleep, Sid. It’s getting late. Don’t worry. I am all right, truly.’ She kissed Sid goodnight, her lips moving on hers in a tender caress, then turned on her side so she could come in close behind her. This is how they dropped off to sleep every night.
* * *
Rani had arranged with Ten to collect her after lunch the next day. Sid still wasn’t back, needing to have the car serviced. The old girl was getting on and with all the driving scheduled, it would be prudent to have a few things checked out. Also, she had confidence in the Texaco mechanic near the track, having gotten to know him during her time there. He would do his best by her. She hoped so, anyway.
Today Rani was in western clothes. Over black tights she wore a mid-length red top, sporting the CKLN logo of a microphone growing out of the ground, with the CN Tower as part of the city skyline to identify the location as Toronto; all this encompassed in a black circle. Her hair had been tied back and there was no jewelry. Her dusky Indian looks were strikingly attractive; a woman not to be disregarded. Ten didn’t invite her in, she was set to go, dressed casually in jeans and T-shirt with a sweater tied round her shoulders for later.
Their journey downtown got off to a slow start having just missed a streetcar, but once at the subway, they zipped along. The train was empty this time of day, the ensuing quiet giving Rani the opportunity to impart some background information on the station. It relied heavily on volunteer labor, the many people offering their time being students in journalism and/or radio. These would be her colleagues, she explained. In the evening it could be a different work force; the station manager had a lot to co-ordinate.
Alighting at College, they walked through to Gerrard Street, passing animated knots of students, or others, rushing on to their next class. It all reminded Ten of her student days at Peterborough Civic. How she wished she’d finished her training. She should investigate the possibility of enrolling at TGH as a mature student. “Could this be done in Nursing?” she wondered. While Sid was engaged in her studies, she could be involved with her own. Once back on her feet she would check into it.
Rani led the way downstairs and along a number of confusing corridors. At last she pushed open a heavy door, entering them immediately into a hubbub of sound. The radio was on and everyone shouting over top of it. The station manager’s office was no more than a corner; a space partitioned off by two large noise baffles. Accessibility was the name of the game here. To Ten’s surprise the manager was a woman. Automatically she had expected a man. “How easily one gets trapped into ways of thinking,” she admonished herself.
The friendliness and warmth of Ten’s reception did much to put her at ease. Rani introduced her to Gudrun Pramberg who decided to conduct the tour herself and took them through to the newsroom. All space was cramped, people everywhere, but they seemed to know what they were doing, despite the apparent disorder. The newscaster for Wednesday was a young, black Nova Scotian, Aldo. He was very pleased to see Tenille. He felt badly at having to leave them, but if they got a replacement quickly, he could take off with a clearer conscience.
‘Look, any help I can give you, I’m your man,’ He smiled at her broadly. ‘I can come in early for the next two weeks and go through everything with you. Really, it’s not hard once you get the hang of it.’ He was trying to sound positive. The last one had run the distance once he’d seen all that was involved. This one looked a bit of a timid squirrel too. Gudrun thanked him and they moved on to the soundproof booth where the news was actually read. An older man was in there, wearing headphones. Ten asked about them.
‘Come round here,’ Gudrun indicated a door beyond the booth that had a window in it. She peered in and saw a young man sitting at a control panel. Gudrun continued. ‘Hervey is in contact with Ryan, the monitor. Ryan cues him and sets up the carts he needs; that is the tapes. You see you would never be in there alone, that is you would always be monitored. Hervey receives his instructions via the headphones; he hears when the cut is ending and gets ready on the next cue.’
‘It’s all very straight forward, Tenille,’ Rani reassured her. They moved on, but progress was slow due to all the introductions. They were making her feel she’d already said yes, but she needed to know more about the actual news part.
The tour completed, Gudrun returned to her cubicle and Rani took her back to the newsroom. Aldo was still working on the late afternoon’s news, so she didn’t interrupt him, except to check that it was all right for them to be there. She showed her the press releases the station received, of forthcoming events. There was a stack of daily newspapers from all over.
‘Any item already covered by a previous newscaster is always marked and dated, to avoid too much repetition and …’
‘Rani.’ Ten aghast, interrupted her in mid-flow: ‘Do you mean I would have to write the news as well as read it?’ This was definitely more than she’d bargained for.
‘Yes, but don’t you see, Tenille, this is the wonderful part of working at CKLN. You would have so much autonomy. You get to choose what will go out over the airwaves. Think of that.’ Rani concluded in wonderment. Ten was thinking of that and was horrified. Such responsibility. She wasn’t up to it. Rani saw her look of discomposure and backtracked a little.
‘You don’t have to decide right this minute,’ she assured her. ‘Sleep on it and come back Wednesday. Let Aldo show you the ropes.’
They headed over to the canteen, a light airy space which, at this time of day was only dotted with students.
‘Good, no crush. We’ll have our pick of the tables,’ Rani observed. Having settled themselves, she was about to enquire what Tenille thought of the station itself, when a young man, dressed most stylishly in fine wool casual pants and sweater, came up and greeted Rani with a kiss. He asked if he could join them. She indicated a chair and proceeded to introduce Fabrice Roche. He eyed Ten appraisingly.
‘You, my dear, are ravishing,’ he observed boldly, in a soft, breathy voice. Turning to Rani he asked in a conspiratorial tone: ‘Does Moira know about this one?’ Ten looked at him quite amazed.
‘Don’t pay any attention to Fabrice, Tenille. He’s just trying to stir up gossip.’ She turned to the very attractive and beautifully built male specimen and told him to behave himself. ‘Fabrice is the reason I’m a volunteer here. We met at a cocktail party hosted by mutual friends and got chatting,’ she explained.
‘You have such stunning eyes, it’s hard not to stare,’ Fabrice continued as though he’d heard nothing. Now he turned to Rani. ‘Wait ’til Serge meets her, he’ll want to paint her for sur..re. It’s all right …’ looking back to Tenille: ‘ …he doesn’t do nudes; loves faces.’ Ten speculated that whoever Serge was, he must have painted Fabrice, probably many times. His face was classical in its beauty. His hair, worn long and tied back, was a tawny, glistening mane. Altogether too handsome she observed. Women must be falling all over themselves.
‘So where did you two meet, Tenille, at The Rose? I know Rani pops in there sometimes after her stint at the station if Moira’s working late.’ He was so inquisitive for a first meeting. Ten was now used to the women. They eased themselves along step by step, more reserved: less theatrical. She was saved from reply by Rani’s sudden revelation.
‘You see, Tenille, it’s a gay world we live in, Moira and I … and of course, including this buffalo in a cafeteria.’ She gave Fabrice a mock glare.
‘Oo..ps, sorry Rani. Have I dropped hairpins?’ He tried to look contrite, but didn’t do a very good job of it. In his defence he continued: ‘I’ve never seen you spending social time talking to straights … you can’t blame me for jumping to conclusions.’ This last was on a rather petulant note.
‘It’s all right Fabrice, I don’t mind if Tenille doesn’t.’ Rani lifted an enquiring eyebrow in Ten’s direction.
‘No, no, it’s cool.’ She really didn’t kn
ow what to say. Male homosexuals were not part of her life’s experience so she was rather out of her depth. She thought she must have been staring as much at him as he was at her. Well, everything was out now, so why not jump in?
‘I know The Rose, but no, we didn’t meet there. Rani is my landlady.’ Her first admission to any stranger that she too, was gay. She hadn’t expected it to come so soon. Only four days ago at the dinner she’d been so worried about telling Moira and Rani and now here it was done. No histrionics and everyone still with their shirt on.
Fabrice smiled broadly as he turned to Rani. ‘Of course, I remember now. You were telling Serge you’d finally gotten new tenants’ This time his bold gaze rested on Ten. ‘They were so happy when you guys turned up. They’d been hoping for a couple rather than two singles. You were answers to their prayers.’ Ten looked at Rani in surprise. He went on. ‘Not only Lesbians; not only a couple; but so nice too.’ He sat back feeling very satisfied with his contribution.
‘Fabrice, that’s enough for one day,’ Rani reproved. ‘Why don’t you leave us so we can talk without any more interpositions?’ He rose from the table in one fluid movement. “He really does have a magnificent body,” Ten admired.
‘Tenille, it’s been a pleasure to make your acquaintance,’ he said gallantly, coming round to her side of the table. He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips in a farewell kiss, smiling into her eyes. ‘I hope we will meet again … soon.’ He turned to Rani and putting his hand on her shoulder leaned forward and kissed her whispering: ‘Forgive me?’ The look she returned said it all. He was not only beautiful, but also charming with it.
After his departure Rani and Ten did talk together very openly. They felt a great feeling of camaraderie and at the end of it all, when Rani asked Ten how she felt about working at the station, she impulsively said: ‘I’ll do it.’
Sid was home when they got back. She invited Rani in for a drink, but she had to go. Ten reiterated her thanks and Rani promised to set it up with Aldo, same time next week.
Outing of the Heart Page 81
