Thursday
They were moving slow that morning, not quite hungover but not running on all cylinders either. Still full from the elaborate feast Celina hosted the night prior, their breakfast consisted of a pot of black coffee, aspirin and virtually no conversation. Sitting on opposite sides of the small secondhand table, each stared off into the distance trying to wake up, each sip of caffeine breathed a little more life back into their beings.
Michael rose first, putting his cup in the sink, then disappeared into the bath to brush his teeth. When he returned, he prompted Ty. "I'm looking forward to day's sessions. You?"
"I guess so." Ty responded half heartedly, pushing his chair back, away from table and his third cup of coffee. He took his cup to the sink, then headed to the bath to brush his teeth as well.
When Ty returned, Michael was already in his rain jacket and baseball cap.
"Looks like the rain isn't letting up." He said as he peered through the open mini blind slats.
"Yeah. Looks that way." Glancing toward the window, removed his leather jacket from the back of a chair, put it on. He got two Honeycrisp apples from the old wooden bowl on the table.
"Here! Catch!" Ty threw his friend an apple.
With ease, Michael caught it. "Thanks."
"An apple a day..." Ty bit into the shiny red apple streaked with gold.
Michael did the same. "Good."
"Hopefully the traffic won't be a problem." He mumbled as he chewed.
"Hope not. I'd like to see the keynote speaker. Dr. Robert Grainger. I heard he's a something of a speaker." He took another big bite.
"Yeah. Bob will be something, no doubt." Ty said sarcastically. He frowned, as he opened the door and saw the steady rain. He pressed the truck fob, unlocking the doors. "Come on. Let's make a run for it."
Within the dry warmth of the truck, Ty drove downtown toward the Vancouver Conference Centre East. Built in the 1980's, the center was the oldest in the city, but had a remarkable view of the bay.
"So what's with Robert Grainger?" Michael asked. "Do you know him?"
"Yeah. I worked for him at his Wildlife Rehabilitation Rescue while I lived in Hudson. Back then, he went by Bob."
"Bad boss?" He guessed.
"You could say that. Crooked is more like it."
"Oh?" His eyebrows raised.
"I found two dead bears on his rescue's property. Poachers killed them for their gallbladders. Come to find out, Bob was being paid by the poachers to turn a blind eye. That's how he paid me." Ty explained.
"No kidding." Michael's eyes were wide.
"Yeah. No kidding." Ty shook his head. "He's a piece of work. I can't believe that CVMA let that guy keep his license. He should be in jail."
"Wow." Michael was looking at his phone. "Says in his bio that he just wrote a book. 'Hunted and Poached. My Fight for Wildlife.'"
"What a crock. It should be called "Poaching for Profit.'" His laugh was cynical.
"Maybe he's redeemed himself." Michael suggested as he looked at his friend.
"Anything is possible." Ty shrugged, sounding doubtful.
Michael looked out the windshield. The wipers were struggling to keep up with the sudden downpour. The taillights ahead glowed red, stunting traffic flow.
"Looks bad." Michael observed.
"Yeah. People don't know how to drive in the rain here. You'd think they'd be experts given the amount we get." He groused.
The two young vets fell into silence, with the low muffle of the radio and wipers filling the void. Michael concentrated on his phone while Ty fixated on the road ahead.
After several minutes without talking, Michael moved on to a new topic. "I've lined up a couple of good sessions on my schedule today."
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Let's see. 'How to Raise the Orphan Equine Neonate', 'Treating Equine Gastrointestinal Diseases Using Integrative Methods' and 'Power Hour: Veterinary Ethics for the Equine Practitioner'." He read from his schedule on his cell phone. "And, that's just today." He said earnestly.
"Perfect for a horse guy." Ty grinned.
"Right! What did you register for?" He smiled back.
"I don't remember the exact names. There's one on radiology and raptors. Another one or two on raptor beak and skull surgery. Then there's peri-op analgesia on large wildlife. Though that one may be tomorrow. I can't remember."
"Those are good ones too. Perfect for a surgery guy." He chuckled. "Did you happen to see the two sessions on equine field treatment...shock and head trauma?"
"Yeah. I registered for them." Ty answered. "You?"
"You know it...at least we'll be in two sessions together."
"How about those special events at the zoo?" Ty asked. "Did you register?"
"I did but got waitlisted."
"Yeah. Me too." He frowned.
"This conference is overrun with vets." He deadpanned.
"Imagine that." Ty replied sarcastically. The two men looked at each other, grinned.
"Wonder if we'll run into anyone we know." Michael mused. "Maybe from UC."
Ty gave a half-hearted shrug, not seeming to care one way or the other.
"Guess you'll at least see Claire."
Ty cut his eyes toward Michael. "Claire?"
"Yeah. Remember last night you said she was coming to the conference?" Michael explained.
"Oh, right." He replied.
"Tell me about her." He asked earnestly.
"Michael, why? What's the point?"
"Well, between Mirna and Celina, I am imagining two very different women. So which one is she?"
"I don't know. It's been years." He pursed his lips.
"Okay. What was she like back then...?" Michael didn't let go.
Ty let out a heavy exhale. "Hmm...well..um." He sputtered, looking for his words. "She was assertive, driven, edging on pushy." He smirked. "That sounds bad, doesn't it?"
"Not necessarily."
"She went after what she wanted. And, she usually got it. That's how she got the job with Vets Without Borders."
"Sounds like a good thing."
"Not always." He reflected back.
"So, she's a good vet."
"Yes." He thought for a moment, then hedged. "Or I assume so. I really don't know. Remember, we only went on a few trips together. And we didn't do much in-depth vetting. Mostly vaccinations, round ups, rescues, that kind of thing."
"That's true. Hard to tell."
He kept talking, without prodding. "She's not your typical or traditional vet, anyhow. She's more innate when it comes to animals."
"What do you mean? Like an animal whisperer?" Michael asked.
"No!" He laughed, easing a bit. "Not at all. She has a completely different makeup. She grew up in St. Marys Bay, in the fishing community there. So she had been around all sorts of wildlife, on land and water, her whole life. She's not afraid to jump right in, take control, get her hands dirty. You know?"
He nodded, then added. "Sounds like she's down-to-earth."
"Yeah, she is. And, always up for an adventure, the riskier the better. Didn't matter if things went wrong, she says misadventures make better stories."
"A storyteller?"
"And pretty good too. At night, we'd sit around listening to her stories."
"Pretty, of course."
He gave a half smile. "Yeah. She's part French, part Aboriginal, I think Mi'kmaq so.."
"So the big question. Was she your girlfriend or not?"
He nodded once as he said adamantly. "No. She was just a friend."
"Do you realize that you nodded Yes, but said No?" Michael challenged him.
"It is.." He looked straight ahead, then admitted. "It was complicated."
"I bet...Maybe you can figure it out while she's here."
"Here we are." Ty said, closing the conversation. He drove into the entrance of the underground garage, spiraling down through the levels looking for an empty space. Three floors down, he finally found one, pulled in, then cut the engine. "At least we won't get soaked getting into the building."
"Let's hurry. We only have a few minutes before the plenary session starts." They found the elevator, pressed the UP button. When elevator doors finally opened, it was jam packed with people.
"Let's take the stairs." Ty suggested.
The two ran up the three flights to the main floor in the Convention Centre East. Entering the cavernous hall, ushers directed them to the velvet-like ropes that funneled into a single line for registration and check-in. Oddly, the registration table was draped with a banquet skirt in an animal print.
As they waited in line, a low, dull roar flowed from the ballroom down the hall. Suddenly, the roar quieted, replaced by a round of rowdy applause, then laughter. A jumbo screen hoisted above the registration projected a man in a bowtie behind a podium addressing the crowd. Though the sound from the screen was muted, his voice carried down the hall, his words distorted.
"Says here it's Dr. Morgan Steele speaking. The chair of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association." Michael read from his phone as more laughter erupted. "Wonder what he's saying."
"Could be a joke.." Ty guessed. "Maybe this one... What do you call a Vet that is REALLY good at poker?"
"Give up."
"Ace of Spays!"
"Oh. That's awful." Michael groaned as Ty grinned. The woman behind Ty giggled.
Michael checked in first. With a conference bag made of natural canvas on his shoulder and attendee badge hanging from a blue lanyard around his neck, he stepped away from the registration table so Ty could check in.
Armed similarly, but donning a green lanyard, Ty caught up to Michael. Together they walked toward the ballroom. The map showed three sets of double doors leading into the ballroom. The first two were blocked by attendees spilling out into the hall.
"Let's try that one." Michael suggested.
"Guess we'll be in the back." Ty lamented.
"Yeah. But, maybe we'll get a seat." Michael retorted, trying to look on the bright side as usual. "And, it looks clear."
Immediately entering the hushed ballroom, the two found themselves at the front of the ballroom, just stage left. As they scanned the packed house looking for empty seats, a young woman in the middle of the third row, stood and began waving her arms in the air.
"TY! Ty!" The tall woman yelled, completely uninhibited. "Hey! Over here!"
Ty did a double take. He hadn't seen her since vet school, but she looked exactly the same, maybe a bit prettier. Her long dark hair, naturally curling into silky ringlets, framed her face, hung down over her shoulders. Even from twenty feet away, he could see how her dark eyes and white teeth flashed against her tanned face, how her shirt was unbuttoned just enough to reveal the swell of her breasts. Despite being dressed in men's field fatigues in varying shades of brown, she looked every bit a woman.
His hand raised briefly to acknowledge her.
Claire grinned, yelled again. "I saved you two seats." She waved to him again, then placed her hands on her slim hips, waiting for them.
Moving quickly, Michael, then Ty, entered the row, scrambled over those seated, quietly apologizing as they bumped and jostled them. Reaching Claire, Michael removed the large, worn backpack complete with bed roll, from atop the saved seats, placing it on the floor with a thud and sat down.
"Hi. I'm Claire Russell." She introduced herself with a smile.
"Hi Claire. I'm Michael Barnes." He returned her smile.
"Hey you! Give me a hug!" Claire greeted Ty. Both still standing, she leaned over, gave him a hug around the neck. "You look good." She whispered.
"Hey Claire." He whispered, pulling back.
"Everyone, please take your seats. We'll get started as soon as everyone settles." A familiar voice boomed from the stage.
Still standing, Ty spun around to face the stage. He hardly recognized the man standing there. Gone was the long, greasy brown hair, the straggly mustache and chest long beard. Gone too was the blue bandanna wrapped around his forehead and slouchy camouflaged clothing. Instead, his hair was neatly cut, his face clean shaven. He was dressed in pressed khakis and a chambray shirt, clothes that actually fit him.
Standing beside the podium, Bob recognized Ty immediately. Their eyes locked. Breaking into a wide grin, Bob gave him a small wave, and a nod. Rejecting his friendly gesture, Ty simply sat down, stone-faced.
Bob's smile quickly faded, his shoulders slumped just slightly as he moved behind the podium, adjusted the microphone. As he looked out over the packed room, his prolonged exhale was amplified into the room. Seemingly, the wind had been let out of his sails.
He cleared his throat, making screeching sound. "Um. Okay. Everyone is settled. Let's get started." Bob suggested.
Applause rose up from the crowd of over 300, some standing.
Clearly uncomfortable, he mustered a tight-lipped smile. "Thank you everyone for the warm applause. I know that you are here to learn about the Gobi Bears and Mongolia. But, before I get to that, I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to go off script a bit this morning."
"Dr. Grainger!" Someone yelled out. "We love you!"
Bob chuckled modestly. "Thank you." He cleared his throat. "Seeing you all out there, waiting patiently for me to say something wise, novel or even inspiring, is really humbling, almost unfathomable to me. But, here you are. And, here am I." His voice cracked, he shook his head. He seemed a bit unsure. "Thank you."
"My experience in Mongolia almost didn't happen." He paused, looked straight at Ty. "You see, four years ago, I was sitting in a jail cell in Hudson, Alberta, wearing orange, convicted of the senseless and illegal killing of two healthy black bears. One was a nursing sow of two young cubs."
He let his confession sink in. The room was silent.
He rubbed the back of his neck, unsure what to say next. "Um. That is so hard to admit, it's even harder to say out loud. Especially for me, a vet charged with the care and wellbeing of animals. But, unfortunately it's true, it happened."
Ty's eyes and attention latched onto Bob while those around him began to murmur.
"No, I didn't pull the trigger. No, I didn't release the arrow. And, no, I didn't even set the trap. Regardless, I was no less guilty. Two innocent, beautiful bears were gone. Dead. And, I could have prevented it. As horrible as it sounds and it was, the experience shook me to my core and changed me forever. I hope I changed for the better."
A handful stood and walked out, but most of the attendees stayed, in rapt attention. Bob took a deep breath, then continued.
"Ah. Well. Let me start from the beginning. This will come as no surprise...as a child, I was awkward, shy, nerdy, weird. I was a social outcast. I had no friends. Literally, not a single one. Well, not any human ones anyway." He chuckled in a self effacing way. "So I gravitated towards other living things, small creatures I could catch, rescue, care for, study, release. You know, frogs, lizards, snakes, turtles, birds and the like. The weirder, the better. I even had a beautiful cobalt blue tarantula and porcupine."
"My parents, to their credit, were very accepting of this, even as I brought home more, larger creatures. Like possums, skunks, raccoons, rabbits, coyotes, hawks, owls. As long as the creatures stayed outside, my mom and dad were tolerant. So our backyard became a menagerie of sorts, with a series of enclosures, shelters and pens. I studied every species. I learned how to take care of them. I learned what they ate, their habits, habitats, defenses, skills. I grew vegetation, dug worms, netted minnows, built ecosystems, practiced elementary first aid. These creatures gave me purpose, responsibility, confidence. Maybe you can relate."
There were a few murmurs, nods in the audience.
"From an early age, I set my life's path to become a wildlife veterinarian. In my mind, domesticated animals were boring, they held no interest for me. As the saying goes...'Once you go Wild, you never go Mild!'" He chuckled at his own joke.
Claire leaned forward, caught Ty's eye, mouthed..."Our motto!"
"Of course, that does not negate the importance of other veterinary practices. It's just for me, I wanted to work with wild animals, especially those that no one cared for, or cared about. The world's pests, nuisances, disposables, endangered, or near extinction. The outcasts."
"With my diploma still wet from vet school, I took out loans, bought 90 wooded acres, set up a Wildlife Rehabilitation Reserve, just outside of Hudson, Alberta. At first, it was good. No, it was heaven." He smiled, glanced upward to relish the memory, paused. "I was cocky, arrogant, hard-headed. I felt pride in the importance of my work, rescuing, healing sick and injured animals, returning them to the wild. Animals came to me from all sorts of places, mainstream veterinary clinics, Game and Fish, everyday folk, extermination outfits. Some were injured, some were orphaned, some were sick, near death, some just found their way into the rescue. Kids from the local school donated their time and allowance. I loved it."
"But, it didn't last." He lamented. "Before long, the donations dried up, medication and food prices skyrocketed, bills stacked up, creditors called, accounts were overdrawn. The kick in the head came when the bank recalled the loans."
"As bankruptcy loomed, I became desperate to keep the rescue open. Out of nowhere, two men approached me with a deal. They would donate handsomely to the rescue, enough to keep the doors open and then some, in exchange for allowing them to hunt bear, just one or two. I convinced myself that it was a small price to pay, sacrificing a couple of bears to save many other animals. It was for the greater good, I told myself." He paused, grimaced. "So desperate to save the rescue, I made a horrible decision and took the deal. That deal allowed me to payoff loans, acquire much needed equipment and meds, care for more animals. I even hired a vet student to assist me."
Michael turned to Ty, whispered. "Was that you?"
Ty shrugged, kept his eyes on Bob.
The rest of the audience was silent, uncomfortably, watching, listening, glued to their seats. Despite tiny sweat beads gathering on his upper lip and temple, he continued his confession.
"The deal with hunters, poachers to be truthful, lasted one month. Until that vet tech discovered a bear, killed by a cross bow and arrow, left to rot on the reserve, swarmed by vultures. Her gallbladder removed. A few days later, he found another dead bear, this one with two orphaned cubs. He set up game cams to surveil the property, caught them in the act, then confronted me with evidence of baiting and poaching. I told him not to get involved, that he was naive, that he was playing with fire, that poachers were dangerous."
Bob smirked as he shook his head.
"He was young, fearless, idealistic. Naturally, he didn't listen, even after being beaten up in his home by the poachers. When he figured out that I was involved, read me the riot act, then turned me into the Game and Fish. He did the right thing. And, I am thankful to him. Truly."
He paused, swallowing hard, his deep inhale and exhale audible. He nodded at Ty.
"Although I testified against the poachers, I was sentenced to a year in jail for my role. I deserved every bit of that sentence. While I sat in jail, I thought about my actions every second of every day, remorseful for my poor decisions and selfish, illegal actions. But, mostly I thought about those two bears and those two orphaned cubs." His voice cracked with emotion.
"When released, I was so thankful for the chance to start over. But, almost immediately, other poachers approached me with threats of violence. This time was different. When I refused to go along, they set fire to the rescue. Thankfully, no animal perished but the rescue buildings were a complete loss. I worked with the RCMP and the Game and Fish to capture and prosecute the culprits. I learned to work within the legal system, to seek help from legitimate sources like Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Canadian Vet Schools, government entities, private donors, and so many more."
He caught Ty's eye.
"What I did was wrong. No doubt. I made plenty of mistakes, but I hope that I learned from those and that I have moved forward in a good way. My experience dealing with the hunters and poachers, led me to Vets Without Borders. With that organization, I traveled Canada, shore to shore, and the world beyond."
Over the next 30 minutes, Bob talked about his work in Mongolia, projected pictures of the sole Gobi Bear cub, injured by a hunter's bullet. He described working with the local village, vetting their cattle and dairy livestock. He talked about the hardships of the desert, risks posed by poachers and the rewards of the mission.
"I am human, we are all human. In our work as veterinarians, we will have to make decisions, choices, sacrifices. And, we will make mistakes. No doubt. Learn from your mistakes, and those made by others. Keep your eye on what is most important, the big picture of our worldwide eco health. Animals and humans are inextricably linked; one affects the other in innumerable ways. So do your best."
"I end with a quote from the late German physician, anthropologist, pathologist, biologist, and writer, known as 'the father of modern pathology'. Rudolf Virchow, once said, 'Between human and animal medicine there are no dividing lines - nor should there be.' Thank you."
The entire ballroom stood, clapping for Bob, except Ty who clapped, but remained seated. Bob seemed overwhelmed, bowed his head awkwardly, muttered, "thanks". He left the podium, walked quickly to escape, but was intercepted by Dr. Steele. The two men shook hands, posed for pictures, before Bob disappeared off stage.
"Well. That was unexpected." Ty muttered.
"Redemption?" Michael suggested.
"He still did it." He considered Michael's suggestion, the slowly nodded his head. "Maybe he deserves a second chance." He conceded.
"Yep. We all do. Maybe third and fourth chances too."
Dr. Steele took the podium. "Well, what an incredible, breathtaking presentation by Dr Grainger. Let's thank him again."
A smattering of claps intensified briefly, then settled.
"Thank you again, Dr. Grainger. He will be here with us throughout the conference. Please seek him out to learn more about his work at his rescue and his missions with Vets Without Borders."
"A few more announcements. First, as you know, this CVMA Conference provides required continuing education. Be sure to be on time and sign-in at each session to get your credits."
"Secondly, the conference has five tracks identified by color coded sessions, placards and lanyards. Green is Avian, Exotic and Wild. Blue is Equine. Yellow is Food Animal. Purple is Practice Management. Orange is Small Animal. I encourage you to network with those in and outside of your track. Note that our conference ambassadors are wearing red lanyards and posted around the conference centre. If you have questions about anything, see them."
"The East Exhibition Hall A has lots of exciting booths and exhibits manned by CVMA reps, vendors, pharmaceuticals, schools, and others. Please take a moment or two to check that out. It's open from 8 to 6 every day."
"Coffee and beverage bars are located in the long hallway overlooking the bay. Enjoy. Lunch will be served at noon at the East Ballroom B. We will have vegetarian, kosher and protein options."
"During breaks and lunch, large mounted screens will project submitted pictures of vets and techs across Canada doing great work. Be sure to vote for the best submissions through the conference website. The vet who receives the most votes will get a free admission to next year's conference. The tech will receive a free stethoscope. Both will receive lots of other goodies. Be sure to vote for a single vet and a single tech...but only vote once and not for yourself." He grinned.
"Lastly. Tomorrow night we have a special tour at the Greater Vancouver Zoo at 6. All are welcome. Plus, there are two special limited attendance demonstrations. Hana, the 11 year old Siberian Tiger and Felicia, a 3 year old river otter will both undergo their semi-annual examinations. Exams will include anesthesia, chest, abdomen and dental X-rays, a full abdominal ultrasound, blood samples and vaccines, and a dental cleaning. If you'd like to attend the exams, please register on the website. Due to the limited seating and overwhelming response, we will draw names for each exam at opening session tomorrow."
"And, that's it. Enjoy the conference. First session starts in 15 minutes."
After the brief dutiful applause dissipated, the crowd began to noisily funnel out of the ballroom. Claire, tall and lithe, gracefully bent over to picked up her backpack.
"Need help?" Michael offered, grabbing for a strap as well. "That thing weighs a ton."
She shrugged. "Nah. It's not so bad. But thanks." Then, in one smooth motion, she easily hoisted the heavy pack onto her thigh, slipped her right arm through a strap then her left through the other, adjusting it on her back. She smiled gratefully, nonetheless.
He returned her smile. In single file, the three exited the third row, and joined the crowd exiting the ballroom.
"Hey. I'll meet you by the coffee bar." Ty called as he quickened his pace, made a beeline for the mens restroom.
Walking side by side, Claire asked curiously. "So Michael, why does your name sound so familiar? Have we met before?"
"No." Michael chuckled. "But, we were both scheduled to be on the eastern cougar mission in Nova Scotia back in 2014. Ty took my place."
She cocked her head, appearing to think back. "Oh, that's right. Now I remember. You dropped out of the externship." She said frankly.
"Yeah, well. I had to. My dad had a massive heart attack." He explained.
"Oh." She said, uncertain what to say next, then uttered sincerely. "I'm sorry."
"Thanks. He's fully recovered now." He smiled appreciatively. "So, no worries."
"Oh good. I'm glad." She said sincerely, then glanced at his badge. "You have a blue lanyard. You switched to horses?"
"Horses have always been my focus. I am an equine vet and professor at UCVM." He answered her. "Ty roped me into the externship when another guy dropped out. I had done a bit of work with wild horses in Alberta so..." He trailed off.
She nodded knowingly. "Yeah. I get that." She looked away briefly, clearly in thought, sighed lightly. "Ty has a way, doesn't he? He's so persuasive, driven, so sure of his goals, so focused on protecting the defenseless. It's impossible to say no to anything he asks."
She exhaled heavily, as a frown settled onto her lips. "Even when his heart is no longer in it."
Michael hesitated, not knowing how or whether to respond. So he said nothing, shifted the conversation. "Ty tells me that you were in Ethiopia with VWB."
"He did?" She sounded surprised.
"Yeah. Tell me about it."
"I just got back after six months there. We worked with the villagers and their livestock. Dairy cows mostly." She replied casually.
"That's interesting." He remarked as they stood next to each other at the coffee bar, each pouring steaming coffee into a disposable cup. "Did you enjoy it?"
"I really did. It was an incredibly, rewarding experience. We made a huge impact on the local economy, health of the herd and villagers." She enthused, sounding like she was reciting from a VWB promotional.
"So. What's next for you?" He asked as they moved away from the mingling and milling crowd, toward the huge wall of plated glass, overlooking the gray bay and sky to match.
"Well, I'm just waiting for my next assignment. I might have to return to Africa, it's our stalwart One Health mission. But, truthfully, I'd like to go to somewhere else. Someplace new. Maybe Mongolia. Especially after listening to Dr. Grainger." Her eyebrows raised with the possibility.
"His talk certainly was fascinating." He shook his head. "But it seemed a bit surreal, dangerous, like something out of a movie. I can't imagine living in a yurt in the middle of the desert for six months under the constant threat of violence from gun toting poachers and hunters..."
"I'd do it in a heartbeat..."
"Really?"
"Absolutely!" Her voice lifted as her words tumbled effortlessly out. "Yes, there are dangers, risks, sacrifices and horrible living conditions. So what? To me, those are just a part of it. Those heighten the criticality of the mission. Success is much more rewarding, adventure much more appealing."
"You are clearly very passionate about your job." He remarked, then asked. "So, what do you do when you're not on a mission?"
"And not at a mandatory vet conference?" She laughed. "Well, I split my time between the Oaklawn Farm Zoo and Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park to keep my skills fresh. But, mostly, I'm traveling with VWB. Mostly on mission, sometimes recruiting."
"Are you recruiting now? Because you have sold me." He teased her.
"No." She responded a bit too quickly. Michael made a mental note, as she took a long draw in her coffee.
She closed her eyes, for just a second, to savor her coffee. "Hmmm. Boy, I needed this...That red eye was a killer. Cheap, sure, but that flight was long. My seat was non-reclining in the last row next the bathroom. Didn't get a wink of sleep." She curled one corner of her lip.
"Sounds awful." He commiserated.
She nodded. "But I've lived through much worse. Obviously." She paused, asked out of the blue. "By the way, are you staying with Ty?"
Before Michael could respond, Ty walked up, joining them, a coffee cup in hand. "Hey."
"Ty!" Michael watched as Claire's face lit up, her lips parted slightly, her eyes sparkled, focusing solely on Ty. Moving closer to him, she linked her arm around his.
He tensed almost imperceptibly. A tight smile settled on his lips, but he did not pull away.
"Oh. It is so good to see you. I missed you." She leaned against him.
"You too, Claire." Ty responded rather flatly.
"We have a lot of catching up to do." Her flirtatious tone, her dancing eyes seemed to insinuate something more.
"Right." He said noncommittal. His phone dinged faintly. He glanced at its screen. "Hey. The first session starts in five minutes. We better get going." He began to move away.
"Ty. What session are you in?" Claire asked, holding fast onto his arm, slowing his retreat.
"Imaging Techniques in Raptors - Radiography, Ultrasonography, CT, and MRI" He read from his phone schedule.
"Darn. I'm in Disease Management at the Wildlife-Livestock Interface. Think it's an all day thing. Michael?"
"How to Raise the Orphan Equine Neonate."
"Well, there's always lunch. Let's meet here at noon." She suggested, the two others agreed.
The vets parted, each headed in a different direction.
Several hours later, the three met up as planned and headed into the large ballroom, filled with competing smells and conversations, overwhelming their senses briefly. After loading their plates, they found empty seats together at an eight-top table occupied by five men sporting orange lanyards, designating them as small animal vets. After introductions, the original five resumed their lively conversation about diabetic ketoacidosis in felines.
At the opposite side of the table, Michael and Ty were deep in their own conversation, rehashing their morning sessions, pausing only to take bites of their food.
Sitting next to Ty, Claire grew antsy, clearly not interested in the table talk. So she masterfully diverted their attention with a vivid story from her latest mission. True to Ty's description, she was a deft storyteller, spicing her story with humor, exaggeration, intrigue and a bit of colorful language. Her animation, hand gestures and facial expressions alone were entertaining in and of themselves. Soon, she had the entire table of male vets hanging on her every word, laughing or groaning, depending upon her intention and inflection. As much as she relished holding court with six men, she couldn't help but notice him.
Compared to the others, his reactions were slightly subdued, suppressed. Ty wasn't rude exactly. He smiled and winced, though faintly, at the appropriate moments in her tale. But, it was as if he had heard it before, though he had not. Occasionally, his attention wandered from her, to look around the room, glancing at the wide screens mounded strategically on the walls.
Suddenly, his larger than life mug appeared on the screen, catching Ty's eye. Chip grinned widely with sheer happiness as he held two insanely cute bear cubs close to his chest. The same close-up image emblazoned nearly a dozen screens around the room.
"Look!" He said loudly to no one in particular, pointing at the screen closest to their table. At the bottom of the screen, the words, 'Chip Boyer, Vet Tech, Vancouver Wildlife Rescue. Submitted by Dr. Mirna Hickerson' were bolded in a blue Futura font.
Mid-sentence, Claire looked up at the same wide screen. "Who's that?"
"Chip Boyer. He's our vet tech at the Rescue." Ty said excitedly as he pulled out his phone, snapped a picture. He then proceeded to the conference's website. "I'm gonna vote for him."
"What's his name again?" Michael asked as he fiddled on his phone as well. "I'll vote for him too."
"Chip Boyer. He's number 17." Ty replied, then leaned back in his chair to give a friendly man-hug around Michael's shoulder. "Thanks Michael. I really appreciate that..."
Not to be outdone, she patted Ty's thigh to get his attention. "I will vote for him too."
"Thanks Claire." He replied back.
Going further, she leaned in, showing a bit more of her femininity as she looked across the table. "Hey Guys..?" Recapturing their attention, a coy smile flirted on her lips. "Could you do me a huge favor and vote for number 17 too? Pretty please? I mean...only if you didn't someone else in mind." All five nodded, dutifully pulled out their phones as she knew they would.
"You guys are the absolute best." She gushed.
"Thank you everyone. This is really great!" Ty was moved. "Chip really deserves to win. He works really hard, is great with animals. He's gonna be a great vet someday."
He texted Celina attaching the picture. "Saw Chip at the conference with bear cubs. Great pic. Know it was all you. He has 8 votes already."
Celina immediately responded.
"Hey everyone." Ty said to the table. "Celina, our rescue manager, says to tell you all Thank You from the bottom of her heart!" He paraphrased her text.
"Oh right...Celina. I remember her.." Claire said with a hint of disdain, wrinkled her nose.
"Hello Ty." Bob's voice, low and flat, came out of nowhere, rising above the background noise.
He turned around in his chair, then slowly rose to stand face to face with his old boss.
"Hey." Ty's tone was reserved, ungiving. Michael looked on.
"It's really good to see you." He held out his hand to Ty for a handshake.
Hesitating he looked at his outreached hand, then back to Bob's eyes.
Bob dropped his hand and his shoulders, clearly disappointed. "Look man. I really did mean everything I said up there. I'm sorry." He dropped his more formal pattern of speech.
"Don't need you to apologize to me." He said more forcefully than intended. He paused. Exhaling, he held out his hand to Bob. "You paid your dues so...we're good."
Suddenly misty eyed from relief, Bob shook Ty's hand firmly. "Thanks man. That means a lot."
"Ty. Aren't you going to introduce us?" Claire hooked his arm, leaning into their conversation.
"Um. Bob. This is Claire Russell..."
"It's nice to finally meet you, Dr. Grainger, I am such a big fan. Your colloquium this morning was inspiring. You literally gave me goosebumps." She gushed.
Clearly not accustom to the attention of a pretty woman, Bob seemed to freeze, his eyes wide, his tongue tied. Ty watched him with mild amusement.
Undeterred, Claire continued on, taking liberties. "Bob...can I call you Bob?"
"Okay." He found his voice, just barely.
"Bob. We have so much in common. I work for VWB too. Ty did too."
Bob looked to Ty for confirmation. "Really?"
"In vet school." Ty muttered.
She redirected Bob's attention back to her by touching his arm. "I just got back from Ethiopia, the One Health initiative. Have you been there yet?"
Before Bob could answer, Ty's phone dinged. "You'll both have to excuse me, I don't want to be late to my next session." He paused, then said sincerely. "Bob. Take care of yourself."
"Yeah. You too." He responded gratefully.
Ty turned to walk away.
"Hey Ty."
"Yeah?" He looked back.
"Maybe we could get a beer sometime. At KOs, like old times." Bob suggested.
"Yeah. Maybe." Ty shook his hand again.
Worried about being late, Ty walked quickly out of the ballroom, nearly empty of vets, only the clean-up crew remained. Out in the hall, he focused on the map on his phone to find his room, oblivious to everything else around him.
As he walked into room for his next session, the image of a beautiful young blonde woman giving mouth to mouth resuscitation to a nearly drown fawn projected on every wide screen mounded on every wall. He did not see her.
The Surgical Procedures of the Raptor Beak & Skull: Keratin Deformities including Pre and Post-Op session was intense. The four hour session featured hands on work on a live Peregrine Falcon injured when it flew into a window of a downtown building injuring its eye and fracturing its beak. Thoroughly immersed in the learning, Ty had stayed late to talk with the professor when he received a text from Michael.
"Hey. In the Exhibition Hall."
Ty texted back. "Be there in a bit."
Twenty minutes later, he found Michael in deep conversation with the Equine Aquatics Systems salesperson discussing the virtues of underwater treadmill system in relieving lameness. Not wanting to disturb him, he wandered around the booth looking at pictures of horses using the company's equipment.
His eyes settled on a radiant golden palomino with a silky white mane, expressive eyes, intelligent face, exercising in a high tech, fully transparent underwater treadmill.
"She's a beaut, isn't she?" Another salesperson said as he approached Ty.
"She is." He agreed.
"That's Dandelion Wine. She's competing with the Canadian Jump Team in the World Games, as we speak."
Ty nodded.
"And, it's all due to our Aquatic Tread Plus." The salesperson continued. "Her trainer has incorporated our equipment into her regimen."
"How about that." Ty replied, then asked just to be polite. "Do they train here? In Vancouver?"
"No." The salesperson scratched his head, trying to recall. "I believe they train in Bromont and in Hudson."
"Hudson? ... in Alberta?" He was surprised.
"Wait. Let me verify that." The salesperson stepped closer to the advertisement to read the testimonial. "Um. Yes. Says here. 'Here at Fairfield Stables in Hudson, Alberta, we integrated the Aquatic Tread Plus into our treatment, training and exercise regimen for all our equine clients, from high stakes racers and world class jumpers to workhorses and rescues. Your state of the art equipment has elevated healing, outcomes and performance to the next level. For Dandelion Wine and her rider, Andrew Pierson, that means going all the way to the World Equestrian Games. Thanks!'"
"Ty, you ready to go?" Michael appeared next to him, then teased. "Unless you are in the middle of buying an underwater treadmill."
"Ah, yeah. I mean No...arg..I mean, yes, I am ready to go." He stumbled in his response, still trying to absorb the information. "Thanks." He muttered to the salesperson as the two vets walked away, side by side.
"I'm hungry." Michael said. "So. What's the plan?"
"I don't know..." He shrugged. "Roscoe's?" Ty offered without thought, still distracted.
"Sure." He paused. "Hey. You okay? You sound off, like you're a million miles away."
"I guess I'm just tired. Late night followed by a long day." He answered, providing a flimsy excuse.
"Get that. Definitely a long day but a good one. How were your afternoon sessions?" Michael was curious.
"It was alright." He muttered, completely discounting his earlier enthusiasm.
"Huh, too bad. My session on Ethics was especially good. According to a UK study, the majority of equine vets experience one or two ethical dilemmas every week. And it's one of the top reasons why a practitioner leaves their practice. Crazy, huh? But, when you think about it, it makes total sense."
Ty nodded.
Michael continued with excited detail. "We did these use cases where we role played the client, the horse or the vet. It was really eye opening. The ethics that may come into play. I'm not sure which is more difficult, high end horses with potential to earn or horses that aren't wanted any more."
He didn't reply.
Michael glanced at his friend. "Sure you're okay? You are awful quiet. Want me to drive?"
"Nah. I'm good."
As they walked down the long hallway in silence to parking garage elevator, Ty received a text. Reading it, he groaned.
"What's wrong?" Michael asked, then speculated. "Is it work? Are the horses okay?"
"It's Claire. She's wants get together for dinner." He said as he put his phone in his pocket. "I'm not sure that I am up for that."
"It's just dinner Ty. But, I get that...she has a lot of energy." He said tactfully.
"Yeah. But, that's not it."
"What then?"
"I think she wants to..um, I mean..you know, work together...again..." Ty hemmed, somewhat cryptically. Michael saw it for what it was.
"Probably." He said matter-of-factly, careful to not be judgmental. "Take it as a compliment. You can always say No. Or Yes, if you want that."
Then he chided him. "And. I can always get myself a hotel room."
"Very funny."
Michael eyed him, sensing that something else was bothering his friend. "Anything else you want to talk about?"
"Nope." He was adamant, trying his best to close the door on the conversation.
"Fair enough." Michael advised. "Regardless, you gotta text her back about dinner. Make a decision. Tell her that you can't make it. Or invite her to Roscoe's. With or without me. Whatever. But, you can't leave her hanging. That's not nice." He sounded like Celina. "You can decide the work thing later."
"Okay, okay." He pulled out his phone to text her.
"Well, fancy meeting you!" Hauling her backpack, Claire called from a side hallway as she walked towards them. "I just texted you."
"And I was about to text you back." Ty said as he and Michael came to a standstill.
"Great. So where are we going for dinner?" She smiled.
Michael looked at Ty, letting him call the shots.
"Um. We're going to Roscoe's. It's a local bar, hole in the wall, nothing special." Ty downplaying it, hoping she'd decline. "Wanna come?"
"Yes! Dives are the best! Do they have music? We can make a whole night of it!" She said enthusiastically.
"But, um, Claire. Here's the thing. Michael and I need to get to the Rescue to check on some injured horses. So, dinner for us needs to be quick. Sorry. We'll drop you off at your hotel afterwards." He informed her, bracing himself for her response. "Okay?"
"Gotcha. Let's get going then." She happily agreed, as she took his arm. "Lead the way."
With pouring rain, Ty dropped Claire and Michael at the bar's front door, then dove off to find a parking space. Parked not far away, engine still idling, he stared out into the watery grayness waiting for the rain to subside, at least a little. Though the radio volume was low, the distinct richness of Johnny Cash's gravelly baritone voice carried into the cab. He turned up the volume to listen. Ty knew the song, 'The Hurt', by heart.
But I remember everything
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I'm still right here
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way
When the song ended, he cut the engine. Against his better judgement, he pulled out his phone, typed 'Dandelion Wine Trainer' into the search bar. He hesitated to press Go. Suddenly, a text from Michael popped up.
"Lost?"
"On my way." He texted back.
He breathed in and out deeply, somewhat in relief, closed Safari, put away his phone. Getting out of the dry truck into the pouring rain, he pulled his leather jacket over his head, then ran to the bar. Drenched by the time he entered Roscoe's, he spotted the two sitting at the bar, talking. The stools, on either side of them, were empty. Rick raised his hand to greet him.
As he slid onto the stool next to Michael, Rick put a bottle of Red Truck in front of him. "Hey Ty."
"Hey. Thanks Rick." He said appreciatively.
"To friends." Michael said as they tapped bottles, each taking a long swig of beer.
As he shed his jacket, Claire came up behind him, "Seat taken?" She asked, as she took the empty stool beside him. "Hey. You're soaked."
"It's raining." He said sarcastically, then took another long draw of his beer.
"No kidding!" She laughed.
"Welcome to Vancouver." Rick chuckled. "Another round folks? Claire?"
Claire ordered another glass of Chardonnay. Both Michael and Ty shook their heads No.
When he returned with her wine, Rick kept things moving as though he had read Ty's mind. "What can I get you for dinner?"
Claire went first. "Um. I haven't decided yet. Can I have some time?"
Rick nodded. "Michael?"
"I will have the burger and fries. And water. Please. Thanks."
"Same for me." Ty jumped in.
"How about you, Claire?" Rick asked, wiping his hands on a white bar towel tucked into his belt.
"Um. Right." She pushed a curly lock behind her ear, pursed her lips. "Okay. Um. Do you have a vegan burger? Or a vegan salad?" She asked hopefully.
"We have both." Rick answered.
"Okay. A vegan burger, no bun. With a side salad. Oil and vinegar." She paused. "Oh, and another glass of Chardonnay. Please."
"Coming up." Rick walked away to place their orders.
"So, what sessions are you two in tomorrow?" Ty asked just to start the conversation.
After finishing their dinner, Ty put his hand on Michael's shoulder. "Well, we better be going."
Rising from their bar stools, the three bid Rick good-bye as they donned their jackets, Ty's leather one still wet.
"Where are you staying Claire?" He asked as they walked to the door.
She stopped in her tracks, causing them to turn to face her.
"Claire?"
Her head tilted slightly as she bit her lip, evading contact with his eyes. "Um. I was hoping I could sleep on your floor. I have my bed roll..." She said, her brown eyes pleaded with his. "Please?"
He was not surprised by her request, he silently congratulated himself for still being able to read her. He smiled. "Claire. You can't sleep on my floor. But, you can sleep in my bed. I.." He didn't finish before she jumped in.
Her eyes grew wide. "Really?"
He nodded.
"Thank you!" She squealed as she jump forward, slamming her body into his, hugging his neck. She whispered, tickling his ear. "Just like old times, huh?"
He pulled away. "Claire. Listen. I plan to sleep and shower at the rescue. You need your sleep. And, I have work to do." He explained.
Surprised, she muttered. "Oh. Okay."
Back at his apartment, he showed her around, acquainting her with things. Given its small size, the tour took less then 5 minutes. Michael opted to sleep at the rescue too, on Mirna's couch. Ty reassured him that she wouldn't mind as she was in Alberta for the night to raise money for externship.
Standing at the door about to leave, Ty reminded her. "Michael and I will be back at 7am sharp to pick you up for the conference. So be ready."
She nodded as she yawned.
"The place is yours, so make yourself at home."
"Thanks. I'm just gonna hit the sack." She said, her eyes sleepy. "I am pooped."
"If you need anything, just call or text. We're just a few minutes away. We'll come right back. Okay?" He worried about leaving her alone.
"Ty. I will be fine. You worry too much." She stepped up, tenderly kissed his cheek. "Thanks. And, good night."
She kissed Michael's cheek too, before padding away, towards Ty's bedroom, closing his door behind herself.
Arriving at the rescue at half past seven, the vintage bell marking their entrance. Per usual, the front waiting room was dark, the blinds closed, only the glow of lights from open treatment room in the back lit their way as they walked down the hall. There, Paul was bent over a microscope at the long metal lab table.
"Hey Paul." Ty said in a hushed tone as to not startle him or the animals.
Paul looked up from his work. "Hey Ty. Michael. How's it going?"
Michael offered. "Good. The conference has been excellent so far. Informed instructors. Terrific program. A good sized crowd."
"Hmmf. I avoid conferences like the plaque. They are just crawling with pesky vets." Paul said with clear distaste. "Online has a much better audience. No gunners. No know-it-alls. None. Absolutely none."
Michael tried to suppress his laugh with a cough. He was only moderately successful as Paul gave him the stink eye.
Ty offered up. "This afternoon, we worked on a Peregrine Falcon that flew smack dab into a building downtown this morning. She had bleeding and inflammation to her eye, as well as a fractured beak and ruptured air sac. It was really great working on her. Can't get that online."
Paul shrugged, unimpressed.
Michael tilted his head, squinted his eyes, questioning Ty.
Ty brushed his look off "So Paul. What are you looking at?" Ty asked.
"Gram stained cells from Cloud's Penrose drain. Just checking for bacteria. Drainage had a faint odor, pink to red streaked coloration, but no real thickening." He frowned. "Want to have a look?"
Both vets looked at the slide through the lens. "I'm not seeing much in the way of bacterial staining, purple or red." Michael offered.
"Me neither. We should test again in a few hours to see if it's just to early to test." Ty added.
"Yeah." Paul added.
"Swelling, pain, fever?" Michael asked.
"Yes, some. It's only been a few days so he's still in the inflammatory stage." Paul replied. "They both are."
"Ready to see them?" Ty asked.
"Absolutely." Michael said.
As the two entered the room where Wind and Cloud were stabled and immobilized for rest and recuperation. Tiny lights and steady beeps greeted them. Michael gasped.
"For some reason, I wasn't expecting this level of injury." He confessed almost in a whisper. "Poor babies. May I approach her?" He asked.
With Ty's nod, he moved slowly toward Wind, talking in quiet, tender voice.
"Hey there pretty mama. How are you sweetheart?" She looked at him, uncertain, wary. He gave her time, let her sniff him, nuzzle his hand before he touched her. First with the back of his hand, he slowly moved up and down, along the side of her neck without injury. He continued his calm stream of words. Her sad, unfocused eyes followed him, seemingly understanding.
Ty watched in silence as Michael gained her trust, encouraged her to relax, to trust while talking, quietly cooing to her. He inspected her wounds and sutures, reporting back to her what he saw. "You have excellent doctors taking care of you and your baby." He reassured her.
"Wind, mind if I see your baby? Cloud?" He asked respectfully. When she seemed to grant permission, he moved to Cloud with the same slow, calm movements and tone.
"Hey sweet baby." Cloud was still immobilized, laying on his side, stretched across the blue pads on the floor. Michael examined the young foal, with skill and ease. "I see you have an excellent surgeon Cloud."
He looked at Ty. "I see you employed the near-far-far-near suture technique, textbook perfect."
Ty nodded modestly.
"You are one lucky foal. Did you know that Cloud? You'll be out and about galloping to your heart's content before you know it."
Ty smiled appreciatively. But, only for a moment before he got back to vet work. "Looks there's some new exuberant granulation tissue that needs a bit of trimming. Wanna try your hand?" He asked his trusted friend.
"Of course!"
After the simple procedure, Michael washed up, grabbed a couple of cups of coffee and granola bars from the kitchen and headed to the front waiting room. Ty was already there, lounging in a leather chair, feet up, his kitten nestled in his arms, purring.
Michael handed him a cup and a bar. "Who's this?"
"A.K. is a rescue." Ty said. "She's mine."
"Hey A.K. Where'd you get your name?"
"Just letters." He replied, offering nothing more.
"Well, at least your surgical skills are better than your naming skill. Seriously, Ty. Your surgical skills are very impressive." Michael smiled, then added in a whim. "Have you ever thought about teaching?"
"Thanks." He shrugged. "I would, but as you know, there isn't a school in BC. So..it's not in the cards for me."
"You could come back to UCVM? To Calgary?" He suggested.
"No." He was short and adamant.
"Why?"
"I like Vancouver. I like working here, the challenge, the variety. I certainly will never get bored.. or rich." He laughed. "Mirna, Celina, James, Chip and even Paul. They are like family to me. They are all I have left since mom.." He didn't finish his thought.
"Yeah, I know. How are things?"
"Oh you know. Okay, I suppose. It's been three years now." Ty took a sip of his coffee signaling an end to that conversation.
"Did you hear that Jonathan Welch is retiring?" Michael asked casually. "He put in his notice last week. He planning on leaving after the fall semester."
"No kidding!" Ty exclaimed. "Man, he's an institution. How many years has he been there?"
"Still the founding of the school in 2005."
"Wow. That's gonna be a real loss." Ty remarked. "Just wow."
"Yep."
Ty's cell phone rang, it was Celina.
He answered. "Hey Celina. I'm here at the rescue with Michael. Mind if I put you on speaker?"
With her permission, he did.
"Hey Michael. Ty. How was the conference today?" Celina asked.
They both told her about their sessions.
"Good. Glad to hear that you actually stayed this time and learned something." Celina teased.
The two sheepishly grinned.
"How did Mirna's dinner go? Did she make a bunch of money?" Ty asked, shifting gears.
"Only a hundred bucks so far." Celina admitted, trying not to sound too disappointed.
"Really? That's it. I can't believe that!" Ty was surprised.
"Mirna thinks more will come in. She got a standing ovation."
"Yeah. Big donators usually like to be talked up first." Michael counseled. "Did she meet up with any after her presentation?"
She let out a long, heavy sigh.
"Celina? What's wrong? What happened?" Ty grew worried. "Is she okay?"
"Mirna's fine. It's Dr. Francis. He twisted his ankle when he got home after work today. He's okay but Mirna is flying back as we speak. So. She didn't have a chance to hobnob."
"Celina. I am going to skip the rest of the conference and work." Ty said.
"I can help too." Michael offered.
"Ty Borden. Michael Barnes. Good money was paid for you two to go to that conference. You are not going to skip. You need those credits." She gently chided him. "Okay?"
"Fine."
She shifted. "Tell me. How many votes does Chip have? And how many votes do two you have?"
"You sent my picture in? Really?" Ty acted putout.
"Of course. I sent in one with you doing surgery on the cougar. Now tell me."
Michael read from the website. "Hmm. Looks like Chip has 39 votes. He's in second place!"
"That's amazing. He will be thrilled if he wins. Can you imagine?" Celina said.
"That's ridiculous. Really. Who could possibly have more votes than Chip?" Ty demanded to know.
"Let's canvas tomorrow to try and get him more votes." Michael suggested.
"I'm in." Ty said enthusiastically.
"Good!" Celina said. "Well, men, I got to get to bed. Tomorrow's gonna come early." Soon after they said their good-byes.
The two sat quietly, relaxing drinking their coffee. After a bit, Ty asked Michael. "Have you ever heard of Andrew Pierson?"
Hey everyone.
Hope you enjoy this long one...lots of pieces to tie up. Let me know your thoughts... but please be kind.
SBR
Ps. Be safe, stay healthy.