SOAP 13

After the afternoon traffic, Saras returned home, finished the food, washed dishes, had another shower. As soon as it was dark, went to bed, nothing to sit up for. Lonely, you bet, this life was bad enough, but 3 more like it - oy! Still, can't suicide and so you're stuck with it.

Saras awoke to find herself in a bedroll on a rocky beach. Made tea over her tiny single-burner kero stove and ate a biscuit. So, what to do? Best odds of finding something, say fishing station or such, was stay with the coast. She didn't wear sunglasses, it was dull and dismal, but not cold.
After an hour of walking, she saw a group of some 20 women in uniform. Well they do seem harmless, unarmed.
As soon as she stood in front of the group, Nasreen whispered to Charlie, "oh no, SS again."
Saras spotted Charlie and he spotted her. I'm cooked now, she thought.
Gently, he invited her for tea, she sat shyly.
Quiet so no one else could hear, "Captain Strauss, been a long time. What's your name this time?"
"Saras Persaud."
"Accent and name, I'm guessing Guyanese."
"Yes."
"So whaddya do for a living?"
"Vend cigarettes, but I do have the 2 year teaching certificate." She dug it out of her bag.
He examined it, "so like to work for us? We're short on English teachers."
Saras gasped, "you know me - and you'd still hire me?"
"Absolutely. You happen to know Indira Ramprashad, formerly Major Hilz?"
"From my village, she is."
"She was here, gone back to Canada. She was my 2-i-c and my best friend."
Saras gulped, "your 2-i-c? Your best friend? Surely it's a joke?"
"No Saras, we've buried the old days. Moved on. Do a good job, we'll get you into courses, increase your qualifications. We need people and we prefer people we know."
Saras laughed uneasily, "that we do, know each other."
"Saras, nice room in BOQ, salary, 3 Bollywood movies a week, good chow, satellite TV, friends, how bout it?"
"We-ll," grin, "best offer I've had in ages."
"Girls," Charlie said louder, "meet Saras, our newest English teacher. She actually knows Indira."
Everyone crowded around, hugging her, welcoming her. By the end of the day, as the group headed back, Saras was engrossed in conversation with a little circle of friends.
One look at the BOQ room and she gasped, "you people do know how to live."
"Come have supper, Bollywood movie tonight."
As Saras lay in bed after, she shook her head. And I thought they'd kill me. Some cute girls here, some unattached, maybe even someone for me.
Things went well in class. People were happy with her spoken English, her work ethic.
Within a month, she had 4 really close friends.
And then she found love. Tasma had been unattached for too long and sparks flew. Saras ended up in the same MQ block as the guy she hated in Yugoslavia, small world.

After several months, Tasma and Saras opted for a ring ceremony. Who else for witnesses but your former enemy, now friend?
Yes Saras reflected, nice here. Love, teaching work, comradeship, movies and good food.
Curiously, her best friends were all ex-B54.

One night as Tasma and Saras snuggled, Saras gasped, "of course you're joking? He actually publicly admitted Indira had run the place better than him?"
"Yes, glad of the savings, used it on improvements."
Saras raised an eyebrow.
Tasma smiled, kissed her, "you see, good and evil are only two sides of the same coin. One can't exist without the other. If you can do one well, then you can do the other well, even if you don't particularly want to."
"Makes sense, I guess, we do have more energy than average people. So how did he get here?"
Saras then laughed herself sick hearing the story of the ferry, "awesome guy, best sort of CO."

One time in the mess, Saras decided to go for it. "Charlie," she said quietly, "I've heard them say, if you're afraid of the counsellor, you'd come along on the first visit, help break the ice."
"Old hat. No one is afraid anymore. No one laughs at you, just a part of life here."
Saras breathed a sigh of relief, "so if people see me exit Nooria' office, it won't be hot gossip?"
"Heavens no, they'll respect you for having courage to face problems."
"Still Nooria isn't one of us, hasn't seen the killing fields. If I go by myself, she'll think I'm well mad."
"I would be pleased to accompany you on the first visit and as many more as you need."
"Thank you so much, let's book a time that works for you and me."

Charlie started softly, "now Nooria, Saras and I, well we've seen some rather unusual things in our last lifetime. In fact, the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is bothering her. Let me explain some of what happened ....."
Nooria listened for the entire first appointment, ashen with shock.
At the end of it, to her credit, Nooria rallied. Smiled, "well I can certainly see how PTSD comes out of all that. We can work with it. Now Saras, you prefer Charlie to come to the next appointment or not?"
"Yes please," she said urgently.
As they walked out, Saras wrapped her tiny arms around him, "thank the heavens. Without you, wouldn't have flown. Stay with me a few appointments."
He looked at his former enemy, now his freind, smiled, "sure, glad to."
She cried.

Nooria didn't have a person coming in right away. Next time slot was for filing or writing up paper. She stared out the window. She knew from reading that Charlie had downplayed it bigtime, it was far worse than his little speech would indicate. So, what's shocking? Finding out real people have to deal with this stuff afterwards.
Real people, like a quiet little girl who couldn't get a teaching job anywhere before here. Out on the road selling cigs one or two at a time.
Nooria had been at the coast the day Charlie hired Saras. Knew from the others Saras was ex-SS. Nooria had wondered why on earth Charlie had hired her. Now she knew. Saras was expected to do some sort of good in the world, some sort of redemption. Before Charlie, no one had given her the chance. In effect, he'd offered the olive branch and she'd taken it. Yeah, she does her job well, must be a good love from the look on Tasma.
And now Saras had enough nerve to think of Mount Everest. But of course one doesn't do Everest alone, need Sherpas. Nooria laughed, yeah Charlie and me, we're the Sherpas.
But then Indira was ex-SS and had ended up his best friend. Go figure. Strange world. And he'd been within an inch of killing her. Well guess it's a learning experience for him too.

Tasma smothered Saras with kisses, "I'm so proud of you. Courage, took lots. How'd it go?"
"Charlie was magnificent. Told the story, how it affected me. Without him, wouldn't have worked. He's agreed to go several more appointments."
"I'm glad."
Grin, "he coulda made me sound like an evil swine, but he didn't."
Both cried, hugged.

Tiny trapper-type cabin, northern Manitoba, January, -55 degrees. Gilbert Berens arose. He lived all alone in this cabin ten miles from the settlement. He wasn't trapping. No animals left; fur prices too low; didn't have the capital for skidoo and gear. Like everyone else in the settlement, he lived on social assistance. Non-treaty, he was a responsibility of the provincial government. Treaty people were covered by the federal government of Canada.
Several things set him apart from the rest. He'd never touched a drop of alcohol in his life. Just couldn't understand how people could be so self-destructive, all the drinking and stabbing.
His only vice, tobacco, went through one 50 gram package a month, light usage here.
Though almost illiterate, knew about scurvy, ate an orange every day. Most didn't, rather use the money on booze.
The real reason he was out here - he'd been banished by the elders. He was allowed in town welfare day to pick up his cheque. Once a week to buy supplies. Break the rules and they'd kill him. They knew an evil spirit when they saw one. Nevertheless the elders were also quite strict with others - do not harm him in any way or you'll pay. He must be allowed to live out his life - whatever it was - was between him and the spirits - not up to us to intervene.
After a walk in the cold, he felt better. That's what those idiots in the settlement need he thought, more fresh air and exercise.
Supper was bannock, bacon and tea. Rolled a cig, stared out his tiny one foot square window.
His thoughts drifted back. When we moved, the very earth shook, now look at me. I was only a sergeant. What are the bigshots facing?"