#today i have been in the drs office for 42 minutes waiting to be seen

[anonymusbosch]

oughhhhh medical system.

[charlie-boio]

Learning to Love Again - Part 1

Pairing: Mitch Rapp x Reader

Word Count: 6089

A/N: Hey hey!! So this is the start of my new series for @writingsbychlo​ Mitch Month. She also helped me develop this idea which I am very grateful for! This will be a mutual healing fic for both Mitch and the reader, so please enjoy while I take you on a journey. I love this idea so much so I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

WARNINGS: gun violence, talks of past abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse, mentions of panic attacks.

  “Stay away from me!” you back away slowly, your arms extended shakily out in front of you. Unfortunately, you were running out of space and your back hit a wall.

“You really thought you could leave me? ME? Who else will have you, you worthless bitch!” Jake slammed his hand against the wall next to your head. You flinched, jerking your head away. He was uncomfortably close, his breath hot against you, his glare piercing right through you.

“Please…go away…” you whimpered, tears falling freely now. You felt yourself shrink into yourself more and more, internally begging whatever God was out there to let you escape this situation.

Apparently, He wasn’t listening.

Jake moved even closer; his chest pressed hard against yours. “You’re staying right here, with me. I’m not going anywhere,”

Feeling as though you had nothing left to lose, you jerked your head forward, ramming it up into his nose. Jake yelled out, stumbling back clutching his nose, blood dripping through his fingers. Your eyes went wide for a split second before you bolted, running down the stairs, through the kitchen and out the back door. You weren’t sure what to do or where you were going to go, but right now the adrenaline coursing through your veins wasn’t concerned about a plan. All you were concerned about was getting away.

A loud clap came roaring through the air, followed by an extreme pain tearing through your side. A loud shriek echoed, and for a split second you turned to see if anyone was hurt before realizing the screams and cries were your own. The starry sky above you began to blur away, voices shouting around you that began to blur together with your vision. Eventually a face came into your view, but by that point you were too far gone.

Now you were in darkness.

Falling…falling…falling…

*

*

You jerked awake, sitting up in your bed. Your hand remained clamped onto your side while you gasped for air. You tried your best to remember what your Dr. Hanson had said to you, but her words died in your head, feeling frustratingly out of reach.

After a few painstakingly long minutes, your gasps turned into deeper breaths. Your eyes glanced around the room, taking in your new surrounds. You went through a mantra in your head ‘This isn’t Jake’s house in Los Angles. This is your apartment that he cannot get into. He’s currently in jail, and he cannot hurt you.’ You repeated that to yourself a few more times until it truly stuck in your head.

Tentatively, you touched the scar on your left side, feeling the raised mark against your skin. You said your last mantra out loud, “It was only a dream…”

Knowing sleep wouldn’t come back to you, you got up and stretched. Picking at your fingers, you glanced at the clock. 4:58. You smiled a little to yourself. Dr. Hanson would be proud of you for sleeping in an hour longer than last week, though she’ll be disappointed you couldn’t get a night without nightmares. That thought killed your mood slightly as you got up and made your way to the kitchen.

Your apartment was small, with only one bedroom since you didn’t know anyone who would come to see you. The living room and kitchen were connected, and you had a lovely little porch outside of the living room on the third floor of your apartment building. There wasn’t much to your apartment since Jake made sure you didn’t have many possessions anymore, but you were proud of it, nonetheless.

You settled on the couch, flicking through different channels on your bulky TV until you found a show that was mind numbing enough for you to watch. The thought of eating crossed your mind for a split second before you shook it from your mind. You weren’t hungry, you never were in the mornings anymore.

Besides, after your session today you go to the coffee shop down the street, and that would be a lot of your calories for the day.

Instead, you sat there watching the screen, but your eyes and ears weren’t really focusing on it. You just needed the noise to distract you from hearing Jake’s voice ringing in your head. Or maybe by now it was your own voice. Quite honestly, you couldn’t tell the difference anymore.

You blinked and apparently now the sun was up. You blinked rapidly a few more times and rubbed your eyes together. A surge of panic raced through you as you checked the time before immediately sighing and seeing that it was only 8:28 now. You still had about another hour before you had to leave. Since you had the time, you decided to shower before heading over to Dr. Hanson’s office. You walked into the bathroom and clicked the lock on the door. Even though you lived by yourself you always locked the door. You didn’t think you could relax without it. Turning on the water, you stepped out of your clothes and made sure it was a slightly too hot temperature before stepping in.

Showering was another way for you to shut out your past trauma and memories, and perhaps it wasn’t healthy, but right now you didn’t know how else you could deal with Jake’s pounding in your head, and there wasn’t anyone you were close to anymore who could tell you that this was wrong, other than Dr. Hanson. All you wanted was a moment of peace, so you’d spend way too long just standing in the water, letting it wash over your skin before rushing through washing your hair and body and hopping out.

Unfortunately, the shower took a little longer than you thought it would, and by the time you got out, changing into a plain white t-shirt with leggings and tennis shoes, it was already 9:42. You should’ve left 12 minutes ago.

Your eyes widened at the clock while your heart began to race. Fuck, fuck, fuck! You thought to yourself miserably and you ran out the door. You didn’t want to seem like a freak, so you instead walked a little faster than normal as you made your way to Dr. Hanson’s office. Thankfully, you still arrived by 8:56, four minutes early. You still felt the familiar pool of guilt in your stomach as you sat down and waited for Dr. Hanson to call you back.

You bounced your knee while looking down and picking at your fingers, opening the barely healed scabs that were around them. You glanced up at the secretary Trevor, who didn’t meet your eye as he was typing away at his laptop, looking over all the therapists’ schedules for the day.

You looked over to your right to see someone else sitting, his leg crossed over with his foot resting against his knee. His dark hair was a little on the longer side, but the look suited him well, along with the dark wash jeans and black t-shirt that clung to him well. A few moles scattered across his face; some you couldn’t see quite as well beneath the stubble he had. You couldn’t help but feel like he was out of place; he looked completely at ease, slouching in his chair while he read one of the community magazines they offered. He looked like everyone else, someone who didn’t have nearly as many fucked up problems as you did.

You had seen him here a few times, showing up every other Sunday, and while he spoke warmly to everyone he’s interacted with (Trevor), but he looks like he just keeps to himself. Still, he looked so calm to you. It’d be nice to have that in your life.

His golden eyes flicked up to yours, making eye contact with you. You jumped and immediately casted your eyes down to your fingers, resuming your picking. It’s impolite to stare, Jake’s voice echoed in your head. And he was right. Your head began to pound. Rude, rude, rude, RUDE!

“Y/n?”

Your head snapped up at Trevor’s voice, meeting his gaze. He smiled politely at you. “Dr. Hanson’s waiting for you. You can go right in.”

You nodded and mumbled a thanks under your breath and you gathered yourself up and wait past Trevor’s desk. You could feel the other man’s eyes on you, but you refused to acknowledge him.

You sat in Dr. Hanson’s office, adjusting yourself left and right, continuing to bounce your leg. Her office was rather small, nothing super extravagate. It was painted a pale blue, with her desk turned to face the large window. On the sides were bookshelves, which were filled with different classical reads you recognized. In the far corner was a cat tower, where Herbert was sleeping lazily, and in the center laid a rug with two couches on it, one of which you were sitting in. You crossed your legs politely, and you kept your head low, keeping your gaze down at your hands, which picking at the skin around your fingernails.

“Y/n? Did you hear me?”

Your head snapped up; eyes wide. Fuck. You were definitely not paying attention.

“Um…I-I’m sorry, Dr. Hanson” you mumbled, casting your eyes back down and sinking further into your chair.

“It’s alright, I simply made the observation that you hadn’t been working on what we discussed this past week.”

Double fuck. She’d asked you to work on not picking at the skin around your fingers, and you had agreed that it was something you needed and would work on. In all honestly, you had completely forgotten about it; you were really wrapped up in doing your own thing and just trying to survive.

You contemplated lying, but that didn’t work out too well last week. Not that Dr. Hanson got angry with you; she never seemed to ever get mad with you. Disappointed, maybe, but never mad, and now that you thought about it, she never even seemed disappointed either.

You forced yourself to make eye contact, something else she had asked you to work on that you never did. “No, I haven’t. I’m really sorry.” You said, voice raised to be slightly above the mumble you usually went with nowadays.

Dr. Hanson took notice and smiled at you encouragingly. “That’s okay. Would you feel comfortable trying again next week? Or should we adjust a our strategy?”

You shook your head. “No, I want to try again. I really just forgot about it, Dr. Hanson, but I want to try and focus on it this week. If that doesn’t work, then we can try something else. I want to try and get better.”

“I know it’s hard for you to see, but you already are doing better than before. It’s small, yes, and it may not feel like something worth feeling proud over, but I can assure you it absolutely is. How’s your routine been doing, for example,” Dr. Hanson asked while scribbling something down in her notebook.

“Really well,” you answered. And it was. Until you heard Dr. Hanson say so, you just now realize that your routine had been something you greatly improved on. Until you thought about your nightmares, suddenly a pit fell through to your stomach. “Um…I’m not too sure you’ll like my routine…” you lowered your voice as you spoke.

“Would you mind telling me anyways?”

You shook your head. “No, I don’t mind. Um…so I still have nightmares every night. It’s never the same incident, unless it’s…that night. Um, so I’ll usually wake up around 3:30 to 4:30. Somewhere in there. Um, then I’ll make a cup of coffee…but Decaf. I only have regular coffee on Sundays, so I’ll just watch TV until around 7:00, then I’ll shower and get ready for work which starts at 9:00, and then 4:00 I’ll go home and take a walk for about an hour or so. Then I’ll dinner and then I’ll…try to sleep,” you finished with a nod.

Dr. Hanson was nodding along, a smile on her face as she happily took notes while you spook. When she finished, she looked up at you. “What do you usually do on weekends?”

“Um…well nothing. Just watch TV, maybe read something. On Sundays I come see you and then go to this little coffee shop down the street, but other than that I don’t do anything,” you said, and honestly even reading was a small lie. You used to read a lot, almost five books a week. But after this past year, you honestly couldn’t remember the last time you read a book.

Dr. Hanson gave you a questioning look but decided against saying anything. “Can I ask a nudge question?” she asked.

Nudge and push questions. Nudges were topics that for you were uncomfortable to talk about but wouldn’t be panic attack inducing. It was mostly the “after-effects” of your and Jake’s relationship. Pushes were scarier and were questions specifically about what he did during your relationships. When you had first started out with therapy, you struggled to open up and it was awkward, and a little tense. However, once you developed this nudge and push system, it made your sessions go much smoother, especially if you weren’t ready to talk about certain things.

You took a deep breath and nodded, “I’m ready,” you answered.

“Can you tell me what your nightmares were about this week? If any of them are pushes, you don’t have to talk about them,”

Herbert had woken and was moving up on the couch and into your lap, so you were petting him as you thought it over. “Can I keep them brief?” you asked, a slight waver in your voice.

“Of course, whatever you feel comfortable with,” Dr. Hanson smiled at you encouragingly.

“Okay, well, most of them were from…that night. That’s usually when I would wake up, too. One of them was the day he locked me in the closet, only he never lets me out and I slowly shrivel away, and the last one was when we first met. Everyone was giving him weird looks, but I didn’t know what was wrong. Then he tore off his face and turned into a demon, and everyone was laughing at me…” Herbert cuddled into you closer, his big green eyes looking at you expectedly. It took you a second to realize you’d stopped petting him.

“Do you believe that dreams have any significance to your daily life?”

Nope, you thought. “I haven’t given it much thought.”

“Well, some might say in your latest dream, the one where Jake is a demon, that you blame yourself for not seeing it the signs sooner, and that everyone around you was able to see through it immediately. Would that have some semblance to real life at all?”

Whoops. You sighed. “…but it is true. I didn’t see it.”

“Y/n, a lot of people didn’t see it. Jake had a job, normal friends, and you both had neighbors that you regularly interacted. All of them didn’t see what was happening either. Do you blame them as well?”

“No, but-“

“Then it’s not your fault either. I know it’ll take some time for you to fully see this, but you were manipulated and groomed. This happens to people all over the world, and it’s no one’s fault but the person who did this to you, and you’ve been building your life back.”

Tears were lining your eyes now. “But-but I don’t feel like I’m accomplishing anything. I don’t feel better, and somehow even though he’s gone, I don’t feel free from him,” you blinked, and the tears fell.

“It’ll take time. Lots of time. Two years is a long relationship to undo, and it’ll be very hard I won’t lie, but you’re a strong girl. A survivor. You can get through this, I know it.” Dr. Hanson was able to say it with such confidence that you almost believed it.

Glancing at the clock, you realized 50 minutes had passed. Somehow, it still shocked you how much time flew by during these sessions.

“One last thing before we call it a day, sound good?”

“Okay,” you wiped your tears from your face.

Dr. Hanson handed you a tissue before continuing, “How about your job? You’ve been doing that for about two months now, and I haven’t heard you talk about it much.”

“Oh, it’s going good. I mostly just answer phones and organize people’s schedules. It’s a simple job, but I’ve been liking it a lot.”

“Have you made any friends?” Slowly, you shook your head. You barely spoke to anyone outside of the mandatory meetings to go over their upcoming week.

“Okay, are you up for another task to work on? You don’t have to accomplish it this week if you don’t want to, but maybe something to keep in mind, okay?” you nodded for her to continue. She smiled and said, “Make a friend. Maybe someone to join you at your coffee shop? Or someone to grab lunch with on Saturdays. You’ve been living here for almost three months, so make some roots; someone to talk to other than me. Give it some thought for me, okay?”

Herbert jumped off you, signaling the end of your session. You sat there for a moment. Another person scared you. Right now, you had your safe little bubble with you and Dr. Hanson. Anyone else was untrustworthy. What if they were like Jake?

Still, you knew it was unrealistic to shut everyone out, and if you were being honest, it’s been lonely. “…okay. I-I’ll try,” you said slowly.

Dr. Hanson smiled brightly at you while finishing up her notes. When she was done, she’d bid you a good day, and you left her office.

Walking down the street, you started thinking it over a bit more. You hadn’t even thought about starting over your life or making new friends. Thinking it over, you realized that’s probably why Dr. Hanson was pushing you to get a job in the first place. 

Therapists are sneaky…

That wasn’t true. They just point out obvious information and guide you through. It’s not her fault that your oblivious to it.

Turning the corner, you walked into The Roasted Bean. Sunday’s were popular, and today wasn’t an exception. You were about seven people back with everyone else buzzing around the shop, but you didn’t mind; it’s not like you were doing anything anyways. Besides, there were always tables available somehow.

Ben always worked Sundays, so he had gotten to know you briefly, or at least he knew your name. “Hey y/n, what would you like?” he asked warmly.

“Small iced caramel latte with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle please,” It was your usual order, but sometimes you liked to shake it up. Ben nodded at you before quickly going over to make your drink while you stepped aside. You started picking at your fingers, then quickly closed your fists, instead opting to fiddle with your wallet strap instead.

“Y/n?” Ben called, pushing your drink across the counter. You gave him a small smile, grabbing the drink from him. You turned to go to your usually spot to sit down and enjoy your coffee, but found a couple sitting there already. You fumbled for a moment and realized there weren’t any empty seats left.

You took in deep breaths, thinking over your options. You didn’t want to go back to your apartment, you would just lay in front of the TV again, and the park was a far walk from here, so by the time you would get there your coffee would be finished. You scanned the bakery again, hoping to find an empty seat when something caught your eye.

The man from the lobby was sitting at the far corner table, sipping on his coffee while reading a book. You weren’t sure how he found the peace to do that in a coffee shop. Like before, he looked relaxed and calm, something you were still drawn to. Taking another look over, you saw no one else sitting by themselves.

Dr. Hanson’s words echoed through your head. Make a friend.

Your legs were moving before you registered it, walking over to the man. Before you could think of a way to grab his attention, his eyes were already focused on you. They weren’t cold; they had a cautious undertone beneath the warm amber hues.

Still, he smiled at you softly, closing his book.

“Hi,” you said, wincing slightly as the stiffness in your tone.

“Hey, can I help you?” he responded evenly, keeping a pleasant smile on his face, but you could see him stiffen with you, though you had a feeling it was for different reasons.

“Um…” Fuck, this was a lot harder than you thought. “So-well-okay, I usually come to this coffee shop every Sunday and sit over there,” you jerked your thumb in the general direction of your usual spot. “And I usually sit by myself, but there isn’t open seats…and I guess I could you know go outside…or um go home, but I’m still pretty new here, so I was hoping I could sit with you for today?” You shuffled back and forth on your feet, flashing the man a quick smile.

He stared at you for a moment, still analyzing you. “Why me?”

You blushed. You didn’t really have a good answer for that. “Oh, well…I’ve seen you around before, and you seem to be pretty calm and…friendly…or at least able to tolerate someone while they drank coffee and talked about the weather,”

The man still didn’t say anything, his gaze hardened slightly. You were starting to think this was all a big mistake, but before you could open your mouth and apologize, he spoke. “Okay,” he said slowly, still not trusting you. “you can sit here.” He gave you another small smile.

It took you a moment to register what he said before you smiled back, settling down in the seat across from him.

For a few minutes, the two of you sat there uncomfortably, sipping your coffee. Maybe this was a bad idea. He probably changed his mind about you and now thinks you’re too odd to have as friend. I should just leave… As you went to make up an excuse, he spoke up. “What’s your name? I should probably know you a little better if we’re gonna sit together so it’s not like I’m talking to a brick wall.”

You giggled at his comment, “My name’s y/n y/l/n. What’s yours?”

“Mitch. Mitch Rapp.” You nodded, repeating the name to yourself under your breath. “How long ago did you move here?”

“Oh, I’ve only been here for a few months now,” you said.

“Ah, so that’s why I only just now saw you at O’Neil offices,” Mitch said smoothly.

You raised an eyebrow at him, “O’Neil?”

“O’Neil offices yeah, for therapy?”

Your eyes widened; your stomach dropped as you flicked your eyes down.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable…” Mitch said softly as he gave you a worried look.

“No, no its fine it’s just…I always thought you weren’t supposed to talk about it…” you said, lowering your voice as you talked.

“Oh no, not at all,” Mitch visible relaxed. “I mean, it’s about whatever you feel comfortable with, so if you’d like I’d never bring it up again, but you don’t have to think about it like it’s a bad thing that you’re going or something that you have to keep a secret. It’s for you, and for whatever reasons you’re going.”

“How long have you been going?”

“A little over a year now,” he said. “I, uh, probably should’ve started awhile ago, but better late than never.” Mitch took another long drink of his coffee.

“So…it gets easier?” you asked, voice small.

“Eventually. It takes a lot of work, and a lot of patience. I’m not even where I want to be, but you know, it’s about setting goals for yourself, and you’re always adding and changing them, no matter how big or small they are. My biggest goal right now is to one day look back and see just how far I’ve come, you know?”

You smiled at him. “That…that sounds like a great goal to have,” you said. “I might steal it from you,”

Mitch laughed, and it confused you for a moment before you realized he laughed at the joke you made. It’s been so long since you had any friends you had forgotten what it felt like. You decided to be brave for a moment, “Um, what kind of coffee is that? I’ve always been a big coffee fan and love trying new ones,” You both smiled at each other.

You two stayed in that coffee shop for a while, talking about little things. To some, it may have seemed like a meaningless conversation, but for the both of you, it meant everything. For you, it was another step in taking back your life and placing roots in a place that maybe one day you could call home. And though you didn’t know it, Mitch was opening up to you slowly in a way he hadn’t done with anyone else in a long time. It felt like a positive step, for both of you.

Mitch’s sense of humor was darker than you expected, but so was yours, especially after everything that happened. You laughed and smile more in the short time with Mitch than you have in the past two years of your life. Maybe longer. It felt easy and comfortable, like perhaps you two have known each other your whole lives.

After a particularly long set of giggles, you finally managed to ask, “So, what do you do for a living?”

“Oh, I’m a CIA consultant,” Mitch answered, twirling the now empty coffee cup in his hands.

Your eyebrows shot up, “Holy shit! That’s really impressive,” and you truly thought that. Normally, someone with a violent job like that terrified you, but for some reason, you weren’t scared of Mitch.

“Yeah. A while back I used to work in a Special Forces part of the CIA, and I’m sorry but I can’t tell much more about it, but we would travel a lot and would be involved in the more serious cases. I can’t go into too much detail for obvious reasons, but it kept me distracted. I…had gotten into it for the wrong reasons, so after a few years of doing it I just felt…really empty. And I hated that. I guess you could say my passion for going out into the field had died down. It didn’t satisfy me anymore, and I wasn’t getting…what I wanted out of it. So, I moved to the desk job version of it. Now, I’d only go in the field if it was extremely serious, but they haven’t used me yet. After I moved to that desk job, I started going to therapy. Now here I am,” He gestured to the café you were in. He shifted in his seat, “I, uh, haven’t, told many people that…”

You blushed, before settling on another bold move. You reached out your hand, “Um…can I?” Mitch nodded, holding his hand out to you. You grabbed it and squeezed it gently. “I’m…I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me. And I get that, you know…the empty feeling…”

If you were really honest, this was the first time you had felt something in a long time. Even if it was just the start of your friendship.

Mitch squeezed your hand back, and you two left it like that on the table. The back of your said that this wasn’t something friends do, but you weren’t really listening to it. Instead, you two sat that, not saying another but not needing to. You could tell that Mitch was holding something back, but you couldn’t blame him. It’s not like you were being an open book yourself.

“What about you?” Mitch asked.

“Well, right now, I’m a secretary at the office down the street. I hope one day I could save enough money to go back to school, so I can finish my degree and become an elementary teacher,” your brain caught up to you, and you realized that you hadn’t told anyone about that dream, not even Dr. Hanson. Your heart quickened just a little bit. Why do I trust him so much? He’s a bigshot CIA member, he probably thinks that’s stupid…

However, Mitch smiled genuinely at you. “I can see that for you,” he said simply.

“R-really?”

“Yeah. I can read people pretty well, and I can just tell by looking at you that it’s something you’re passionate about, and you’d be really good at it,”

Happy tears sprung in your eyes, but you quickly blinked them away. Dr. Hanson always said she thought you were strong and brave, but somehow you wouldn’t believe her simply because she was your doctor. She was supposed to hype you up and say those things. But hearing that from someone you felt you had made a genuine connection with? It was something you hadn’t heard in a while, and it made you feel that maybe your dreams weren’t worthless after all.

“Thank you for saying that, Mitch. It…means a lot,”

“Meant every word, and I’m an extremely honest person. I promise I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it,” Mitch took a glance at his watch. “Do you live far from here? I would love to keep talking but I have a phone meeting at three that I can’t miss.”

You raised an eyebrow, fishing out your phone, “Three? But it’s only-“ you cut yourself off. It was 2:33. “We’ve been here for three hours?” you exclaimed.

Mitch chuckled, “Yep. Time flies, right? I can walk you to your apartment building, if you don’t mind. Do you live far?”

“Oh, just around the corner,”

You two left the coffee shop, still making some small talk to each other until you arrived outside the apartment building. Mitch turned to you, another soft smile on his face.

“I had a good time. We should do this again.”

“Absolutely! I had a wonderful time,” you said. And it was true, you did.

“Can I have your number then? I’d love to meet up for coffee next Sunday again,” Mitch was pulling out his phone.

“Oh, of course yeah!” you said happily, pulling out your phone. Your mood faltered slightly when you looked at the four pitiful contacts you had in your phone: Dr. Hanson’s number for emergencies, your boss’s number, your landlord’s number, and the only number Jake could never get you to delete.

Mom

You stared at your mother’s contact screen of the two of you together, big grins on your faces while the two of you had been vacationing in Rome. Your mom was always your biggest supporter, and you would never forgive yourself for the things you said to her that night.

Quickly, you pressed the ‘Create A New Contact’ button, looking up at Mitch. If he saw the contact list, he didn’t say anything, which you were grateful for. The two of you exchanged numbers.

“Okay, I’ll text you alright?” Mitch said, shoving his phone back into his pocket.

“I’d like that,” you said with a smile.

Mitch stepped towards you and wrapped his arms around you in a hug. You froze for a second, unsure of what to do before melting into it, wrapping your arms around his neck. This feels nice, you thought, and you could’ve stayed like that for the rest of day.

Instead, Mitch pulled back, placing a gentle kiss on your forehead that caused your heart to flutter in a good way.

“See you around,” Mitch said, stepping away and giving you a wave.

“Bye!” you waved back at him as he turned around and walked in the opposite direction. You stood there for a moment, watching him leave before you entered your building.

Walking through your apartment door, you realized a few things: 1. You were still smiling from the hug Mitch gave you. 2. On the walk home, you two had held hands then too, and 3. In the entire time you were talking to Mitch, you hadn’t picked your fingers once.

You sighed happily as you set down your things and headed for the couch. For the first time in a few years, you had had a good day.

[religioused]

Where Did My Plowshares Go?

Holy Saturday

by Gary Simpson

Scriptures:

Psalm 31:1-4 The Message

I run to you, GOD; I run for dear life. Don’t let me down! Take me seriously this time! Get down on my level and listen, and please—no procrastination! Your granite cave a hiding place, your high cliff nest a place of safety.

3-5 You’re my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide. Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you. I’ve put my life in your hands. You won’t drop me, you’ll never let me down.

John 19:38-42 The Message

After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body.

39-42 Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus’ body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.

1 Peter 4:1 and 6 (ESV)

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

Reflection:

Holy Saturday is the link between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Today is a vigil pause between the cross and the resurrection.(1) Holy Saturday is that "in between time." (2) As much as we may wish that we could ignore the fact that we are caught in-between, we cannot ignore the in-between periods of our lives. We are not given the privilege of skipping Holy Saturday in our lives.(3) Our province and our country are stuck in Holy Saturday. The Coronavirus pandemic struck. Many businesses closed temporarily, some to never open again. At times early in the pandemic, things felt unnatural – just way too quiet. And the price of oil plummeted. We are still waiting for the normal to return. Spiritually, we caught in a holding zone. The crucifixion is passed, but the full glory of the resurrection is not here yet.(4) Holy Saturday 2021, for some of us, feels like over a year of Holy Saturdays. The Coronavirus lockdown is a brutally long, anxious, and vulnerable time.

Even children have Holy Saturday moments. When I was a kid, there were times when my punishment was to sit quietly on a kitchen chair. No talking was allowed. I could sit in the chair, okay, but no talking was rough. The three to five minutes timeouts felt like an eternity. I think my silent timeouts might have been more challenging for my mother than they were for me because I just could not keep quiet.

Canada is still sitting on the kitchen chair - over a year later. McDougall United Church is sitting on the chair for a second Easter. The Holy Saturday moments in life feel like they are an eternity long. During the pandemic, the Holy Saturday moments for children are especially challenging. Many children had to take courses online and were cut off from their friends and classmates for weeks, even months. Children learning at home have to try to navigate a dual relationship with their parents, where their parents might be functioning both in both a teacher's role and in a parent's role. And a special place dedicated to learning, school, no longer exists. Learning takes place in the home, the same place where children live and play. As with my time-out moments, the shift to learning at home can be difficult for parents too. Being plunged into a quasi-teaching role with almost no time to shift gears is difficult.

Jesus is gone – dead and buried. The disciples lost their teacher and friend, Jesus' family lost a son and a brother. The region of Palestine lost a dynamic itinerant rabbi. Jesus was executed for being a potential source of discontent against the government and the religious leadership, which were closely related. Jesus' disciples and family were deep in shock, possibly dealing with anger and fear. They may feel very vulnerable. What if someone falsely accuses them, just like they falsely accused Jesus? When you are hiding, hoping nobody is thinking of you or coming for you, time is painfully slow. Some people are experiencing are feeling afraid and vulnerable with our COVID Holy Saturday.

Hans Steiner, of Stanford University indicates that the social isolation caused by the pandemic Conflicts with our need to "social interventions" that help us "resolve anger" when we believe that we are "at the mercy of injustice and uncertainty." (5) Tensions seem to be high during the pandemic. There are many possible reasons – uncertainty, danger, children's education bouncing between school and home, work bouncing back and forth between office and home, job uncertainty, business closures, and extreme incidents of injustice. We are experiencing loss of loved ones, loss of lifestyle, loss of routines, loss of dreams, and financial loss. David Rosemarie, assistant professor in the Harvard Medical School's Department of Psychiatry, says he is seeing an increase in levels of anger in his practice.(6) There are times when anxiety and depression can look like anger.(7) David Rosemarie believes the anger over masks is related to fear over civil rights being taken away. He believes that fear is due to fear of the virus. Rosemarie observes, "When we're aggressive, we don't have to show our vulnerability to other people." (8)

You might be thinking, "Are there any scientific studies about COVID restrictions contributing to anger. In the United Kingdom, a study was conducted of over 2,200 participants aged 16–75 years. The study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, found that 56% of the participants reported "having had arguments, feeling angry or fallen out with others because of COVID- 19." The researchers concluded that COVID-19 restrictions cause "considerable strain." (9) If you are feeling anxious and angry, and you think COVID restrictions might be impacting your behavior, you are not alone.

There are many explanations as to what 1 Peter Chapter 4 means. I am not going to discuss the complex range of opinions. There might not be a highly definitive meaning for 1 Peter Chapter 4.(10) A few commentators consider the passage to be a mysterious encounter Jesus had with the dead, after Jesus' death.(11) 1 Peter Chapter 4 can be seen as a symbolic representation of the depth of God's love and grace. Holy Saturday could be the time when Jesus brought the Gospel of saving grace to all of the dead from the preceding ages. Verses 5-6 could refer to the Gospel going to "all the dead." The epistle of 1 Peter seems to be about Christ descending to the "place of the dead" to preach to the dead.(12) I tend to believe that descending into the depth of hell symbolizes the fact that there is no mistake, no sin that God cannot forgive, that nobody is left out of the realm of God's grace. The key takeaway is that God is just. Judgment is fair, because even those who died before Jesus' ministry on the cross hear the good news.(13)

Jonathan Turtle, an Anglican priest, describes Jesus as descending into the grave and "taking Adam and Eve by the hand," and leading them out of the grave, "pulling them up out of the grave." Rowan Williams, when he was the Archbishop of Canterbury, observes that this was not the youthful Adam and Eve.(14) Like Rowan Williams, I invite you to picture the old Adam and Eve. I am going to give you a moment to picture Adam and Eve. I see them as frail, with thin gray hair, arthritic hands, stooped shoulders, and eyes grown dim with age. I can almost picture them weighed down with a lifetime of guilt and shame. Then, I can visualize a change, as the fear of meeting God, and as a lifetime of guilt and shame, melts away in the presence of the Christ.

Middle Church tweeted, "Too many Christians act as if the Bible asks us to beat plowshares into swords." (15) Sadly, it is not just Christians who act like the Bible says we should beat our plowshares into swords. At a time fear is causing some tense, anxious, and fearful people to beat their emotional plowshares into swords, and they are living out an angry, grace challenged form of religion.

Prayer:

Companion God, in our Holy Saturday season, we give you our offering – the broken dreams, uncertainty, sense of oppression, anger, anxiety, fear, and depression. These things are too much for us. Beat the swords of those emotions into plowshares and use the plowshares to help plant a garden of healing. Amen.

Notes

(1)Jonathan Turtle. “A Sermon for Holy Saturday.” 26 March 2016, 18 March 2021. The Church of St, Mary and St. Martha. <https://stmaryandstmartha.org/a-sermon-for-holy-saturday/>.

(2)Michael K. Marsh. “A Sermon for Holy Saturday, Matthew 27:57-66.” Interrupting the Silence. <interruptingthesilence.com/2011/04/23/a-reflection-on-holy-saturday-matthew-2757-66/amp/>.

(3)Marsh <interruptingthesilence.com/2011/04/23/a-reflection-on-holy-saturday-matthew-2757-66/amp/>.

(4)Marsh <interruptingthesilence.com/2011/04/23/a-reflection-on-holy-saturday-matthew-2757-66/amp/>.

(5)Hans Steiner. “COVID-19 Q&A: Dr. Hans Steiner on Anger and Aggression.” Sanford University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. n.d., 23 March 2021. <https:med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/about/covid19/anger.html>.

(6)Alvin Powell. “Soothing Advice for a Mad America.” The Harvard Gazette. 14 August 2020, 23 March 2021. <https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/08/a-closer-look-at-americas-pandemic-fueled-anger/>.

(7)Powell (2020) <https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/08/a-closer-look-at-americas-pandemic-fueled-anger/>.

(8)Powell (2020) <https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/08/a-closer-look-at-americas-pandemic-fueled-anger/>.

(9)Louise E Smith, et. al. “Anger and Confrontation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a National Cross-Sectional Survey in the UK.” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine; 2021, Vol. 114(2) 77. <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0141076820962068>.

(10)William Barclay. The Daily Study Bible: The Letters of James and Peter. Revised Ed. (Burlington, Ontario: G.R. Welch, 1976), 248.

(11)Christian Community Bible. (Madrid: San Pablo International, 1988), N.T., 463.

(12)Barclay (1976), 248.

(13)Bruce B. Barton, et. al., eds. Life Application Study Bible. Second Ed. (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Pub., 2004), 2134.

(14)Turtle (2016) <https://stmaryandstmartha.org/a-sermon-for-holy-saturday/>.

(15)“Middle Church.” Twitter @middlechurch. 23 March 2021, 23 March 2021.

<https://twitter.com/middlechurch/status/1374343151805169667?s=21>.

[our-time-is-now]

June 7, 2019: Incompetent Specialists

(previous play)

You can find more information about the authors, translators, content warning and additional information about the plays in the pinned post on our blog.

Attention! This play includes transgender topics. For more details see our interjection.

Friday, 10:42 am:

David: *he and Matteo have gotten up early today and have made their way to Potsdam* *is a little nervous but also pretty excited and curious as to what awaits him* *has read so many different reviews online and wonders what this surgeon will recommend him* *at the train stations they have bought themselves some coffees as they arrived a little early and are now arriving at the hospital* *because he still has some coffee left, he stops in front of the entrance and looks up to the building* *smiles at Matteo, who seems a little nervous, grabs his hand and squeezes it slightly* *quietly says* Thanks again, for coming with me!

Matteo: *felt like he was more nervous than David all morning and wonders why* *is now looking at the huge hospital and wonders if that really will be the place where he will hopefully visit David soon* *doesn’t realize how nervous he has been acting until David grabs his hand* *smiles slightly at his words, tilts his head and makes a pff sound, because it’s crystal clear that he’s coming with him* Aren’t you nervous?

David: *grins slightly at Matteo’s noise and gives him his secretary’s-office-look* *still doesn’t think that it’s a given but rather pretty wonderful that Matteo just goes along with everything concerning him* *briefly thinks about it at Matteo’s question and shrugs a little* I’m more excited… *grins again slightly and squeezes his hand* There can’t really go anything wrong, yet… *takes another sip of coffee, looks back at the building and then at Matteo* I’m really excited that it’s finally going somewhere… *means that the date for his surgery is getting more realistic with the consultation and that he will hopefully soon feel more comfortable in his body*

Matteo: *nods slightly* *thinks that excitement is good* *definitely better than his fear that they will hear horror stories in a moment* *grins slightly and nods when David says that there can’t really go anything wrong, yet* Mhm… true. *then smiles more broadly when he says that he’s excited* *can imagine that all the waiting is what sucks the most* Yes… hopefully your appointment won’t take as long as all the crap before… *notices that David takes his last sip* Let’s go inside?

David: *sees that Matteo is now also smiling and is happy that he doesn’t seem as nervous anymore* *groans when he mentions all the crap before this and nods* Yes, that would be great… but I’m not getting my hopes up too much – the waiting periods are really long! Would be nice if it somehow worked out this year… *shrugs and takes his last sip of coffee* *nods at Matteo’s question and lets go of his hand to throw his cup into the trash* *looks at Matteo while they are walking next to each other toward the entrance and grins broadly* *says a little menacingly* Go in and win… dumdumdummm

*they ask around until they find the right ward and don’t have to wait very long until they get asked to come into the consulting room* *there they are greeted by Dr. Müller and they introduce themselves, as well* *gets a little nervous now but thinks that he doesn’t really have to do much besides answer questions, ask questions and get examined* *puts the insurance documents and his trans resume on the desk and pushes them over to the doctor who only glances at them briefly and then pushes the papers aside* *hears him say with a smile: “I’d rather talk to you than simply read everything. Tell me a little bit about yourself, Mr. Schreibner, and what you expect to get out of the surgery”.* *asks if he wants to hear his trans resume and sees him nod* *so tells him about how he realized that he was trans, when he started going to therapy, when he started taking testo etc. and finally concludes with* … um… and what I expect to get out of the surgery!? *shrugs, laughs quietly and insecurely and briefly presses his lips together* *clears his throat and says* To some extent a more normal life… that I feel more comfortable in my body…

Matteo: *goes into the consulting room with David and gets a little nervous again* *sits down on a chair next to David and opposite the doctor* *thinks it’s a good thing that he doesn’t seem to care too much about the paperwork* *listens to David, even though he already knows all of that very well* *notices that David is a little nervous at first but that he then gets more secure* *sees the doctor nod at David’s last sentence: “Yes, that should be the goal… exactly”:* *presses his lips together* *hears the doctor continue: “As you probably already know, there are different methods for the surgery… which one is used depends on your wish as well as your anatomical condition… If it’s okay with you I would like to examine you next door and then we can talk about the different methods?”* *looks from the doctor to David* *thinks that David has enough experience with doctors that examine him but still wants to make sure that David isn’t feeling too uncomfortable* *hears the doctor add: “Your companion can come along if that makes you feel more comfortable, or he can wait here, whatever you want”.* *answers before David has the chance* It’s okay, I’ll just wait here. *is pretty sure that David doesn’t want him in there*

David: *nods when the doctor talks about the different surgery methods and also when he says that he’d like to examine him next door* *was expecting it but is a little nervous now because so far, he couldn’t really tell which surgery method the doctors might recommend for him* *hears that Matteo can come along and then already hears him decline* *hears the doctor say: “Whatever makes you comfortable!” and sees him get up and walk toward the door to the other room* *throws a thankful look at Matteo, because even though he has already seen him topless a few times during sex thanks to the heat in the last couple of days, being examined by a doctor under bright light is still something different* *briefly leans over to Matteo and kisses him quickly* *murmurs* See you in a minute… *then follows the doctor who patiently waits for him to undress* *doesn’t do this very often – not even with doctors – and has to resist the urge to cross his arms in front of his chest* *nods when the doctor asks permission again to touch his breasts and simply endures the procedure* *sees the doctor nod every now and then and make some notes while he pushes the breast tissue up and down and eventually measures the position of his nipples with some kind of ruler* *finally sees him nod and smile a little and hears the redeeming words: “You can get dressed again, Mister Schreibner”!* *gets dressed again while the doctor asks him: “Should we talk about the details in the consulting room with your partner”?* *smiles and nods even though he’s not sure if the doctor wants to know whether it’s okay to talk about the details in the consulting room or whether Matteo is his partner* *murmurs* Sure… *shortly after that he and the doctor sit down on the desk again and he briefly smiles at Matteo to signal him that everything is alright* *then looks at the doctor expectantly, who immediately starts talking: “Your breast size and tissue as well as the position of your nipples do allow for different surgery methods, I do, however, have a “favorite” (*sees him make air quotes*) that I would recommend for you. But first I would like to explain all possibilities to you.”* *sees him take out a pen and some paper and hears him start to explain three different methods based on sketches: Large incisions including the repositioning of the nipples, small incisions including the repositioning of the nipples and small incisions without relocating the nipples* *hears him say: “Basically these are the three methods that would be possible for you. I’ll explain the risks and the advantages and disadvantages of the respective methods in more detail in a minute… after that we’ll discuss the hysterectomy”* *nods a little overwhelmed* *knows these three methods and also knows the advantages and disadvantages and the risks and was actually hoping that the doctor would tell him which method would be the best one for him*

Matteo: *quickly kisses David back and smiles at him quickly, hoping that it is encouraging* *patiently waits and looks around the room* *sees a small figurine on the desk which he absentmindedly pushes around* *hopes that the doctor has some empathy and that David won’t feel too uncomfortable* *quickly lets go of the figurine when both of them come back in* *sees David’s smile and is relieved and briefly takes his hand to give it a squeeze* *then listens to the doctor and frowns slightly* *also knows the different methods and is a little confused that the doctor doesn’t tell them anything different than Google* Umm… and which method is the best? I mean, which one do you suggest? *notices the doctor look at him a little surprised and raises his eyebrows* *then hears the doctor: “The methods all have advantages and disadvantages which I was about to explain to you”* *nods* Yes, I know… the small incisions are barely visible, but the larger ones are more precise and so on… *then presses his lips together because he didn’t mean to interrupt* The question is what you medically deem the most reasonable decision, isn’t it?

David: *looks at Matteo a little surprised and secretly admires him for being brave enough to interrupt the doctor and to basically ask the exact thing he didn’t dare to ask and then has to suppress a grin when Matteo even lists some advantages and disadvantages* *looks back at the doctor who is now frowning and looking from him to Matteo* *eventually hears him sigh: “Listen, I’m aware that you have probably done extensive research online. Yet I am obligated to also inform you about said risks, which are…”* *can’t believe that the doctor really ignores Matteo’s question and instead stubbornly follows through with his script telling them about hemorrhages, necrotizing nipples and so on* *reaches for Matteo’s hand and looks at him a little pleadingly as if to say: “Don’t say anything else, let’s just get this over with…”* *barely listens to what the doctor is saying and is a little surprised when he seems to be finished with his speech* *looks at him and nods* *then clears his throat and repeats Matteo’s question* And which one of the three methods do you consider the most reasonable for my anatomy?

Matteo: *immediately notices that he hasn’t made a friend just now* *still thinks his question was valid* *frowns again when the doctor continues talking and doesn’t answer his question in any way* *presses his lips together and thinks about simply asking again when David takes his hand* *looks over to him and notices his expression* *nods slightly and shuts up, even though he thinks the question is important* *grins slightly when David repeats his question* *hears the doctor clear his throat again: “Like I said, all three methods are absolutely justifiable in your case. It is more about which possible consequences you could best live with”.* *frowns again* Okay… well, sorry if I interrupt again… so what you’re saying is that my boyfriend’s breasts are in such a medically wonderful condition that all three methods are absolutely equally recommendable? *sees the doctor swallow* I’m really sorry if that’s somehow rude of me… but we’re here for a consultation, you know?

David: *frowns when the doctor doesn’t provide them with a specific answer again and was just about to open his mouth and ask again when Matteo does* *sees the doctor swallow and get slightly nervous, but nods at Matteo’s words* *leans slightly forward and says* What my boyfriend is trying to say is that I was really hoping to get a definite recommendation from you. I know that with larger breasts there is a tendency to do larger incisions and with smaller ones smaller incisions… But I don’t have your experience and can’t really judge if my breasts are large or small and which method would be the best one. I am aware of the possible consequences of the respective methods. But I’m sure you wouldn’t leave someone with large breasts a free choice simply because they say that they couldn’t live with the consequences of large incisions. *shrugs and insecurely says* I just want to have a good result… *sees the doctor nod and sees him hesitate and eventually clear his throat: “Of course, you are right: I can give recommendations, but of course my patients have to bear the risks and consequences themselves…”* *hears him clear his throat again and eventually hesitantly say: “In your case I would actually lean towards small incisions without repositioning the nipples…”* *sees him reach for his paperwork, after all, and quickly skim over it and eventually add: “As I can see here, as is standard, you have also applied for a correction of the result with your health insurance… so should you not be happy with the position of your nipples in retrospect, it would be possible to correct that afterwards…” *nods and leans back again* *somehow is still dissatisfied because he doesn’t feel like the doctor really knows what he is talking about* *insecurely wonders whether his breasts are maybe so strange that he can’t give him a clear answer* *hears the doctor ask: “Do you have any further questions or should I continue with the hysterectomy”?* *shakes his head and looks at Matteo questioningly* *somehow has imagined all of that a little differently*

Matteo: *can’t really believe that the doctor would only give them a tenuous recommendation even after they repeatedly asked* *can basically feel how disappointed David is and would like to just leave with him immediately* *gives him a half-smile when he looks over* *also shakes his head at the doctor* *hears the doctor start: “Well, like you surely know a hysterectomy is definitely recommendable to lower the risk of cancer, but in some cases to also help with dysphoria… the knowledge that the female organs have been removed can be quite helpful”* *would love to shake him when he quotes the next Wikipedia article* *continues to listen, after all: “Of course there is the possibility of vaginal removal, which would lend itself in case you don’t want to have another scar, otherwise there is also the possibility of an abdominal incision…”* *can’t help but roll his eyes* *murmurs* … and both of them have advantages and disadvantages… *sees the doctor look at him: “Excuse me”?* *shakes his head* Nothing, sorry.

David: *at first listens to the doctor but tunes out after some time when he realizes that he doesn’t get any new information here, either* *hears Matteo murmur and has to grin a tiny bit* *isn’t really surprised that the doctor isn’t misled by that and instead simply continues talking* *takes Matteo’s hand and thrums on the back of Matteo’s hand with this thumb a little impatient and a little bored* *feels a little like during a boring subject at school – only that contrary to this appointment, he wasn’t expecting much there* *at some point hears the doctor ask: “Do you have any further questions”?* *did, in fact, prepare questions, but all of them refer to the actual hospital stay such as how long he’ll have to stay in the hospital, how long the surgery would take, if he has to consider anything beforehand, what the aftertreatment would look like and so on, but is now pretty certain that he doesn’t want to have the surgery here, so simply shakes his head and without letting go of Matteo’s hand leans forward a little so as to signal that the conversation is finished and that they want to leave* *says* No – thank you very much for the extensive speech! *manages to not make it sound as sarcastic as he feels* *hears the doctor: “It is common that you will consider everything now. You don’t have to make a decision immediately. Once you made a decision, just get in contact with my secretary and we’ll set a new appointment to talk about the details.”* *nods and gets up* Ok. *shakes the doctor’s hand and says his goodbyes* *only wants to get out of here quickly*

Matteo: *holds David’s hand when he reaches for it* *immediately notices that David is finished and only wants to get out of here* *can’t believe that this guy is considered an expert in this field* *looks at David when he asks if he has any more questions* *knows that he has prepared an entire list of questions* *isn’t surprised when David says no and feels vindicated that David only wants to get out of here* *presses his lips together when the doctor tells them what is “common”* *bites back a comment on what he thinks is also “common” and gets up when David does* *only nods at the doctor as goodbye and quickly leaves with David* *whispers* Not yet… *once they have closed the door behind them* *grabs David’s hand again and quickly leaves the hospital with him* *then stops and turns around to him* Man, I don’t believe this… what was that? *shakes his head* What crap, I’m so sorry… has he never heard anything about patient care or what? *looks at David* I know you want all of this to happen soon, but not here, ok? I’d rather cut those things off you myself than let this guy cut into you!

David: *feels a little surreal to leave the room with such a bad feeling as he had put so much hope into this consultation* *is glad that Matteo takes his hand again and lets himself be almost pulled outside* *smiles resigned when Matteo immediately starts to complain and shrugs at his rhetorical questions* *sighs quietly and nods when Matteo says that he shouldn’t have the surgery here* *quietly says* No, not here… *has to laugh quietly but is still somehow a little sad when Matteo says that he’d rather cut them off himself* *is so grateful that he came along and that he didn’t have to stand here on his own completely insecure, and is grateful that he is just as annoyed as him and that he tries to understand him but somehow has to digest all of that first and has to sort his thoughts before he can say anything* *therefore simply takes one step towards Matteo, puts his arms around his hips and hugs him* *buries his head in Matteo’s shoulder and simply stays like that for a minute, breathing in the familiar smell looking for some safety and comfort* *eventually murmurs* I want some ice cream…

Matteo: *hears David quietly agree* *then looks at him and sees how disappointed he is* *feels powerless and helpless and would love to go back and tell the doctor what he thinks of him* *then sees and feels David hugging him and immediately knows that the doctor isn’t important, only David is* *wraps his arms around him and holds him tight* *doesn’t say anything and only buries his nose in David’s hair and gives him a small kiss* *otherwise simply lets him recharge* *smiles at his next words and quietly says* You can have the largest ice cream and the largest coffee… and hey, the next consultation is in one week, I’m sure that one will be better…

David: *smiles at Matteo’s promise of ice cream and coffee and slowly detaches himself a little from him, even though he thinks that his comfort-batteries still aren’t fully charged* *looks at him and sighs quietly* *murmurs* I hope so… *looks around searchingly for a moment and then points his head in the direction of the city center because there surely is a place where you can get ice cream and coffee* *has difficulties with completely letting go of Matteo, but because they can’t really walk hugging each other he reluctantly lets go of him* *sighs again and shakes his head slightly* And the doctor was praised so highly… I don’t get why… what if all the other praised doctors are also this strange!? *is going to wait for the appointment next week and, if necessary, will also make some appointments in Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Munich*

Matteo: *would have held onto David even longer, but lets go of him when he detaches himself* *but reaches for his hand when they start towards the city center* *shakes his head* No idea… he was praised because his surgeries are so good, not because he can talk very well… I’m sure the others will be better… and if they aren’t we’ll go to Hamburg or God knows where… *squeezes his hand* We’ll find something, I promise.

David: *nods slowly and in agreement at Matteo’s words* *smiles slightly and squeezes his hand* *quietly says* “We”… that still sounds pretty good… *leans over to him while walking and presses a quick kiss to his cheek* *murmurs* Thanks… *takes a deep breath and realizes that he is feeling a little better even though he is still pretty disappointed and insecure* *thinks that maybe there really is something wrong with his breasts so that the doctor couldn’t give him a clear statement, but tries to push that thought away because rationally he knows that this isn’t the case and that even if it were, the doctor should be professional enough to talk about it openly with him*

Matteo: *grins slightly and nods* I think so, too… *looks at him after he kissed him* *notices David think again and pulls him closer to wrap his arm around his back instead of only holding his hand* *after some time they arrive at a nice ice-cream parlor and take a seat outside* *scrutinizes David after they have ordered* *has been wondering all the time how he could help him* Hey, if you want to, I’ll call the doctor in Berlin… see what their consultations are like… or we’ll take another close look at reviews online?

David: *smiles slightly when Matteo puts his arm around him and wraps his arm around Matteo’s hip, as well* *can’t really tear his mind away from the horrible appointment and wonders if the next one will be similar* *orders ice cream and coffee with Matteo once they reach a nice ice-cream parlor* *then realizes that Matteo is scrutinizing him and tilts his head so as to ask him what he’s thinking* *hears his answer and smiles slightly because he thinks it’s great that Matteo worries* *sighs quietly, leans forward a little and takes Matteo’s hand* *thinks for a moment and then says* That’s nice of you… *shrugs and laughs quietly* I think calling the doctor won’t help much… but we could really read some more reviews… and maybe write to some of them and ask them how their consultations went… *searches for words to somehow make Matteo understand what’s going on inside him but gets interrupted by the coffee arriving – including the information that the ice cream would follow soon* *waits for the waitress to leave and then says with a sigh* You know, I have such stupid thoughts… what if… *lowers his voice a little* …if my breasts really have such a weird shape that he couldn’t suggest a method?! *shake his head slightly because he does know that his is probably nonsense*

Matteo: *nods slightly when David says that calling probably wouldn’t help much* *then takes his phone out of his pocket when he says that looking at reviews would be good* *puts it on the table when he realizes that David wants to say more* *leans back and lets go of David’s hand again when the coffee arrives* *tilts his head slightly when David says that he has stupid thoughts* *slightly grimaces when he hears David’s worries and shakes his head* No, I don’t think so… I think he’s a coward who doesn’t want to commit so that people won’t complain about it afterwards… *grabs his phone and opens google* Let’s just look right away… what was the name of that surgeon in Berlin again?

David: *shrugs at Matteo’s assumption and says* Hmm… yes, you’re probably right… *would love for the second appointment to be sooner so that he has a comparison* *sees Matteo reach for his phone and at the same time pulls his coffee towards him* *blows on it and then takes a careful sip* *smiles slightly when Matteo wants to google immediately* Dr. Meier… *then sees the waitress arrive with their ice cream and makes some space so that she can put down Matteo’s spaghetti sundae and his strawberry sundae on the table* *thanks her and then looks at Matteo* Check if someone has added their email address so that we can ask them more questions… for some reason Dr. Müller also had good reviews… otherwise we wouldn’t have gone to him in the first place… *pulls his strawberry sundae toward him and smiles because it looks really delicious and he’s really excited about it* *really needs this right now as consolation and plucks a strawberry from the heap of whipped cream on top of it*

Matteo: *nods at the name and types “Dr. Meier Berlin reviews”* Oh, he’s also worked in Potsdam until 2018… *keeps scrolling* Only hospital pages… *reaches for his coffee and takes a sip before he continues reading* Oh here… travesta forum… oh someone says that he’s arrogant… *keeps reading* But the next one says that the result would be great and that the consultation in particular convinces… well then he can be a little bit arrogant, as far as I’m concerned… *looks up at David* What do you think?

David: *has started eating his ice cream and is listening to Matteo* *slightly grimaces when he says that Dr. Meier used to be in Potsdam and that one person says that he’s arrogant* *sighs quietly and then nods at Matteo’s next words* *sucks on his spoon and notices that he really is feeling better because of the ice cream* *then says* As long as it’s only a little… and he can give a clear statement and doesn’t just quote Wikipedia… *takes another spoonful of ice cream and then takes Matteo’s phone away* *pushes his ice cream towards him, which is slowly beginning to melt* *murmurs with his mouth half full of ice cream* First the ice cream... then we’ll continue! *smiles slightly* *swallows and repeats* We’ll just keep looking until we find one we both like… I think I simply make appointments everywhere. If we like someone, we can still cancel the appointments… *tries to suppress the urge and longing to get rid of those things as quickly as possible – after all, wants to feel like he’s under good care*

Matteo: *nods* Yes, I agree… *keeps scrolling but suddenly his hands are empty* Oi! *then grins* Okay, first ice cream. *takes a spoonful and closes his eyes in appreciation* Mhmmmm… delicious. *then nods* Yes… I know you want to get rid of those things as soon as possible but it can’t hurt to get some more opinions… *takes another spoonful and then pushes it toward David* Try this… it’s so good!

David: *grins slightly when Matteo enjoys his ice cream and also takes another spoonful* *nods at his words, but first tries Matteo’s ice cream and nods again* Really good! *pushes his ice cream toward Matteo so that he can also try it and says* As long as it happens before next summer. So that maybe I can go into the lake with everyone, after all… *after the meeting three days ago, would really like to go swimming one of these days – a thought he didn’t have during the last couple of years, probably due to the lack of people and possibilities* *takes another spoonful of his ice cream and, with his mouth half full, quietly murmurs* …and being amongst people without a binder… or work out… or in general… that would really be awesome…

Matteo: *tries David’s ice cream and nods approvingly* Really good ice cream, here… *listens to him and nods to everything he says* I think that’s gonna work out… even this year… I’ve got a feeling about it… *smiles at him a little and takes another sip from his coffee* Generally everything without a binder… do you already know what you want to do with those things once you don’t need them anymore?

David: *smiles because Matteo likes his ice cream and then puts ice cream and a strawberry on his spoon and holds it out to Matteo with a grin* It’s even better with a strawberry! *sighs quietly* If Berlin’s also a bust then it’ll probably drag on until next year… who knows when I’ll even get appointments for a consultation… *laughs quietly when Matteo asks about the binders and shrugs* Burn them!? *pulls his coffee toward him, as well, and takes a sip* Or sell them… or donate them… I’ll have to see. I think my favorite ones I can really only burn – nobody wants those anymore. *then asks* Are we going back to Berlin already or should I convince you that – apart from a certain hospital – Potsdam is actually quite nice?

Matteo: *leans forward and takes the bite of ice cream and strawberry from David’s spoon* Mhmmmm *shakes his head* No, no, let’s not think like that… from now on, we’re lucky, this was basically the dress rehearsal which is known to go wrong… *rubs at his eyes a little because he’s looking into the sun* *laughs when he says burn them* We’ll do a burn-party… with someone who has a garden... Hanna! And then everyone can bring something that they want to burn! *finishes his coffee and then pulls his ice cream closer again* *shrugs* Well, as we’re here already we might as well look around for a bit…

David: *has to grin at Matteo’s positive thoughts and grins exaggeratedly and with raised eyebrows* Okay… then the next appointment /has/ to be good… with luck and a bad dress rehearsal… of course! *laughs quietly* *laughs even more when he plans a burn-party* Oh yes, please! That could be interesting. And everyone can hold a farewell speech for the stuff they burn! *scrapes up the last bits of ice cream* *has some strawberries left and invitingly holds them out to Matteo to offer him one, as well* *meanwhile asks* And what would you burn? *nods satisfied when Matteo says that they’ll stay in Potsdam and thinks about what he wants to show Matteo* *has only been here twice, so far, but always thought it was pretty nice*

Matteo: *laughs slightly* It’ll be even better with speeches… *scoops up a strawberry with his spoon and pops it into his mouth* *then slightly tilts his head when he hears David’s question* Hmmm… my manual “How to stay in the closet forever” *grins slightly but then shakes his head* No, I don’t know… my school books?

David: *in his head already starts writing down the farewell speech for his binders and has to grin widely at that thought* *laughs at Matteo’s first suggestion and shakes his head* I wouldn’t be surprised if something like that really existed… *takes another strawberry and nods about the schoolbooks* That’s more like it… you can throw mine in, as well… *takes the last strawberry and says* I’d be really interested in what the others would burn… dark secrets from the past… *grins again and leans back again because he has now finished his ice cream* *looks at Matteo and sighs once* Now I’m feeling a little better…

Matteo: *shakes his head* I hope not… that would be horrible… *finishes his spaghetti ice-cream* Hanna will probably burn schoolbooks, as well… she’s so glad to finally be done with that shit… Kiki probably some beauty products that aren’t vegan or something like that… *shrugs because he can’t think of anything else* *scrapes out the last of his ice cream and then pushes it aside* *smiles at David* I’m glad… do you want another coffee or something else or do we want to get going?

David: *shrugs at Matteo’s question and reaches for his mug where there’s still some coffee left* Get going? Or do you want anything else…? *sees him shake his head and finishes his coffee* *then pushes Matteo’s phone back toward him so that he won’t forget it and then looks around for the waitress so that they can pay* *can’t see her anywhere and leans back again* *reaches for Matteo’s hand and entwines their fingers because somehow it has been far too long without physical contact* *looks at him and smiles slightly* *absentmindedly strokes his thumb over the back of Matteo’s hand* *thinks about first going to the Sanssouci park with him and find a quiet corner for some alone time with him* *then sees the waitress and nods at her to tell her that they want to pay*

Matteo: *shakes his head at David’s question* *takes his phone from David and immediately puts it in his pocket* *smiles when David takes his hand and scoots closer to him* *reaches for his wallet when the waitress comes towards them* *hears her ask “together or separately”?, her gaze only directed at their entwined hands* Together… *takes a 20 Euro bill form his wallet and holds it out to David* *murmurs* Hold it! *sees David look at him more than punishingly but then does it anyway* *so hands the bill to the waitress, both of them holding onto it together* *sees her grin and grins as well* *takes the change and puts it away* *hears the waitress say: “Have a nice day”* *grins* You, too. *puts his wallet away again* *rubs at his eyes and gets up* Let’s go!

David: *looks up when the waitress arrives and was just about to answer her when Matteo does* *smiles at him and quietly says* Thanks… *sees him rummage around in his wallet and looks at him a little confused when Matteo holds the 20 Euro bill out to him* *draws up an eyebrow at his words once he realizes what he’s up to, but then sighs quietly and takes hold of the bill to hand it over to the waitress /together/ with Matteo* *looks at her apologetically but sees her grin and then shakes his head with a grin* *also wishes her a nice day and lovingly murmurs to Matteo* You loon… *gets up and waits for Matteo while he puts his wallet away* *notices him rub his eyes again and briefly wonders if it’s only the sun or if it might be an allergy or something* *looks at him a little worriedly when he gets up, but then has to smile all of a sudden* *takes a small step toward him and looks at him a little more closely to make sure before he finally quietly says* You have an eyelash there…

Matteo: *only grins when he calls him a loon* *thinks his joke was pretty good* I thought it was a good joke… *gets up and was just about to pull David closer to wrap his arm around him when David takes a step toward him* *looks a little surprised, then a little reproachful when he hears his words* *thinks that he wants to hoax him because of the 20 Euro joke* Haha… very funny…I get it, you don’t think my ice breakers are funny…

David: *also found the joke funny in hindsight but only laughs quietly at Matteo’s words* *sees Matteo’s look – first surprised, then a little reproachful and looks back at him questioningly* *then laughs quietly when he realizes that Matteo thought he wanted to hoax him and shakes his head* *takes a step toward him and murmurs* Hold still… *then carefully takes the eyelash from Matteo’s face and holds it out to him on his index finger* *looks at him with a knowing look and tilts his head with a mischievous smile* Can you make a wish now or is that only an eyelash? *grins slightly and questioningly draws up his eyebrows*

Matteo: *only realizes that he really has an eyelash there when David tells him to hold still* *holds still and closes his eyes for a moment* *then tilts his head when David does* I’ve learned that it’s only an eyelash… *blows the eyelash off of David’s finger and looks at him with a smile* But maybe you can guess what I would wish for…

David: *looks at Matteo knowingly* Oh jeez, really? /I/ have learned that you could make a wish now! *drops his hand after Matteo has blown the eyelash off and also looks at him with a smile* *slightly shrugs at his question* No idea… going somewhere or something like that… *grins slightly* …or an expensive car, a big house, a new laptop? *takes his hand and entwines their fingers* *briefly looks down at their hands and murmurs* …or maybe this…? *smiles and looks back up at him*

Matteo: *slightly smiles at David’s answer* *until now was always a little embarrassed about their first conversation* *but is happy that David seems to remember it fondly* *grins* And then directly to Detroit! *shakes his head at the things he lists* *together with David looks at their hands and then back at him* *nods slightly* Yep… when I want to go somewhere or simply to get out of a situation then only with you.

David: *grins broadly when Matteo mentions Detroit and murmurs* One day to Detroit… *notices that Matteo was also looking at their hands and smiles at his words* *likes the thought and feels his heart beat faster when he thinks about the fact that Matteo feels the same way – that now they are a “we”* *squeezes his hand and keeps looking at him* *but doesn’t quite understand what he means with a situation and quietly asks* Running away only together?! From what situations do you mean?

Matteo: *smilingly nods and repeats* One day to Detroit… *doesn’t let go of David’s hand but starts to slowly move away from the café with him* *shrugs one shoulder at his question* Don’t know… stupid parties… or stupid people… whatever there may come.

David: *follows Matteo when he starts to move* *grins slightly at his words and nods* *quietly walks next to him for some time but then looks at him and says* So it wasn’t only an eyelash, after all…? *softly bumps him with his shoulder and grins slightly* Would be nice if you really could make a wish and could simply disappear…

Matteo: *laughs slightly and shrugs* Maybe you don’t… maybe you do… maybe it also depends on the situation… *nods exaggeratedly* Yes, that would be really nice… to always have an eyelash at the ready whenever you want to disappear… *looks at him and grins slightly* But admit it, you really thought I was stupid, didn’t you?

David: *laughs loudly at Matteo’s assumption and shakes his head* Never! *presses a kiss on his cheek while walking and ruffles through his hair in embarrassment* *then says* If one of us was stupid it was me… *laughs again quietly* Of course I knew that there is a saying that you could make a wish when you have an eyelash… *shrugs and says a little sheepishly* ….but I thought I would somehow be more mysterious if I acted aloof… or something like that… *has to grin slightly when he thinks about their first meeting and how they were dancing around each other*

Matteo: *shakes his head when David says that he was acting stupid* *tilts his head and looks at him reproachfully when he says that he did know* *but then grins at his next words* Oh I can tell you one thing… you definitely were mysterious. *kisses David on the cheek and laughs* But it’s comforting to know that we can make a wish on eyelashes from now on.

David: *laughs briefly and nods* Mysterious and stupid… *grins when Matteo also kisses him on the cheek and wraps his arm around Matteo’s waist* *smiles at his next words and nods* Yes – wishes are definitely a cool thing… a pity that you just simply wasted your eyelash-wish because you thought it would only be an eyelash… *pokes him in the side and grins* That’s what you get if you listen to some random mysterious guy…

Matteo: *laughs and shakes his head* You aren’t stupid. *wraps his arm around David’s shoulders* *slightly pokes him back* Are you saying that I shouldn’t listen to you anymore? *grins at him with his eyebrows raised* *but then shrugs one shoulder* Maybe my wish has already come true.

David: *thinks that maybe he isn’t stupid now but that he was back then but doesn’t disagree with Matteo because he suspects that otherwise they’d argue about it forever* *simply grins at his next question and nods* Better not when I act mysterious… *laughs quietly* …because then somehow I’m not being myself… *looks at Matteo questioningly when he says that his wish might have already come true but then shakes his head and laughs again quietly* Okay, I won’t ask what you wished for… *doesn’t want to be as presumptuous as to assume that Matteo might have wished for exactly this – maybe he simply wished for a cheese toast or to pass his Abi… or a warm summer or that Jonas and Hanna get back together… or a leveling-up at Zelda…*

Matteo: *looks at him when he says that he’s not being himself when he acts mysterious* Hmmm… you think? Only because you hold something back doesn’t mean that you’re not being yourself, does it? *shrugs one shoulder* I also thought you were great when you were mysterious. *then looks over to him and notices that he seems to be thinking about something* *even laughs a little* Well, you. Us. This right here. *slightly shakes his head because that should be obvious*

David: *also shrugs one shoulder at Matteo’s words and briefly gnaws on his bottom lip* Yes, that’s true… maybe mysterious isn’t the right term… I was more unapproachable back then… almost dismissive… exaggeratedly cool… a little aloof… just stupid somehow… I could have held something back in a nicer manner… *laughs quietly when Matteo says that he thought he was great even when he was mysterious* Well that’s something… *blushes slightly and gets sheepish when Matteo announces so naturally that he wished for “this right here – him – them” and feels his heartbeat speed up* *remembers back to when they were separated due to his cowardice, when he was sitting alone in his room wishing for nothing more than /this right here/* *then realizes that /this right here/ is actually a lot better than every imagination he had and simply wraps his other arm around Matteo and squeezes him tightly* *but then realizes that walking like this is uncomfortable and stops for a moment* *looks at him, smiles slightly and then quietly says* I was also wishing for that… but… *hesitates briefly and searches for the right words* *slightly shakes his head and smiles wider while he says* …but that it will be so… nice… cool… *grins slightly* …sappy and great… I never could have imagined that…

Matteo: *nods slightly at David’s words about being unapproachable* *sometimes also found it difficult and hard and painful* *but still thinks that it was worth it because now they are where they are, which is together* *then sees him blush and finds it really cute* *slightly grins at him* *laughs when he can’t keep walking and stops at the same time as David* *also wraps his other arm around him* *draws up his eyebrows when he hears his “but”* *for a moment is afraid of what he will say* *but then beams when he hears the rest of his sentence* Yeees, because I’m such an awesome guy. *grins and kisses him briefly* *leans his forehead against David’s and quietly says* I never would have thought that I’d ever get something like this…

David: *grins when Matteo says that he’s such an awesome guy and nods exaggeratedly* *parrots him and says* Yeees, because you’re such an awesome guy! *but then gets serious again when Matteo kisses him and grumbles in protest because it was so brief* *then realizes that Matteo doesn’t let go of him completely and smiles when he puts his forehead against his* *hears his words and suddenly has a lump in his throat – not only because he never even dreamt that he’d ever get something like what he has with Matteo – that he would find someone who accepts him just the way he is – but also because he thinks it’s so incredible and sad that Matteo thinks this little of himself even though he’s simply perfect and that he deserves what they have more than anything* *as so often can’t really believe that Matteo chose him of all people* *swallows but doesn’t manage to get rid of the lump in his throat* *puts a hand on Matteo’s cheek and with a husky voice murmurs* Me neither… *searches for his lips and kisses him*

Matteo: *feels his heart beat faster when David puts his hand on his cheek and even more so when he hears his words* *not only the last three weeks but also the time before that still seem like a dream to him* *closes his eyes when he kisses him* *beams broadly when they eventually separate* Well then we were really lucky that we found each other. *grins slightly and kisses him again* And now show me a cool spot in Potsdam where we can make out some more.

(next play)

[beckzorz]

World on Fire (4/12)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader; background skinny!Steve Rogers x Peggy Carter Warnings: Canon-typical violence; language; sexual content. Summary: Brooklyn, 1948. Bucky Barnes, war hero, lives three floors down, and the evenings he comes to watch the sunset with you on the fire escape are the best times in your shabby life. But reality is far uglier than it seems when swinging your legs six floors up with Bucky at your side. On top of a good-for-nothing brother and a poor family upstate, there’s a new mob hitman in town: the Winter Soldier. A/N: Written for @cametobuyplums Fizz’s 2000 Plums Writing Challenge—thanks Fizz! Sorry to have skipped a day last week, hope y'all don’t mind!

4. Monday, June 2

“Alice, don’t even say it, I’m so sorry!” You bolt down into Dr. Simon’s kitchen ten minutes late, the frantic hum of anxiety thrumming through you. 

Alice tuts and throws down her ball of dough with a muffled thump. “Well, I hope so,” she says. “Never seen you so late before.”

“My brother was visiting,” you tell her, grabbing the biscuit tray. “He’s a menace.”

“Must be.”

Alice waves floury fingers as you pass by. Up the stairs—you don’t dare go two at a time, not with a china tray, but you still manage to nearly lose a biscuit—and rush through the dining room, eyes on the wobbling biscuits.

One step into the waiting room, a shadow on the couch catches your eye. You look up and nearly drop the whole tray.

“What are you doing here?” you blurt.

Bucky Barnes’ head snaps up from the magazine open on the coffee table, his eyes widening. He surges to his feet as you gape at him.

“I brought Steve over,” he says. His eyes are glued to you as you dart forward and set the biscuits down before stepping back, hands clenched in front of you.

You’ve never seen Bucky here. He’s got his own doctor, one who knows more about amputees and prosthetics. It’s odd to see him here among the floral upholstery and gauzy curtains. He looks… Well, with his fancy suit and his slicked-back hair, he looks almost at home. He’s even wearing his prosthetic. You almost never see him wearing it these days—but then, you don’t see him during the day, when he’s his proper self. He doesn’t look like the Bucky you know.

You glance down at your faded dress, a lump forming in your throat. All well and good on the fire escape, but—you hadn’t even had time to properly do your hair. You look… like you live on the fifth floor with Alice and Don. And Bucky looks like he belongs with china teacups and slick upholstery. You swallow back the bile in your throat.

“Is Steve alright?” you finally ask.

“Dunno,” Bucky says with a shrug. “Doc seemed to think it was nothin’, but you never know with Steve.”

You nod uncertainly. You’re just the secretary; you don’t know how good or bad Steve Rogers’ prognosis really is. Well, prognoses. He’s got a lot wrong, Steve does.

Another step back. “Well, nice to see you.”

Bucky opens his mouth to respond, but you turn and flee, face burning, chest painfully tight. You rush upstairs to the other office, the one where you keep all the files organized and answer the phone and jot down appointments in the big spiral-bound book open to this week. You fling yourself into the leather chair at the desk and bury your face in your hands, heaving great big breaths that just barely keep you grounded.

Why did Bucky have to bring Steve? Couldn’t Steve have come on his own? You can handle Steve just fine, but you didn't expect to see Bucky again so soon. And so… well, so formally. You’d never seen him in a place like this. Just on fire escapes and the occasional soda shop, and that one time you’d gone dancing back in ‘42.

In those places, you feel on equal footing. There’s no hierarchy on the fire escape outside your window, and the only distinctions that matter on a dance floor are lead and follow.

Here?

It’s not the same, and you hate it. You know your fantasies of him are ridiculous, impossible—but the stark reality of the differences between you is flinging all that dirty, ugly truth in your face.

The war had been no picnic for him, but he’d come out a hero with a swanky new job to boot. And you were exactly where you’d started: poor, full of longing, and, most of all, alone. Alone except for your good-for-nothing brother and your all-too-perceptive friends who have surpassed you in every way.

You drag your hands down your face and shake yourself out of your misery. There’s a list of calls to make, a stack of notes to type up. Files to pull out and appointments to schedule.

Enough moping. You have work to do.

—

You listen close for Steve and Bucky’s departure, and only then do you run today’s files downstairs for Dr. Simon. He peers at you through his thick glasses.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m peachy,” you tell him firmly, and from there it’s business as usual.

—

Five flights to the sixth floor of your apartment building. Your calves ache with their customary burn, and you collapse facedown on your bed with a groan.

Well, aside from Bucky’s surprise appearance, it hadn’t been much worse than usual. You don’t mind your job, not really. If half your salary didn’t get sent home to help your struggling family upstate, you might even love it.

But no, you look like a factory girl even though you work in the nicest house in the neighborhood. You’re grateful Dr. Simon doesn’t seem to care. All your friends—Mary, Goldie—think you’re lucky, or would be, if only you didn’t have your damn family to help take care of.

If only your brother did his part. And not like he did the other day, but actually, properly did his part.

“Ugh,” you mutter.

Your brother. Your baby brother, with his tendency to disappear for weeks at a time and reappear with his gap-tooth grin, a fresh scrape, and just enough cash for home to make you forget to be mad at him.

You don’t want to know how he gets the money. It’s bad enough that he does. You’re happy in the dark, really. But sometimes you wonder. You worry. Can’t help it—he’s your baby brother. You worried all through his deployment, all through the months after the war’s end when you’d heard not a word until he showed up one day at your door, that gap-tooth grin enough to dissolve you into tears.

But today…

Today you’re past tears. Today you’re angry. Whatever had happened to him yesterday was far worse than a scrape. He’d been pummeled near within an inch of his life! When he’d been in front of you, bleeding and limping, your heart had stopped, but now that he’s gone? Fled into the night like some common criminal, leaving just a bloodstain behind?

You can’t help but be angry. If he had a job, a proper job—even if it was just staying on the farm—he could take care of the rest of the family like he should. He’s the man. How did you end up the breadwinner?

Oh, that’s right. Because you have a sense of decency.

You roll over on your bed with a sigh. The sky is still bright, the air still hot and sticky with late afternoon heat. With your window cracked open now you’re home, you can hear people talking and laughing below, the distant clatter of pots and pans, the rumble of the metro, the honking traffic.

Your stomach rumbles. Someone downstairs is making chicken. You force yourself from your bed.

If you make your dinner now, maybe you can pretend you’re eating chicken too.

—

Sunset finds you scrubbing at the bloodstains on your pillowcase and handkerchiefs. Leave it to David to make a mess you can’t even ask him to clean up.

It takes time, but you manage to get most of the blood away. If anyone asks, you can always say it was your own bloody nose. Not that you’ve had one in years, but who’s to know?

You take the damp laundry to the fire escape, pinning it up on the clothesline overhead. The twilight is beautiful, all purples and blues, streaks of pink. Not a cloud in sight. Just some birds wheeling overhead. You lean on the railing and watch them, your heart full. God, if only you could fly away too.

The girls downstairs are out on their landing with their cigarettes, the smell a comfort even if you’re not in the mood for one yourself. They’re chatting about nothing in particular, and you easily tune them out as you watch the sky slowly turn dark.

The heavy patter of climbing feet catches your attention before the girls notice anyone coming.

“Ladies.”

A chill runs down your spine. Blood rushes in your ears. You scramble to your feet.

“Oh, hi James!”

The girls, adorable flirts, wheedle Bucky as you slip back in your window and draw the curtain tight.

A hand to your chest does nothing to calm your pounding heart. Please let him not come up, please…

“Excuse me,” Bucky says, “just going up.”

Your heart sinks. You forgot to close the window. He’ll know you’re home—hell, he probably knew all along. You sigh and sink onto your mattress, twisting your fingers in your lap as you wait for Bucky—beautiful, terrifying, untouchable Bucky—to arrive. You can hear the girls in 5B going inside.

“Hey.”

Bucky’s voice is low. You twist, and you can just make out his crouched silhouette against your flimsy curtain.

You swallow, steel yourself for the suit, the slicked-back hair, the look of wealth so alien and out of reach. A flick of your hand, and you can see him.

Words don’t come. Just a rush of shock, of awe, of wanting.

Bucky isn’t wearing a suit. His hair isn’t slicked back. The strange man of this morning is gone.

All Bucky is wearing is trousers and an undershirt. Not even his prosthetic arm. Just Bucky, his hair falling loose across his forehead, as unassuming—as gorgeous as he’s ever been. His blue eyes soft, his soft mouth quirked up and so damn pretty, his strong hand dangling between his knees as he crouches at your window.

You swallow.

“Will you come out?” Bucky asks.

You obey without thinking. Bucky moves aside, offers you his one hand to help you climb out. You hesitate before taking it, all too aware how that simple touch sends sparks all along your skin. Even when you drop his hand, your skin tingles. You smooth down your skirt and bury every feeling in the empty air below.

Bucky stands and plucks at the pillowcase hanging between you. “What happened?” he asks.

“I—I had a nosebleed.” Your voice is small, nearly hoarse.

“Is that why you were so flustered this morning?”

Shame burns your face, your chest. You step back, hands twitching at your sides, face flaming, and Bucky winces.

“F—I’m sorry,” he says. “I just…”He trails off and runs his hand through his hair. “You didn’t seem like yourself.”

You let out a slow breath between your teeth and flatten your hands against your back. “Neither did you.”

He blinks. A sigh, and he lowers himself down in his customary spot and pats the place beside him. You slide in, feet dangling like his, heart pounding. You don’t know what to say.

“I wish I hadn’t gone,” Bucky mutters.

You stare. “With Steve?”

“I never went there before,” he continues. “Wasn’t planning on it, but when he gets all breathless…”

“Well, of course you went with him,” you say. “He’s your friend.” Your eyes dart to your pillowcase. “We take care of people we care about. That’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Bucky shakes his head. His hand curls around the railing, the knuckles white. His brow is drawn tight, his eyes lowered.

What's he trying to say? What’s he thinking? You don’t understand him, not one jot.

It’s a long moment before he speaks again.

“It didn’t feel right,” he says. The words are slow, careful. “Seeing you there.” His eyes flit in your direction. “It wasn’t like this.”

You swallow again, throat suddenly tight. If it didn’t feel right at Dr. Simon’s, does that mean that this does? This—these moments on the fire escape, the best moments of your life—feels right?

At work, you felt like he was worlds above you, leagues away. Here, on the fire escape of your tenement building, together?

Bucky feels within reach. Or he could be, if.

“No,” you agree, voice barely above a whisper. “It wasn’t like this.”

Bucky props his cheek against his hand and gazes at you. You’re so caught by those blue eyes that it takes a moment to realize how sad he looks. Your heart breaks, but for the life of you you can’t bring yourself to push. You can’t prod where he’s never given an inch—it wouldn’t be kind. Or right.

But you can’t just stare at him forever, no matter how much you wish you could. You clear your throat. “It’s alright now though, isn’t it?”

He nods, his cheek moving against his hand, his hair shifting across his forehead. You grip the bars of the fire escape to keep from brushing it back.

“Right now? Yeah.” He sighs, and you can’t help yourself anymore. You put a hand on his shoulder.

“What’s wrong, Bucky?”

Bucky shakes his head. “Nothin’ you can fix. I’ll live.”

“Well, maybe I can’t fix it, but can’t I at least help?” you plead.

“You are helping,” he says.

He grabs your hand; your breath catches as his bright eyes fix on yours. Bucky brushes his lips against your knuckles. Your heart’s in your throat, your eyes wide as dinner plates, your lips parted, ready, waiting—but he drops your hand, looks away, and the little spark flaring in your chest fizzles out.

“You are helping,” he repeats, but it falls flat. He hoists himself to his feet, brushes off his trousers, and looks down at you with an unreadable expression. “I—I’ll see ya around.”

You watch him go. Your heart goes with him, his every step down tearing you open that little bit more.

—

The moon shines unpleasantly bright through your window. You squeeze your eyes shut as you bury your face in your pillow for the hundredth time.

If you were a few stories down, you wouldn’t even be able to see the moon. But no, you’re on the top floor, the hot roof right above and moonlight streaming into your tiny bedroom, across your tiny bed. It’s a good thing you’ve never had a sweetheart. Where would they fit?

Bucky would never fit here, you think.

Your eyes pop open as heat flares in your face, your belly.

Why is it that every time you see him he invades your thoughts? Why can’t you banish him from your mind as easily as he surely banishes you from his? He’s Bucky Barnes, for goodness sake. A war hero, as gorgeous as he unattainable. He may have kissed your hand, may have said you were helping, but there’s no call to think he has any thoughts of you when he climbs back down to his floor, to his bed…

You toss your sheet aside, every inch of your body burning as you press your hands to your eyes, willing your mind to behave. Your nightgown shifts across your breasts. With an angry whimper, you start to tug it off.

Then you stop.

Your window is open, the shades flung wide. It’s not quiet outside—Brooklyn’s never quiet—but the distant sounds of the city are mere hums. Your ears strain for the creak of the fire escape, but there’s none.

If there was…

Your eyes flutter closed, and your hands stray from your eyes to trail down your face, your neck. You can imagine footsteps, a shadow over your window, a gasp at the sight you make spread on your bed, fingers tracing the neckline of your nightgown and legs bared nearly all the way. Would he gasp? Turn away, spare your modesty? Or would he suck in a breath and watch?

Deft circles of your thumbs harden your nipples. Your eyes stay shut as you lose yourself in your fantasy, of blue eyes darkening as you slip one hand lower and tug your nightgown up over your hips, legs rubbing together in an attempt to ease the burning tension.

A creak on the fire escape.

Your eyes fly open, terror ratcheting through you as you shove your nightgown back into place. The landing at your window is empty, but chatter echoes from downstairs. The girls in 5B. You press your hand to your heart and try to steady your breathing. The click of a lighter, hushed giggles, and your fantasy is shattered.

You prop yourself on unsteady knees and stick your head outside. “Be quiet, will ya?” you hiss.

Martha and Helen call up quiet apologies, and to your relief they disappear back inside. You yank the curtain shut, fling yourself back onto your bed, and try to sleep.

[terri-does-gods-work]

Swing scene 3.0 (a tyrus one shot)

Word count: 2340

Disclaimer: This one is a little sad and also involves small mentions of homophobia.

(Apparently writing Tyrus fics helps me)

TJ paced around his room in the t-shirt Kira made for him for Costume Day the week before. He felt dirty. Ashamed. Guilty. Kira kept texting him, asking if they could meet up. TJ wanted so badly to ignore her, but he knew what would happen if he didn’t. He had to tell Cyrus. He had to explain what happened - what Kira said the morning of Costume Day.

Kira made him wear that ridiculous “dribble” t-shirt as much as she could, wherever they were going. He couldn’t understand why, but he didn’t dare ask her. Today, they were supposed to be going to a new diner that had opened a few blocks away from The Spoon. When TJ asked why they couldn’t just go to The Spoon, Kira’s eyes widened. She huffed and told him that she didn’t want to risk seeing Buffy (because Kira was not a fan of hers, to say the least).

After forty-five minutes of pacing and muttering to himself about Cyrus, TJ finally stopped. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, hoping something would come to him. He had no new messages from Cyrus and couldn’t find a way to start a conversation again. He didn’t even know if Cyrus would talk to him.

TJ decided what he wanted to do. He left. Empty-handed, without so much as his phone. His parents weren’t at home, so he didn’t have anyone to answer to, at that moment. He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to see Cyrus. He wanted to explain why he did what he did. He had no choice. But he wasn’t sure if Cyrus would understand, because TJ wasn’t so sure, himself. And it didn’t help that he wasn’t sure how to say it, either. Still he walked on, with purpose. He never looked up from the ground. He knew where he was going, though. The swings in the park. That was where he would find Cyrus, and how he would avoid the girl who was making his life hell by telling him that “Hell” was where he was headed.

Twenty minutes later, he was there. No sign of Cyrus, he thought, and sat himself down on one of the swings. He glanced at his watch: 4:42 pm. He knew that Cyrus’ dance practice ended at 4:45, so he waited. TJ turned his head towards every sound that came from the park – a twig snapping, a child screaming, even the rustling of the leaves – but it was never Cyrus.

TJ looked over at the swing next to his. He remembered how Cyrus was sitting there the day he (sort-of) apologized for the gun thing. He remembered how he told Cyrus that he was the only one he could talk to like that, and he meant it. It’s just, this time, he didn’t have the words. And, boy, did he wish he did.

About a half hour passed and Cyrus still hadn’t shown up. TJ started swinging. As he did, he subconsciously began to sing Cyrus’ swing song, the one he’d walked in on him singing before he told him about his dyscalculia. When he realised what he was doing, he smiled to himself. Cyrus was probably the only person who could make him smile, right now, and he wasn’t even there.

TJ stopped singing when it started to get dark. He couldn’t go home. He couldn’t face his parents, asking him where he’d been, or his phone, which probably had 50 missed calls and 100 messages from Kira, and zero messages from Cyrus. He wasn’t hungry so he figured, why not stay? He told himself he’d wait a little while longer, just in case Cyrus showed up. So, he waited. And waited. Until, suddenly, it was pitch black except for the moon and it had begun to drizzle. Please don’t start pouring, TJ thought to himself. But then it did. TJ could feel his throat close up and his ears become red. He started shivering, teeth chattering, as his eyes welled up, but the tears merged with the raindrops that were falling on his face nonstop.

Eventually, the crying warmed him up enough for him to fall asleep, right there, on the swing. And so, he did. He could worry about tomorrow when it comes.

***

Cyrus sat up in his bed and looked to the clock beside him. “3:38,” he said, groggily. He wondered why he was awake. He had woken up reasonably early because he had school, and he’d had dance practice after that, so there’s no way he wasn’t tired. The last time something like this happened, he woke up the next morning to find his parents finalizing their divorce. Something must be wrong, he thought. He wasn’t in the right frame of mind to think about what it was, so he tried to go back to sleep. But he couldn’t.

All Cyrus could think about was that day. Costume Day. The day TJ Kippen bailed on his own idea to do Kira’s. Kira? Of all people, he thought, as he stared at the glow in the dark stars on his bedroom ceiling. Cyrus couldn’t even bring himself to talk to TJ. Not a single text message he sent, nor a meme on Instagram. It was weird to him, but he felt too betrayed to give TJ a chance. ““You’re the only person I can talk to like this” my ass. He couldn’t even pick up the phone to call me,” Cyrus said to himself.

Part of him wanted to hear what TJ had to say, but he tried his best to crumple that thought up and throw it away. He hadn’t visited the swings in just over a week. He didn’t know what he would do if he saw TJ there. Run away? Yell at him? If he was being honest, he’d probably freeze for the rest of time.

Cyrus decided that any more thought he put into this was futile and forced himself to go back to sleep, which he did, until his alarm started blaring three hours later. Cyrus groaned and hit his alarm clock aimlessly, in attempt to locate the “off” button. He got out of bed and followed his usual before-school routine and opened the door to Andi and Buffy, like clockwork. The three of them walked to Jefferson Middle School, talking about Marty, and how Buffy clearly liked him “like that”.

The day goes on as usual. Cyrus doesn’t attempt to find TJ, even during lunch. No more TJ. He tried to convince himself to get the boy out of his head. It worked, until between English and History class he passed by Dr. Metcalf’s office.

“Vivian Kippen?” the receptionist said. A woman with a striking resemblance to TJ stood up and walked into Metcalf’s office. Cyrus promised himself he wouldn’t think about TJ, but what if something really was wrong? What if he had woken up in the middle of the night because something happened to TJ? Why was his mother here, at school? Calm down, Cyrus, you’re overthinking this. TJ probably skipped class to hang out with his friends. He had seemed to have reverted to his old ways.

The part of Cyrus’ brain that told him to talk to TJ was too strong. But TJ wasn’t around so his next best option was Vivian. He waited outside the office and stopped Vivian as she walked out.

“Excuse me, are you TJ Kippen’s mother?” he asked, barely audible.

“Yes,” she looked worried, “have you seen him today?”

“No, sorry. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him,”

Vivian’s eyes began to tear up. She took a deep breath and said, “Teej didn’t come home last night. I hoped he would be at school, but I guess he isn’t,” she choked back her tears, “I don’t know what happened, he seemed fine when his father and I left to work yesterday,” she leaned against the wall as tears rolled down her face. Cyrus didn’t know what to do. How do you console the mother of a boy who bailed on you, then went missing?

As much as Cyrus didn’t want to worry about TJ, he had to. TJ wouldn’t just disappear like that, would he? Cyrus thought, as he pat Mrs. Kippen on the shoulder.

“The school is calling the police. He’s never done anything like this before!” her puffy eyes turned towards Cyrus, “Are you friends with TJ?”

Cyrus contemplated his response. Was he his friend? After everything that happened, Cyrus couldn’t be sure, but he ended up replying, “Yes, I am,” he sighed, “Don’t worry, the police will find him soon.”

***

After History class, Cyrus was done for the day. He walked back to Metcalf’s office, and sure enough, Vivian was still there. Next to her stood a tall, uniformed man. Cyrus walked up to the two of them and introduced himself to the man.

“Hello, officer, I’m Cyrus,” he said nervously, his hands sweating inside of his pockets.

“Good afternoon, I’m Officer Penn. I assume you’re a friend of TJ Kippen’s?”

“Y-Yes, that’s right,”

“Officer, I think you should check The Spoon and,” Vivian started, her eyes shifting as she tried to remember the places TJ often visits, “the Jungle Gym. He works there,”

Officer Penn turned away from Cyrus and back to Mrs. Kippen, “I’m on it.”

Vivian and Penn left the school in search for TJ.

Cyrus began to walk away. He wanted to ask the officer if he could update him but couldn’t bring himself to say it. He was still mad at TJ. He was probably off doing some ridiculous stunt with his friends. Apparently that apology by the swings didn’t mean anything.

The swings! Cyrus thought, I have to tell Metcalf. Cyrus ran back into Metcalf’s office, where he was filing papers, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Dr. Metcalf, I think I know where TJ is!” Cyrus panted, out of breath.

Metcalf jumped back, startled, dropping a few papers on the floor.

“You do?” he started, as he picked up the fallen sheets, “Tell me. I’ll call Officer Penn,”

“The swings in the park,” said Cyrus, “Is it okay if I come, too?” Cyrus sighed, “I’m worried about him,”

Metcalf raised his eyebrows at Cyrus, “Okay, but please try not to interfere with what the officer is doing.”

“I won’t. I promise,” Cyrus said, a satisfied smile emerging across his face.

***

Cyrus lead Dr. Metcalf, Mrs. Kippen and Officer Penn to the swings. The swings with which TJ and Cyrus were very familiar. Cyrus stopped a few yards from the swing after he noticed a boy sitting on one of them, his head hanging how. Vivian shouted, “TJ!” and ran towards him. The rest followed suit, Cyrus last.

“TJ,” Vivian broke down beside the boy, “I was so worried about you,” she sniffled, trying to hold back her tears, as Cyrus did the same from further behind. Vivian hugged TJ tightly, but all TJ did was stare beyond Penn and Metcalf, at Cyrus.

TJ’s hair was damp, and his lips were blue. His eyes were puffier than his mother’s, half open, with dark circles under them. Cyrus zoned out looking, looking at TJ. He heard Vivian crying in the background, along with murmurs from Penn and Metcalf, but he couldn’t care less. His eyes were fixated on TJ’s, and TJ’s were fixated on his.

Dr. Metcalf and Officer Penn wave to Vivian, telling her that they’re leaving. Cyrus heard TJ ask, “Can I talk to him alone for a minute, mom?” He pointed at Cyrus. Vivian nods and tells TJ to come home right after.

Cyrus slowly made his way to the swings. TJ gestured for him to sit, but Cyrus refused.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Cyrus started.

TJ looked at the ground, “I’m sorry, Cy,” he took a shaky breath before continuing, “Will you let me explain what happened?”

“Go ahead.”

“I came here because I thought you would be here, but I guess not,”

“Why didn’t you go home, Teej?”

“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t go back and see my phone blowing up with messages from Kira instead of you,”

“Kira?”

TJ sighed, “She’s the reason I didn’t do the costume with you,” he licked his lips, “She came up to me the day before Costume Day and asked me if I wanted to do a costume with her. When I told her that I was already doing one with you, she got mad,” TJ paused for a moment and looked up at Cyrus, “She’s been blackmailing me. She threatened to tell the school something about me if I didn’t hang out with her. She basically forbid me from talking to you, which wasn’t that hard, considering I upset you enough to stop talking to me,”

“What did she threaten to tell people?” Cyrus asked, concerned.

TJ’s eyes started to well up. As tears started running down his face, he said, hesitantly, “Cyrus?”

“Yeah, Teej?”

“I’m g-gay,” TJ stared at Cyrus, anxious to hear his reply.

Cyrus let out a loud sigh, “That’s okay, TJ,”

“It is?”

“Yes!” Cyrus exclaimed, a relieved smiled on his face, “TJ, being gay isn’t a bad thing. Not at all,”

“But Kira told me th—”

“Would you rather listen to someone you’ve known for barely a week, or me?”

You. Always you, TJ thought.

“Let’s get you home. You must have been freezing,” Cyrus added.

They started walking but TJ was still shivering, the tears left marks on his face. Cyrus noticed that TJ was still worried. His eyes were on the ground and he was fiddling with his fingers.

“TJ?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m gay, too,” whispered Cyrus.

The corners of TJ’s lips turned up and his eyes lit up like New York City at nighttime.

“And,” Cyrus sighed, “I like you,” he muttered, hoping TJ wouldn’t catch it.

“I like you, too,” whispered TJ.

The boys looked at each other and smiled as they walked to TJ’s house.

[themanicmagician]

In Plain Sight - Chapter One

[AO3] Summary: There’s a serial killer in Queens who leaves his victims mangled and half-eaten. Peter is acting erratically, and pushes everyone who loves him away in his hunt for the killer. Tony just wants the kid to be safe.

Spider-Man swung through New York City, grinning beneath his mask. It’d been muggy and wet for the past several weeks, but today the air was crisp and the sun warm in the cloudless sky.

Peter breathed deep. His foot skimmed lightly over the yellow top of a taxi as he glided low. True to form, the driver honked at him. Peter gave the disgruntled man a wave as he swung around the corner.

The Avengers were off world—which, Peter was still not over interplanetary travel, like holy shit—at the moment, leaving the defense of New York to the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

(He knew Dr. Strange lived around here somewhere, but he didn’t count. Peter had never seen him patrolling, and half the job was making sure the people knew you were around, and had their backs.)

Peter had expanded his territory accordingly in their absence, spending time in each of the five boroughs. So far he’d caught a few pickpockets in Manhattan, who’d attempted to prey on oblivious tourists around 42nd street, but otherwise New York was getting on just fine.

Still, Peter remained vigilant! Mr. Stark was expecting a full report when he got back.

Spider-Man was about to turn in for the night, halfway across the Queensboro Bridge when Karen piped up.

“Peter, I’ve just received a report of a fire in Chinatown. Firefighters are heading towards the scene, but it has spread to two apartment buildings.”

“On it!”

Peter webbed one of the bridge’s support beams and pivoted back around towards Manhattan.

He arrived at the scene roughly thirty minutes after Karen’s alert. The local firefighters had beaten him there. Three fire trucks were parked haphazardly in the street, the firefighters rushing to subdue the rampaging flames before the fire spread even further. One of the apartment buildings on fire was six stories tall, the other eight. The scene was chaotic as the firefighters rushed to rescue civilians, keep onlookers from getting too close, and douse the roaring flames. Smoke hung thickly in the air.

Spider-Man perched atop a fire-hydrant as a fireman secured the hose attached to it.

“What’s the situation like inside?” He yelled to be heard over the cacophony of noise.

“We’ve got some folks still up on the eighth floor.” The fireman said. While some police officers and firefighters disliked Spider-Man, most respected him now that he’d proven himself on several mid-profile captures, and were willing to work with him in times of crisis.

“Leave it to me.”

Peter stuck himself to the building and began to climb. The heat of the brick was dampened to a bearable level by his suit, and for the billionth time Peter blessed its design.

The heat had cracked the windows on the eighth floor. Peter shattered one of them with a single kick. He swung into the apartment.

“Hello? Is anyone here?” He called out. The nano-tech in his suit supplied oxygen to him, so he didn’t have to worry about smoke inhalation.

His scalp prickled, and he intuitively rolled forward to dodge a wooden support beam. He needed to move fast. While he may be protected from the smoke, he’s pretty sure his suit couldn’t withstand an eight story building’s worth of brick and mortar atop him.

“Karen, scan for life forms.”

“Scanning.” Even as she spoke, three heat signatures appeared in the apartment across the hall from the one he was currently in. “There is a family of three in apartment 8F.”

Peter ran out of the apartment. When he reached the hallway, he kicked down the door to 8F. Peter cringed back as heat slammed into him. The fire was even more intense in here.

“Hello? I’m getting you out of here!”

The family rushed to him from the closet they were hiding in. Shirts were tied around their faces, makeshift masks to keep out some of the smoke. The mother pushed a young girl into his arms. The tears on the girls face evaporated even as she wailed.

“小雨!” She screamed.

Peter led the family back through the apartment he entered from. All the while, the kid burrowed against his neck and kept screaming the same thing over and over.

“What is she saying, Karen?”

“小雨!”

“Sprinkles.”

They reached the shattered window. A firefighter had come up on the ladder, and was waiting for them. Spider-Man handed off the girl first.

“小雨,” She sobbed.

“Karen, scan 8F for pets.”

Leaving the family to be escorted down by the firefighters, Peter rushed back into their apartment. He searched wildly around the living room.

“There is a cat beneath that couch.”

Peter heaved the couch out of the way, and scooped up a tiny white kitten.

“Is there anyone else still in the building?”

“Just you, Peter.”

The floor groaned ominously beneath his feet.

“Right. Time to go.” Cradling the kitten close to his chest, Peter ducked and dived around falling debris.

The family was clear of the window, but the firefighter had remained behind in case there were more to save.

“All clear!” Peter said.

“Move it!” The firefighter hollered.

Spider-Man didn’t need to be told twice—he leapt through the window and stuck himself to the fire truck’s extended ladder. He climbed down, and landed by the EMTs.

“Can you help this cat?” He asked. One of the EMTs that wasn’t occupied with a human patient came fourth. She took the kitten, and pressed a toddler-size oxygen mask to the animal’s face.

“小雨!”

Spider-Man turned. The girl he saved dragged her parents over to him. He looked to the EMT. The kitten was soot-covered and coughing, but very wriggly and alive in the med tech’s hand. The EMT gave him a firm nod.

Spider-Man crouched down to look the girl in the eye.

“Sprinkles is going to be just fine.”

Peter was about to ask Karen to translate for him when the EMT handed the kitten back to him. Peter gave the cat a quick pat on the head before he returned it to the girl.

She brightened instantly, and clutched Sprinkles to her chest. The kitten purred loudly, recognizing its owner. Its pink tongue flicked out to lick her hand.

“Thank you, Spider-Man,” The girl’s mother said.

Peter straightened. “Of course! Just doing my job.”

The girl rushed forward for a hug, and Spider-Man happily returned the embrace.

Things had been rough—and that was really an understatement—since the Snap was reversed. They’d lost many heroes in the final battle against Thanos. Too many. There were many days that Peter felt guilt, that he survived when so many did not. But nights like tonight, it all feels worth it. This was what he was meant for.

“Let’s go home, Karen.” Spider-Man shot off a web, and launched himself into the air.

~*~

Bells shrilled, signalling the end of the school day. As students filtered past him, Peter pulled up the Daily Bugle on his phone.

FIREFIGHTERS SAVE CHINATOWN

Screamed the headline. The article went on to discuss the details of the blaze. The electrical fire, caused by antiquated, faulty wiring throughout the six story building, claimed both that building and the one beside it. The six story building crumbled entirely, the centuries-old brick no match for the searing flames. The eight story building was still standing, but it was a husk of its former self. But, thanks to the efforts of the firefighters and Spider-Man, no lives were lost.

Peter grinned. The editor of the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson, was his own personal Gordon Ramsay. Jameson’s gone on all types of podcasts and printed so many articles lambasting Spider-Man, calling him a public menace and trying to twist his actions into something villainous. But in this article, Jameson had to begrudgingly admit Spider-Man had done no wrong, and had actually helped; videos of Spider-Man rescuing the kitten have already gone viral. Sure, Jameson framed him as an afterthought, only mentioning his part of the fire rescue in the last sentence of the article. But it was still progress! Peter had the feeling he’d wrangle a glowing review out of Jameson one day.

“Hey dude.” Ned nudged Peter in the arm as he caught up to him in the hallway. He leaned in and whispered conspiratorially: “I saw everything on the news. Great job.”

Peter beamed. “Thanks, man.”

They walked together to the library, to the first week decathlon practice for their junior year.

“Oh, we still on for this Saturday?”

“Yeah!”

“Cool. It’s been a while since we’ve just like, hung out doing nothing, you know?”

Peter nodded. Once Aunt May calmed down after discovering his secret hobby of running around in spandex all night, she laid down some ground rules for him. He had to get at least Bs in his classes, stay involved in one club, and restrict his Spider-manning to four days a week (and be back in bed by 2 a.m.) unless there was a dire emergency. And by dire emergency she meant aliens falling from the sky, and nothing less than that.

At first, Peter had chafed under the restrictions. Before she’d known, he had gone out as Spider-Man every night, and would get a few snatches of sleep before he had to get up for school. He had the perspective to see now that it wasn’t healthy, and he still felt guilty about all the times he’d blown off Ned to go on a patrol that ended with zero crimes encountered. Aunt May’s rules helped Peter better balance everything going on in his life. He felt more in control.

Most of the decathlon team was already settled in by the time he and Ned got there. Including—ugh—Flash.

Of course, his tormentor instantly honed in on him. Peter hadn’t even set his backpack down yet before Flash sneered: “Shouldn’t you be at the “Stark Internship” right now?”

Peter avoided his gaze. The best way to deal with Flash was to just not engage.

M.J. was the last to arrive, a petrified-looking freshman in tow.

“Everyone, say hello to the new meat.”

They chorused a greeting. The freshman fidgeted and tried for a smile.

“I’m Edward, but people call me Eddie. It’s nice to meet you all.”

Eddie took the spare seat beside Peter. Peter gave him an encouraging smile, which the freshman returned.

M.J. plopped into her chair at the head of the table, and said offhand: “Oh and Flash, you’re down to second alternate.”

Predictably, he exploded.

“What the hell do you mean, second alternate?” Flash leapt out of his chair. No one was surprised, save for Eddie, who stared, wide-eyed.

“The newbie scored higher on the ranking test we did. So he’s first alternate now.”

Flash’s face reddened. It was humiliating for a junior to be ranked below a freshman.

“That’s bullshit! That’s—That’s—” He cast about for a target. And predictably, it was Peter. “Parker put you up to this!”

Ned, ever faithful, rallied to Peter’s defense. “Flash, it’s not Peter’s fault you bombed the test.”

“Don’t you know, lard-o? He’s sleeping with the team captain! It’s obvious he had her lower my score on purpose to make me look bad!”

Peter went scarlet at the mention of him and M.J. M.J, of course, was unphased.

“Keep it down!” The librarian scolded Flash as she drifted by with a cart of books to put back.

“I’m—You—Mr. Harrington won’t agree to this!” Flash stomped off to find their teacher.

M.J. shrugged in his wake. “It was Mr. Harrington’s choice anyway, so…”

“I can be second alternate.” Eddie said, earnestly. “Really, I don’t mind. I don’t want to cause any problems.”

“No.” Peter blurted. “Just ignore him. He’s a dick.”

He could take Flash picking on him—he had for years now—but he couldn’t let Flash ruin this freshman’s chance to shine. It was pretty much certain Peter would miss decathlon competitions in the future, and he’d rather give his spot to Eddie over Flash any day.

By the time Flash sulked back to the table, they had already broken off into groups to quiz each other. Peter usually paired with Ned, but when Eddie’s timid eyes lifted to him with a mute request, he couldn’t deny him.

“Which Florida city is the southernmost point in the continental United States?” Peter read off the card.

Eddie thought for a moment, then perked up.

“Key West!”

“You got it.” That was the last of the cards; Eddie was pretty damn fast. “So, Eddie, why’d you join the team?”

Eddie shrugged.

“My mom said I had to join some clubs. Looks good for colleges and whatnot. Plus if I joined a few, she said she’d get me a camera.”

“You like to take photographs?”

He asked the right question—Eddie lit up like the sun. “Yeah, I’m—I’ve been going around after school since I was like, ten. Look at this!”

Eddie flipped through the photos on his phone, and showed Peter one of Spider-Man, sailing through the Washington Square Arch.

“Wow!” Peter was genuinely impressed. The picture framed Spider-Man nicely, and was in focus. Most photos of him that circulated the web (heh, web) were blurry or unflattering. Ned still had that picture of Peter face-planting onto a car as his phone lock screen, and every time he saw it he died a little more inside.

“Spider-Man’s cool.” Eddie said. Peter preened. He was cool. “My dad doesn’t really like him, though.”

Their conversation was interrupted as M.J. wrangled them all back to the meeting table. She gave each of them a book to read, all on their topics of focus. Peter grimaced as he was handed a weighty physics book. He’d have Karen read it aloud to him during patrol.

“That’s all for today. Scram.”

After M.J. closed out the session, the group scattered. Peter hung back with M.J., ignoring Flash’s glower and waving Ned and Eddie off.

“Eddie’s smart,” He told M.J. as she stuffed flashcards back into her backpack. “I think he’ll be great on the team.”

“I know how to pick ‘em.” M.J. said.

Now that they were alone, M.J. was bold enough to give him a quick peck on the lips.

Peter’s heart fluttered. The smile M.J. gave him was soft and private, a vulnerability to it that she let only him see. He grinned back like a doofus.

The war against Thanos really put things into perspective for Peter. He and M.J. had skirted around this thing between them for a while, but he’d been too scared to ever make a move. Once they wrested the gauntlet away from Thanos, and the restored world had time to settle back into its old rhythm, Peter just went for it. They’d been dating for two months now, and Peter was still in awe of the fact that she’d said yes.

Peter ultimately left the library with a spring in his step, and the promise of a date next week.

~*~

“—and then I was like, you’ve got to be kitten me! And I grabbed the little guy and got him the heck out of there.”

Peter gesticulated wildly as he gave Mr. Stark his report for the two and a half weeks he and the Avengers were away. Saving the family and their kitten from the fire was definitely the highlight.

Peter paused his tale to eat another scoop of froyo. Typically he gave his weekly reports to Happy, but this time Mr. Stark had taken him out for some froyo when he came back with the team, to give them time to touch base face to face. Peter would be lying if he said he hadn’t missed Mr. Stark.

The cashier of the small midtown froyo shop was sneaking pictures of the two of them—Peter heard the faint click of the shutter sound going off on her phone. The customers, however, remained indifferent to them. Peter had to give New Yorkers credit; they were great at giving celebrities privacy, and pretending it wasn’t a big deal to do so.

“It certainly sounds like an adventure. You did good, kid.” Peter basked in the praise, a giddy, warm feeling in his chest. Mr. Stark was giving him that look again, the one he treasured most of all, his eyes shining with paternal pride.

“So tell me what happened with you!” Peter leaned forward eagerly. “Did you see the other Peter?” Peter had hitched a ride with the Guardians back to Earth, and had enjoyed getting to know them all under much less dire circumstances. Educating the other Peter on memes was seriously a highlight of his life.

Tony rolled his eyes. “Star Dork was around, yes. He threw a grenade at an alien and yelled “yeet”.”

Peter gasped, and pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. “I’m so proud.”

“You’re a terrible influence.”

~*~

Spider-Man swung through Queens, on a routine patrol. Now that Mr. Stark and the rest of the Avengers were back, he returned to focusing on his home turf. Privately, he missed the Manhattan skyscrapers; he couldn’t get nearly as much air out here.

He spotted a cop car as it screamed down the road, and followed after it. He grew nervous as the car drove closer and closer to May’s apartment, but the tension in his chest deflated when the car parked about five blocks away. He knows May’s route home from the subway, and it takes her down a different road.

Peter landed lightly on his feet, behind the officers. He cleared his throat to let them know he was there. He’d learned to announce his presence to them gently after a startled cop once whirled around and clocked him in the face.

“What’s the situation, officers?”

He didn’t know these particular cops, but they knew him. Davis, read the name tag on the black cop’s chest.

“Hope you’ve got a strong stomach, Spidey.” Davis said.

Both curious and wary, Spider-Man followed the officers into an alleyway. They ducked beneath a strand of yellow police tape, and passed by a forensics officer getting out her kit.

At the end of the alleyway was a man, slumped against a dumpster. By the look of him, he was homeless.

Peter was assaulted by a vile stench: sweat, blood, and fecal matter mixed into one noxious fume. As he drew closer, he saw the man was dead. Not from exposure, or overdose, but something far more sinister. It looked like an animal got to him. His stomach was ripped open, and Peter observed with horror that his entrails had bites out of them. Someone—or some thing—had eaten parts of this man.

“Christ.” Davis’ partner muttered. Peter tried his best not to puke.

“Spider-Man.” Davis addressed him. “You got any enemies that do stuff like this?”

He shook his head. This wasn’t even close to the m.o. of the villains he’d faced. The Vulture, the Scorpion, they were corrupt and cruel, but they never fell to this level of savagery. This was animalistic. Inhuman.

“I’ll look into it.” Spider-Man said. Once he surreptitiously took samples of evidence for his own investigation, he left the scene.

Two days later, another victim was found.

[boarix]

Wraith in the Ruins: A Fallout 4 Story Part V

The Promise

Trigger warnings: canon language/violence/gun, drug and alcohol use. Mature/suggestive content

Game spoilers!

Please enjoy!

 “Why won’t she listen?!”

Danse was pacing in Curie’s lab. His steps were heavy even without his power armor and he kept jarring the microscope making it almost impossible for Curie to read the slide.

“She listens to you, monsieur Danse, but she is most distraught over almost loosing MacCready and effectively loosing monsieur Hancock. She is so downtrodden; we need to respect her wish to move more slowly, oui?”

“I could crush them! The Dragoons and I and one or two M-42s... It would be over like that.”

Snapping his fingers, Danse roused Panther who had been napping in a window. The great monster of a housecat proceed to walk across Curie’s desk placing itself strategically between her and her work.

Sighing in defeat she gave it a pat, “We do not know how many civilian innocents may be killed by a direct assault.”

Wraith would never again call for the destruction of an entire facility; the loss of life between the Institute and the Prydwen would forever haunt her.

Danse had gone back to pacing-out his frustration and hearing Curie’s uncharacteristically impatient sigh, Panther jumped down from her desk and intercepted the large man, purring loudly and rubbing on his leg. Danse stopped automatically and as is if a switch in his brain had been flipped, he stooped slightly to pet the cat.  

“Ah, you are Pavlov’s dog.” Curie smiled at him, “You have no say; the cat is there so you must stop to pet it.”

Curie giggled at her “joke” and combined with the smile she gave him, Danse had a rush of feelings and thoughts that were rather unsettling.

I wonder if I could… If she would let me…

His thoughts were cut off by the door slamming open and a ridiculously muddy MacCready poking his head in, “Hey is the boss lady back yet?”

Curie jumped when the door opened, “Oh my goodness! Why, you are all together mud! Do not come in here so filthy. Why are you a swamp monster?”

“I’m helping Sturges dredge for the mill. Is Wraith back yet?”

“What, did you lose a bet?” Danse was laughing.

“Why do people keep asking me that?” MacCready was exasperated, “Of COURSE I lost a bet! No one would willingly volunteer to help with this crap! Let me know when she gets home.”

“Is there something you required from Madame?”

MacCready was thankful that they couldn’t see him blush through the mud, “No! I just… want to know that’s all.” He slammed the door as he left.

Curie had returned her focus to the microscope. Danse, feeling that the moment had passed, but that some of the new thoughts and ideas might be worth revisiting later, left her to work; closing the door politely.

 Wraith had taken Shaun back to Diamond City for the fall with the intention to work a local case with Valentine while she was there. There had been some whispered dissention over the synth detective’s new look and Wraith had hoped that her presence combined with Piper’s endorsement would help to ease any growing negativity.

She had been gone for a while and MacCready had been increasingly grouchy at over being left behind. He didn’t remember what had happened after he had been shot, and Wraith had been rather vague about the subsequent fight between her and Hancock. What she had been clear on was that for the time being he was grounded for his own safety and there were a lot of tasks he could help with before his next semester started.  

“I can’t believe she took the dog too. I’m so flippn’ bored!”

As it happened, as soon as MacCready slammed the clinic door, Wraith crossed through Big Bridge Gate. She had made the trip to and from Diamond City travelling incognito as a male caravan guard and so made it all the way to her office undisturbed. Dogmeat’s disguise was simpler: Wraith took his red bandana off.

“May I help you?” Sofie had no idea whom she was addressing and was legitimately startled when Wraith’s voice answered her.

“How’s it been, Sofie dear?” Taking off some of her gear while the ghoulette updated her, Wraith interrupted long enough to suggest they go outside to the picnic tables, “It’s really nice out today and I want to sit in the sun while it’s out.”

MacCready caught wind that Sofie was talking to someone that “might be The Boss” and so immediately went over to impress her with his mud. Swaggering up as if he was in a tux, his tone was overtly flirtatious, “Well if it isn’t the best looking ladies in town! Get a load of you two knockouts! Hey, Sofie who’s in the little tower today, it’s Lloyd right?” At the diminutive ghoul’s nod he winked at them, “Scuse me a minute…”

Laughing a little at his odd behavior and appearance Wraith and Sofie continued with their meeting until they both jumped at a sudden scream, “GGGGAAAAAHHHHH!!! MACCREADY YOU DISGUSTING FUCK!! I CAN’T FUCKING UN-SEE THAT SHIT, MAN! GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!” Then, looking all the world as innocent as a new born, MacCready returned to the picnic tables adjusting his belt.

“What did…?”

Wraith interrupted her quickly, “Nope! No, Sofie. Just… no.” She laughed in spite of herself, “Mac, if you’re through, I got some more ballistic fiber and I’ve been meaning to mod you some new stuff. Go shower and meet me back at the house. Hey, the showers are that way.”

“Why can’t I use your office shower? I’m gonna get a change of clothes…”

“I’m about to get in there myself and you are not walking through the house like that! Go use the public showers and I’ll have someone bring you clean gear.”

“Okay, mom! Jeez!”

 The community showers were one of Wraith’s personal triumphs. Although the pressure wasn’t always the best, at least the users had the option of hot running water. MacCready relaxed into the warm water and had just finished lathering up everything when he heard Curie’s voice.

“Monsieur MacCready I have brought you fresh things. These old are to be burned, oui?”

“No! Don’t!” In a panic, he forgot himself and ran out to the locker room area, slipping on the floor and nearly colliding into her.

“Oh! I was only… joking…” Curie turned an odd shade of pink as she got a full frontal view of everything MacCready had to offer. “Oh! Eeeeeee!” Running away she dropped the pair of pants she had brought, but nothing else.

Wearing nothing but a confused face and a few suds, he picked up the pants, “Hmmm, commando it is.”

 Wraith was surprised to see him half naked a few minutes later, “I sent Curie with a full change of clothes.” As he told her the story she started to laugh.

“I’m glad you think it’s funny, but I’m confused; I thought she’s a doctor. Doesn’t she see naked people all the time?”

“Hmm. Maybe it was just the shock of it? Actually maybe she hasn’t. I’ve never forced anyone to get a physical and Preston was prepped for surgery before we got there. All of the instruction she’s done has been field med based, and they used cadavers so probably never a live man either.”

“Didn’t she help with medical research and stuff? Before she was…”

“Well, keep in mind when Dr. Collins programed her, all of the anatomy and physiology data was just that, data. And if she ‘saw’ a live naked patient it would have been through her ocular sensors. They aren’t quite the same as our eyes and she wouldn’t have had a… an emotional, I guess, reaction. So she has never seen a live naked man before. Then when a handsome naked guy who is dripping wet, bumps into her… yeah, she’d probably flip.”

Now it was MacCready’s turn to blush, “Never seen a naked man before… Where did you get cadavers…oh yeah, never mind.”

Wraith was laughing hard, “Yeah…heh… she’ll forever… hahaha… compare…” She snorted loudly, “… all other guys… to you! BWAAAHAHAHA!”

“Wait… you think I’m handsome?”

Wraith rolled her eyes dramatically at him, “Yeah, Mac. You be sure to apologies to her later though, okay? Wait. You better let me speak to her first because I’m laughing but you might have legitimately traumatized her.”

“Well, it is a lot to take in.” He spread his arms out wide and lifted his chin proudly.

“Yeah, yeah. Keep your arms up, I’m gonna measure you.” As she took the various measurements, Wraith found herself thinking about how handsome she really thought the young man was. Trying not to make herself blush she pushed the thoughts away and rushed, especially his inseam.

Stop it! Don’t think about his junk! You creep. Old bat. No underwear…. Gaaaahhhh!

Trying to cover up her busy mind she read his measurements out loud as she wrote them down, “I’m glad I measured first cause you’re filling out, I’m surprised your coat even fit you anymore.”

“What do you mean? I’m not done growing yet?”

“You’ve been at your full height, I’m sure. I just mean that I’ve been feeding you well and having you do more physical tasks than just runnin’ and gunnin’. You didn’t have as lean a winter as the ones you’ve told me about either, so your body can actually apply calories to muscle mass building as well. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll never be a beast like Danse.” She had thrown in that last bit to deflate his ego as he had started to flex experimentally during her explanation and it was giving her all sorts of fresh material for her dirty brain. She went to sit at her workbench, more to have her back to him, less to actually start her work.

Will you please stop! You are fifteen years his senior and he… and he… looks it.

MacCready’s ego was rather substantial however and so the jibe didn’t seem to faze him. Instead he swaggered over to the table and plopped down on the top, folding his arms he smiled down at her, “You know everything about me, huh? I don’t know anything about you though. I mean, not really.”

She immediately stood up so she could have her back to him again feigning interest in the ballistic fiber, “What do you mean? You know me, Mac!”

“I know what you’re like. I know that you’re a good person. But I don’t even know what your life was like, you know… before. You said you were a lawyer, but I don’t know what that really involves.”

“I assure you, it’s boring stuff.”

“C’mon, Wraith, give me something! Just one little story… Please?”

She sighed, defeated. At first she tried to speak calmly and slowly but her pace soon picked up, “Okay. I was in the Marine Corps for a few years and bounced around a bit; I worked for the Adjutant office and Ground Supply and a few months over-seas with Public Affairs.”

She took in a large, shaking breath, “When I was home on leave for a cousin’s wedding, my parents and I were in a bad car wreck. I was the only survivor and then it was just barley. That was actually the first time I heard of Vault Tec; they had a lot of contracts with the military and they offered to help pay for my surgeries and recovery if they could run some extra tests. I didn’t really have much of a choice; I essentially belonged to the military.”

She had started to pace back and forth as she talked, “I found out later that I wouldn’t be able to have children. The doctors said it was because of the damage I received from the accident, but I have always wondered about that.”

“Wait, they told you that you couldn’t have kids? But… Shaun?”

“I’ll get to that.” She resumed her pacing, “I decided that I wanted to change my career focus. I still wanted to stay in the military but I thought I might actually feel like I was doing something if I got my law degree and became a JAG lawyer.”

“Jag?”

“Yeah, it stands for ‘Judge Advocate General’s Corps’. She stopped pacing and stood silently. She was practically panting by now.

“Wraith? Are you okay? You don’t have to…”

“No, I’m alright. I just haven’t talked this much about before... Not to anyone.” She closed her eyes and controlled her breathing, “That is actually how I met Nate.”

MacCready straightened up a little at the name. She almost never talked about her late husband.

“Nathaniel Emmanuel Keita-Johnson. He was the Army liaison assigned to me for a case I was working. He was also just about the most beautiful human being I had ever seen; tall, dark and handsome. But he was also kind and fully committed to justice. I fell in love with him immediately. I kept it professional though and never let on what I was feeling. So much so that he thought I didn’t like him at all!” She had started breathing hard again.

“Wraith, really! You don’t have to…”

“No! I can do this!” She was back to pacing, even faster this time, “After the case wrapped he approached me and apologized. He said ‘I’m sorry if I wasn’t helpful to you’. I couldn’t believe it! I apologized for him feeling that he needed to apologize to me…”

“That sounds like you.” MacCready was trying to be supportive.

“Yeah. Well, we got to talking and then the rest as they say is history. We got married and I was amazed that he even liked me let alone wanted to be with me, especially since I couldn’t have babies. Well, then Vault Tec showed up again. The rep congratulated us on our marriage and asked if we would like to participate in a surrogate program.” She could see that MacCready was confused, “That’s when they take a fertilized egg sample from the parents and implant it in another person. At first I told them ‘no’. But I reconsidered and Nate said that he really wanted to see… me… as a mother…” Wraith was shaking now and started gasping for air.

MacCready took her in his arms and held her tightly to his chest, “Stop! It’s okay! I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you. Just breathe.”

He had unwittingly echoed Hancock, and Wraith’s mind went into a spin as she simultaneously re-lived the deaths of her husband and her son as well as Hancock’s dismissal. She blacked out as her body re-set itself. MacCready continued to hold her as she briefly went limp and her breathing evened out.

As she came-to she was keenly aware that she was pressed against MacCready’s bare chest. She tried to focus on his heart beat and regain control. Then he began humming I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire and rocked them gently back and forth. She could hear his heart rate increase as she put her arms around him and reciprocated the embrace.

I just want to feel something else… Maybe I could… With Mac I could…

He pulled back from her and setting his hand on the top of her head he made as if to pet her hair, but ended up running his hand gently down the side of her face to cup her chin, “I’m sorry Wraith.” With his face mere inches from hers it was nothing to dip his head slightly and set his lips against hers.

The kiss was meant to be an offer of gentle support, but as she returned it with urgency he felt a fire ignite inside him. His hand moved to the back of her head to deepen the kiss even as she wove her fingers through his hair pulling him to her. He hefted her up to straddle him and pushing her against a wall, ground his growing erection between her legs.  She moaned against his mouth and he thought he might lose it right then. Reaching down between them she cupped and stroked him through his pants.

He bucked himself into her hand, “God yes… please! Uhhh!”

As Wraith moved her hands to his zipper an image of Hancock flashed into MacCready’s mind and he grabbed her hands to stop her. Shaking and panting he set her down and backed away, “No we can’t. I’m sorry we can’t.”  

Wraith completely misunderstood and was blushing furiously, “I’m sorry, MacCready! I guess I… I don’t…”

“No! God no, it’s not what you think!” Knuckling his fists into his eyes he reeled back, “I promised! I promised him!”

“Mac, I don’t understand… what…”

“Hancock!” Backing away from her toward the door, MacCready’s face had twisted into an intensely anguished mask, “Please don’t think that I don’t want to… God I do… so fucking bad! But I promised Hancock that I’d never steal from him again!”

Wraith became very still, “Robert Joseph, I do NOT belong to Hancock!” She was clenching her fists and wouldn’t look at him, “He doesn’t even… like me anymore!” She felt so childish saying it out loud.

“He loves you!” He raised his voice at her shaking head, “I know he does! And you love him! And… and I don’t know what happened, but I know it’s my fault you guys aren’t together anymore.”

“We were never together!” Wraith was trying hard not to start crying.

“But… you slept together...”

“Slept. He held me while I slept.” As angry as she was she felt a stab of sympathy for him. Even more so when she saw tears standing out on his cheeks. She reached for him, “Mac, it’s okay…”

“No. You never had a chance… to… It’s all my fault!” He fled through the door, and she could hear him run up the stairs to his apartment.

 Wraith stood in silence for several minutes. She briefly thought to go knock on Cait’s door; the other woman would probably help her alleviate her intense sexual frustration. She almost immediately dismissed the idea. Cait wasn’t who she wanted and she didn’t want to use her like that. Instead she took a copious amount of Mentats and proceeded to write up 3 months’ worth of task-lists for Sanctuary. As she came down she felt an intense compulsion to go see Nate’s grave. Hiking up past the vault she remembered too late that she was wearing a t-shirt and jeans and had no armor or weapons at all.

She didn’t see the shadow following her.

Wraith had planted hubflowers around the simple stone that served as her late husband’s grave marker. She sat on the damp earth and took several measured, flower scented, breaths before speaking, “Hey Nate. You remember that talk we had about moving on if one of us dies? Well, I thought I had someone in mind… I wasn’t ready yet but… there was a man… a ghoul actually and also maybe a man. I guess I thought I could have both.” Tears streamed down her face, “But it turns out… no one actually wants me anyway.”

Lost in her pity-party she didn’t see the shadow circle around her.

Finally feeling a presence, Wraith lifted her face from her hands to see a pair of glowing eyes quietly observing her. She wasn’t afraid as she didn’t feel a harmful aura, “Panther?”

Upon hearing its name the cat began chuffing at her. Stepping across the grave with its whiskers fully extended, it licked her nose before crashing its forehead into hers and wiping her tears with its face and neck. It then made room for itself on her lap: sitting on her crossed legs while placing its head and paws on her shoulder.

She returned the cat’s hug, whispering, “Thanks Nate.”

  The next morning Wraith was gone.

She had left notes for Sofie, MacCready and Danse and had spoken with Curie, but everyone got the same information: Wraith would be back TBA. With 3 months of task-lists no one lacked for clear directives, but MacCready told everyone to leave him alone and spent 3 days in the big tower. In the end, Danse was the one to go and bring him down after a lot of yelling and toilet-bucket throwing. It was even later rumored that Danse had called him a, “whiny little shit”.

  Deacon knew that the young man traveling alone was actually Wraith. At first he was irritated with her, but then decided that her disguise was probably good enough to fool anyone but him. Wraith was 5’7” so with the heeled boots she was wearing; she was already the average height of most males in the commonwealth. She had altered her walk as well so her movements and body carriage denoted a general sense of “maleness”. She had even worn a wig. His irritation changed to pride as he jogged up next to her, “Whatcha doin’?”

Wraith didn’t jump or flinch at his approach as she had felt him from a ways off, “Walking.”

“Walking is for saps! Me, I’m swimmin’!” So saying he started wheeling his arms around as they moved along, “C’mon in, the waters fine!”

She couldn’t help but smile but wasn’t exactly in the mood to feel better yet, “Looks more like you’re trying to land a plane on a carrier.”

“Where we going anyway?” He was doing the breaststroke now.

“We?”

“Yeah, it means the speaker,” He pointed at himself, “and one or more other people,” He pointed at her, “considered together.”

“It’s getting dark and I’ve been settlement hopping and I’m worn out and… I’m trying to do the smart thing by stopping at a safe-house.”

“Do you have some of that sweet leather stuff?”

“Always.”

“Then we shall join you for dinner.” He had stopped swimming and instead adopted a courtly walk, “That time ‘we’ was meant to indicate that my royal self has made a decree, thusly.”

Wraith gave in. After an enjoyable banter-filled dinner she felt herself relax. Spreading her bedroll and tossing Deacon a spare blanket, she was amazed that she was as comfortable as she was.

Maybe it’s because I know he doesn’t ‘want’ me. There aren’t any expectations. I’m just safer because he’s here.

They lay in the dark for a few minutes before Deacon finally worked up the nerve, “Wraith, we are friends right?”

She propped herself up on her elbows to try and see him better, “Of course! Why?”

He resisted the urge to get closer to her, “Friends talk about stuff. You want to tell me why you and Hancock aren’t speaking?”

Flopping back down she grunted, “Ask him.”

“Hancock barely tolerates me. We are too much alike. So as much as I like fucking with him… I’d just as soon go poke a yao guai.”    

“Who says I won’t punch ya?”

“Punch yes, eviscerate no.”

“Oh I’m sure he wouldn’t do that.” Tucking an arm behind her head she sighed dramatically, ending it in a growl, “I think he’s mad about MacCready. We almost lost him and it more or less could have been avoided, had I not been so stubborn.”

“That doesn’t track boss; Hancock knows what this life is like. Notice he didn’t try to stop you like I did. Instead he came with, probably thought it would be fun. The guy gets off on danger.”

“I don’t know… he’s got a soft spot for MacCready. He was pretty possessive after he’d been shot.” She started to run her hand back and forth across her buzzed hair, “Actually it wasn’t until Mac kissed me that he started acting weird.”

She could see him smile in the dark, “Oh yeah? Exchanging fluids with ol’ Hatty MacCheekbones are we?”

You have no idea…

“It wasn’t like that; he was delirious and mistook me for his late wife Lucy.”

“What are you going to do tomorrow?”

The abrupt change in subject caught her off guard. ”Uh… I donno. I don’t actually have a plan out here. Like I said I’ve been going through Minutemen settlements incognito, checking on everything unofficially and so far so good. I’m happy with all the leaders I’ve picked and there really isn’t anything other than the big projects…”

“So come back to the Railroad for a bit.”

His interruption surprised her, “Uh… I don’t know, Deacon.”

“Or, or, just hear me out. Help me with my current project.”

It would be nice to have something different to do… A change in focus…

“Okay.”

“Really?!”

His excitement made her smile, “On one condition; you can’t swim on dry land the whole time. Wavin’ your arms around like that… you’ll have vertibirds trying to land on us.”

  There wasn’t supposed to be coursers.

Deacon’s project was meant to be a simple package transport: a pick-up and drop-off of a synth from one secure location to another. It was supposed to be a routine mission and a way for Deacon to spend more time with Wraith.

There wasn’t supposed to be coursers.

Wraith’s high perception picked up on the concealed courser before it fired a shot, “There!” Throwing a knife at the mirage-like ripple in the air, she gauged about where its hand would be and got off a rifle round as it moved to block; its Institute pistol coming into view as it left its hand. The ripple moved away and Wraith chased after, “Pursuing!”

Moving himself between the synth they were transporting and the apparent threat, Deacon was surprised when she grabbed his arm and twisted it painfully behind him. Forcing him down she stood on his right leg to keep him prone. Rolling to his right, he brought his left leg around and kicked hard against her right knee. For a split second her hold weakened, long enough for him to continue his momentum back to a standing position, pulling his silenced pistol from its holster as he did.

Recovering quickly, she grabbed his pistol wielding hand in a vise-like grip. Pain forced his hand open and the gun dropped to the ground. Not losing a beat, Deacon gave her a closed-fist double-tap to her temple. She caught his fist on his third jab and yanked forward to grip his neck with her other hand. Releasing his fist, she gripped his throat with both hands and lifted him off his feet.

“GHAACK! How are you so tall?!”

Activating his shoe knife, he delivered a brutal kick to her armpit. Had she been a normal human this would have more than broken her hold. As she was a courser, she flinched and dropped her arms slightly but not enough to set him on the ground. Clawing at her hands, he could feel himself losing consciousness. Mustering every remaining ounce of strength, he swung his foot up and slammed the knife into the side of her head. He knew she was dead, yet her body didn’t seem to know and was still holding him painfully aloft.

His last thought was, “Oops.”

 Using a combination of her berserker rage and an incredibly sharp combat knife, Wraith sliced through the courser’s arms, dropping Deacon to the ground. Prying the hands away from his purpled neck she tilted his head back to begin CPR. Knowing full well she wasn’t competent enough to perform a tracheotomy, she prayed his windpipe hadn’t been crushed. “Common Deacon! Fight for me buddy!” Still not getting a heartbeat, she slammed her fist onto his chest, “God damn you, YOU ASS! BREATHE!”

“Ouch.” His voice was a horse whisper and was followed by a wracking cough.

Shooting him up with Med-X and a stimpak, Wraith gathered him into her arms and proceeded to cry. He briefly struggled against her touch but she squeezed all the tighter, “Nope! I get to. I get to hold you after that! I’m sorry and you can yell at me when you’re better, but I get to fucking hold you now.”

He reached up to tenderly touch her bruised and battered face.

   “I know it will be difficult for you monsieur Deacon, but you must use your voice as little as possible as you are recovering.”

Curie’s no-nonsense face made Deacon want to laugh, but the thought of how painful it might be kept his chuckle at bay. Nodding instead he hopped down off of her examination table and joined Wraith in the waiting room.

“Doc sez I shouldn’t talk.”

Wraith laughed at him, “As if that’s possible!” As they headed to the door, Wraith stopped short causing Deacon to almost bowl her over, “Shit! Mac is out there.” Deacon raised an eyebrow at her. “I scared him and now he won’t let me out of his sight. He’s kinda smothering me.” Deacon raised both eyebrows at her. “Okay, okay I get it. Shush yer eyebrows, jeez!”

  Hancock sensed someone standing behind him, “Fahr, can you tell me why in the goddamn I wrote three copies of the same fucking page?!”

“You were probably high. Or drunk. Both?”

He was in no mood for Deacon and didn’t bother to turn around, “I don’t have time or the patience to deal with your shit right now.” He shuffled some papers around to emphasize how busy he was, “The Railroad needs something, they can leave a memo.”

“Actually it’s Wraith that needs something.” Deacon involuntarily flinched as Hancock slammed his palms down on the table. “She’s not well, Hancock. She doesn’t sleep or eat hardly at all.”

Hancock’s voice was low and dangerous, “What, am I her pa now? She has plenty of folks to take care of her.”

“You mean MacCready, right? You know they aren’t together, right? He completely rejected her and she was heartbroken!”

“It’s none of my concern.” Hancock’s shoulder set and voice told on his lie, “I have problems of my own here without having to worry after the good General Wraith.”

“Wraith isn’t her real name.”

Pushing himself up violently, Hancock closed the distance to Deacon with remarkable speed. Grabbing the other man by the shoulders he slammed him roughly into the wall, “I DON’T FUCKING CARE!”

Throwing caution to the wind Deacon got in his face, literally pressing his forehead to Hancock’s and dislodging his tricorn, “I think you fucking care quite a bit! You can’t lie to a liar, Hancock. I know you are in love with that woman.” As Hancock released him and backed away, Deacon feeling he’d gained the upper hand, followed after him, “You thought you were in their way right? You thought ‘If I’m not around then they’ll fall into each other’s arms’. Right?! Well the jokes on you because they are both too hung up on you, of all people, to even be with each other!”

“Well in the absence of us both, I’m surprised you didn’t swoop in and snatch her up! Follown’ her around all the goddamn time… sneaking around actually; It’s obvious you’re in love with her too!”

Deacon's shoulders sagged. Removing his sunglasses he cleaned them with his shirt, “Of course I’m in love with her. We all are.” Looking back at Hancock he smiled a sad little smile, “I can’t be that for her though. I had my chance at happiness and I destroyed it. I will never have that again; I don’t deserve it.”

Hancock’s body posture changed, “That ugly face yer makin’… like lookin’ in a mirror.”

“Well, people are always saying how much we look alike.”

“Heh!” Hancock swept his hat from the floor and returned it to his brow, “Well, I’m not sure what to do. She’d be pretty pissed at me still… Oh, and don’t think for two seconds that whole ‘Wraith isn’t her real name’ shit was a huge bomb! I know better than that. Who names their kid Wraith? I figured it had to be a nickname.”

“It’s from when she was a Marine; the ladies in her unit all choose spirit names like ‘Banshee’ and ‘Geist’ and called themselves the Spirit Squadron.” Deacon chuckled, “It’s interesting that she’d prefer Wraith to…”

“No! Don’t tell me!” Hancock quickly interrupted, “I don’t deserve to know unless I ask her myself. Although I doubt she would want to speak to me anytime soon.”

“Drop her a memo.”

       Thank you so much for reading! Like what you read? Looking for more? Please see my Wraith in the Ruins master-link under my tags. =^..^=

[straincounsel]

COVID19 PM Trudeau March 30th 2020

Tina Summer Blomme Commentary: Critical Week in what the data is going to tell us. We should get a sense of the Social Distancing Measures Effectiveness on Flattening the curve while 1 million Canadians came home from abroad. Ontario is testing a smaller portion of their population, Airport and Train ...Domestic Travel Screenings in place as well. 700,000 people laid off in the tourism industry. All industries affected. All businesses expected to need to write of two months of expenses for this to work. IF COVID19 is to stay... the entire schema of how customers are serviced will need to change to accommodate social distancing measures.  Loss and Damage Mitigation is important right now to ensure rebuilding can occur as quickly as possible. ... need 30% decrease in business regardless of size or types of  Organisation to receive 75% wage subsidy. There will be serious consequences for those that try to cheat the systems. Tax deferrals until June. Canadian Armed Forces are prepared to bring Medical Equipment and be deployed to help with Forest Fires and Flooding ... Canadian Measures Main Focus on Employment, Credit, Safety and Economy. Finance and Small Business Minister presenting COVID19 measure details and budget tomorrow. PM Trudeau believes Canada is not on the same  path as the USA believes Canada was quicker to implement guidelines. Keeping 50% increase in Carbon Tax to ensure the climate change plan is implemented. Continuing to ramp up measures for testing but expecting all to self-isolate until testing capacities are increased. https://starvideocasts.com/covid19pmtrudeaumarch30th2020/

CoronaVirus Vocabulary: Qualification Details, Benefit Cap, Quick Funds, Military Need, Forest Fe, Flood Season,Loss and Damage Mitigation,Domestic Travel Screenings,Flattening the curve, Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy   TIME STAMPED Transcript to use as an aid to view any part of video: GLAD YOU'RE JOINING US. 00:05 WE ARE, AS WE HAVE COME TO GET 00:07 USED TO, WAITING TO HEAR FROM 00:09 THE PRIME MINISTER, JUSTIN 00:11 TRUDEAU, EVERY TIME EVERY DAY AT 00:18 THIS TIME. 00:19 WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR MORE ON 00:22 THE PAYROLL SUBSIDY. 00:27 WE ARE ALSO HEARING TODAY THAT 00:31 THE NUMBER OF CANADIANS WHO HAVE 00:33 ASKED FOR EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 00:34 HAS GONE UP TO MORE THAN 1.6 00:37 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE LAST NINE 00:39 TO 10 DAYS. 00:40 THAT IS MORE APPLICANTS FOR 00:42 EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SINCE 00:45 STATSCAN BEGAN TAKING THAT DATA 00:47 IN MORE THAN 70 YEARS OR SO AGO. 00:50 THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE 00:53 NEED CANADIANS HAVE AS THE 00:56 GOVERNMENT TRIES TO FIGHT THE 00:58 PANDEMIC FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH 01:00 PERSPECTIVE AND STABILIZE THE 01:02 ECONOMY WHICH IS STARTING TO 01:03 MELT DOWN AS PEOPLE ARE LAID OFF 01:06 AND FORCED TO WORK FROM HOME. 01:09 WE ALSO KNOW FROM A HEALTH 01:11 PERSPECTIVE, DR. THERESA TAM, 01:13 THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER 01:14 IN THIS COUNTRY, TELLING US THAT 01:16 THIS WEEK IS A CRITICAL WEEK IN 01:18 TERMS OF SEEING WHETHER 01:21 CANADIANS' EFFORTS OF PHYSICAL 01:22 DISTANCING ARE MAKING A 01:24 DIFFERENCE AND WHETHER WE CAN 01:27 FLATTEN THE CURVE. 01:28 LET'S BRING IN VASSY KAPELOS, 01:30 THE HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS" 01:34 AND DAVID COCHRANE. 01:36 VASSY, I'LL START WITH YOU. 01:38 WE KNOW MONDAY HAD BEEN THE DAY 01:40 THE GOVERNMENT PROMISED TO GIVE 01:42 MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS SMALL- 01:46 AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESS AID. 01:48 >> Vassy: THIS IS A FEW DAYS 01:51 INTO THE ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT. 01:53 A LOT OF SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED 01:54 BUSINESS OWNERS ANXIOUS TO FIND 01:55 OUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO QUALIFY 01:57 BECAUSE THOSE DETAILS HAVE NOT 01:59 BEEN PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC. 02:01 MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WILL 02:02 BE A FEW DETAILS PROVIDED TODAY, 02:04 BUT THE BULK OF THOSE DETAILS 02:07 WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW. 02:08 I THINK THE PRIMARY QUESTIONS ON 02:11 WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE QUALIFY 02:12 INCLUDES THINGS LIKE DO I HAVE 02:13 TO BE INCORPORATED, CAN I BE A 02:17 PARTNERSHIP. 02:18 IS THERE GOING TO BE A CAP IN 02:20 THE LAST ITERATION OF THIS, THE 02:23 10% WAGE SUBSIDY, THERE WAS A 02:27 CAP PER EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE. 02:30 THE INDEPENDENT FEDERATION OF 02:32 BUSINESSES SAYS THAT A CAP WOULD 02:35 NOT BE HELPFUL IN THIS INSTANCE. 02:37 THAT WOULD INCREASE THE COST OF 02:38 THE PROGRAM, BUT THEY'RE SAYING 02:41 THE CASH NEEDS TO COME QUICKLY 02:43 AND THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN UPPER 02:45 LIMIT FOR THE EMPLOYER, MAYBE 02:47 THE EMPLOYEE, BUT NOT THE 02:50 EMPLOYER. 02:50 ALL THOSE SIGNIFICANT AND 02:51 IMPORTANT DETAILS HAVE TO COME. 02:54 I'M NOT ANTICIPATING ALL OF THEM 02:56 WILL COME FROM THE PRIME 02:57 MINISTER. 02:57 THE BULK OF THEM WILL COME 02:59 TOMORROW. 02:59 WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO HEAR FROM 03:01 THE DEFENCE MINISTER LATER ON AS 03:03 WELL AS THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE 03:05 STAFF TALKING ABOUT THE 03:05 MILITARY'S POSTURE AND 03:06 POSITIONING IN ALL OF THIS, AND 03:10 NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY'RE CALLING 03:12 THE MILITARY IN PER SE, THERE IS 03:22 ALSO FOREST FIRE SEASON AND 03:26 FLOODING SEASON COMING UP. 03:29 WE'RE EXPECTING THE DETAILS ON 03:33 THAT FROM GENERAL VANCE. 03:38 BUT I'M TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER 03:40 WILL MENTION THE MILITARY IN 03:42 CANADA'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 AS 03:43 WELL AS ALL THE OTHER THINGS 03:45 GOING ON. 03:46 >> Rosemary: A FEW DETAILS THERE 03:48 FOR SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED 03:49 BUSINESSES, BUT NOT EVERYTHING. 03:51 IT IS COMPLICATED AND THERE ARE 03:52 LOTS OF DETAILS, BUT WE WILL SEE 03:54 HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN GET THAT 03:56 SORTED OUT. 03:57 JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE AN UPDATE ON 03:59 TESTING IN THIS COUNTRY, MORE 04:01 THAN 210,000 TESTS HAVE BEEN 04:03 COMPLETED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 04:04 OF COURSE TESTING SO CRITICAL TO 04:07 INVESTIGATING, ISOLATING CASES, 04:09 TRACING CONTACTS SO YOU CAN SEE 04:12 WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE 04:13 COMMUNITIES. 04:14 I DO HAVE A GRAPH FOLLOWING SOME 04:17 REPORTING DONE BY MY COLLEAGUE 04:18 MIKE CRAWLEY AROUND THE I.C.U. 04:24 CAPACITIES. 04:24 HE CONFIRMED THAT CONFIRMED OR 04:27 SUSPECTED COVID-19 CASES NOW 04:29 ACCOUNT FOR ONE IN FOUR PATIENTS 04:31 IN ONTARIO. 04:32 NOW, THERE'S STILL CAPACITY IN 04:33 THE HOSPITALS, BUT IT DOES SHOW 04:36 A COUPLE OF THINGS. 04:36 FIRST OF ALL, IT SHOWS THAT 04:39 ONTARIO, AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR 04:40 SCREEN THERE, IS TESTING A 04:42 SMALLER PROPORTION OF ITS 04:43 POPULATION VERSUS THE OTHER 04:46 PROVINCES, QUEBEC, B.C., AND 04:47 ALBERTA. 04:48 THAT MIGHT BE TROUBLING, GIVEN 04:50 THAT WE ARE EXPECTING THIS WEEK 04:53 TO BE SO CRITICAL FOR THAT. 04:55 LET ME BRING IN -- WE'RE TRYING 04:57 TO GET SET UP. 04:59 I'LL BRING IN DAVID COCHRANE AND 05:01 WE'LL KEEP GOING ON THAT FRONT. 05:03 AT NOON TODAY THE GOVERNMENT IS 05:05 PUTTING STRICTER MEASURES AROUND 05:07 DOMESTIC TRAVEL, EITHER BY RAIL 05:09 OR AIR. 05:10 >> David: YEAH, THEY'RE ASKING 05:12 AIRLINES AND PASSENGER TRAIN 05:13 COMPANIES TO DO A SCREENING OF 05:15 THEIR PASSENGERS, ASKING THEM -- 05:20 WHETHER THEY'RE SYMPTOMATIC OR 05:23 ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND IF THEY 05:26 ARE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE 05:27 REFUSED ENTRY TO THE PLANE OR 05:28 THE TRAIN. 05:29 THIS IS A CRITICAL WEEK IN WHAT 05:31 THE DATA WILL TELL US. 05:32 THIS IS WHAT DR. THERESA TAM, 05:35 THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER 05:39 FOR THE COUNTRY TOLD US. 05:40 WHEN WE GET THE LAG OF SNOWBIRDS 05:43 AND SPRING BREAKERS THAT ARE 05:45 COMING BACK TO CANADA, AND ALSO 05:47 WE'RE GOING TO GET A SENSE OF 05:49 HOW WELL THE PHYSICAL DISTANCING 05:51 AND LOCKDOWN MEASURES THAT WERE 05:53 IMPLEMENTING AROUND THE SAME 05:54 TIME THAT PEOPLE WERE COMING 05:56 BACK MAY HAVE DONE TO SLOW OR 05:57 FLATTEN THE NUMBER OF CASES. 06:00 THE ENTIRE OBJECTIVE OF ALL OF 06:02 THESE MEASURES IS TO FLATTEN THE 06:04 CURVE. 06:04 I SUSPECT THERE WILL BE SOME 06:06 CONCERN THAT THE RETURN OF 06:08 NEARLY 1 MILLION CANADIANS OUT 06:10 OF THE COUNTRY BACK TO CANADA, 06:14 COINCIDING WITH THE ECONOMIC 06:16 LOCKDOWN OF THINGS WE HAVE SEEN 06:17 COULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A 06:19 PROBLEM OR THEY COULD COLLIDE 06:20 WITH EACH OTHER. 06:21 THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT COULD 06:22 SHOW UP IN THE NUMBERS. 06:24 IT'S GOING TO BE A CRITICAL WEEK 06:27 GETTING AN IDEA OF WHERE CANADA 06:29 IS ON THESE THINGS BECAUSE OF 06:30 THE TWO TIMELINES THAT WE'RE 06:32 WORKING WITH ON EXTREME PHYSICAL 06:34 DISTANCING AND THE RETURN OF 06:35 PEOPLE. 06:35 JUST COMING BACK TO TODAY'S 06:38 ANNOUNCEMENT. 06:38 THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS EXTREMELY 06:41 IMPORTANT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES 06:42 THAT WANT TO STAY IN OPERATION 06:45 THROUGHOUT THIS, WHETHER YOUR 06:47 LOCAL CORNER STORE, PHARMACY, 06:49 GROCERY STORE. 06:49 NOT THE BIG CHAINS LIKE LOBLAWS, 06:52 BUT SMALLER PLACES. 06:55 SOME OF THEM IT COULD MEAN THE 06:57 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAYING OPEN 06:58 OR GOING UNDER. 06:59 AND THE BEST DESCRIPTION I HEARD 07:01 WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE 07:03 CANADIAN ECONOMY OUTSIDE OF THE 07:04 OIL SECTOR CAME FROM A CARLETON 07:05 PROFESSOR SAYING ESSENTIALLY THE 07:08 CANADIAN AND THE WORLD ECONOMY 07:09 IS IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA. 07:12 IT'S BEEN PUT UNDER TO STOP THE 07:15 SPREAD OF ADDITIONAL HARM. 07:17 THE MEASURES WE'RE DOING NOW ARE 07:18 MEANT TO SUSTAIN IT THROUGH THIS 07:20 PERIOD AND HELP IT COME BACK TO 07:22 FULL STRENGTH ONCE THE COMA 07:25 PERIOD IS OVER. 07:27 >> Rosemary: THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE 07:30 THERE. 07:30 APOLOGIES FOR THE TECHNICAL 07:32 ISSUES. 07:32 IT WAS THAT I COULDN'T HEAR 07:33 ANYTHING. 07:34 WE'RE WAITING FOR THE PRIME 07:36 MINISTER IN ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES 07:37 OR SO. 07:38 LET ME BRING IN A GUEST AND THAT 07:41 IS DAVID MCMILLAN, A RESTAURANT 07:45 OWNER OF JOE BEEFS, A VERY CHEF 07:49 AND RESTAURANT OTHER THAN IN 07:50 MONTREAL. 07:51 GOOD TO SEE YOU. 07:54 >> Interview: THANK YOU. 07:56 HOW ARE YOU? 07:57 >> Rosemary: I'M GOOD. 07:58 I WANTED TO GET YOU ON BECAUSE 07:59 OF SOME STARK NUMBERS ON YOUR 08:02 INSTAGRAM AND THAT IS BECAUSE 08:05 700,000 PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT 08:06 AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY LOST 08:09 THEIR JOBS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF 08:11 WEEKS. 08:11 HOW ARE YOU DOING? 08:13 >> Interview: I'M DOING GOOD. 08:14 THERE'S ABOUT 1.2 MILLION 08:16 WORKING IN THE RESTAURANT 08:17 INDUSTRY, ARGUABLY MORE. 08:19 LAST WEEK 700,000 PEOPLE GOT 08:22 THEIR WALKING PAPERS. 08:24 SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO 08:27 DEALING WITH ISSUES RELATED TO 08:30 THIS, MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS 08:32 GOOD. 08:32 WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE 08:35 TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT. 08:36 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTAURANT 08:38 WORKERS, BUT RESTAURANTS WORK 08:39 WITH ALL KINDS OF COMMUNITY MANY 08:41 OF BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL 08:47 FARMS, CHEESE, WINE MAKERS, THE 08:53 WHOLE GAMUT. 08:55 >> Rosemary: YOUR RESTAURANT HAS 08:57 BEEN AROUND AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL. 08:59 IS IT HITTING YOU DIFFERENTLY 09:01 THAN A SMALLER, NEWER 09:04 RESTAURANT? 09:05 >> Interview: ABSOLUTELY. 09:06 JOE BEEF IS 15 YEARS OLD AND 09:08 DOES FAIRLY WELL. 09:10 WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A WAR 09:13 CHEST, NOT MUCH AFTER 15 YEARS. 09:18 WE COULD WEATHER A COUPLE OF 09:21 MONTHS MAYBE, BUT I HAVE FRIENDS 09:26 MESSAGING ME WHO OPENED A WEEK 09:28 BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. 09:29 A GRAND OPENING AND CLOSING. 09:31 I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE $300,000 09:35 IN RENOVATION FEES WHO HAD TO 09:38 CLOSE FIVE DAYS AFTER THEY 09:40 RE-OPENED FROM RENOVATING. 09:42 THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HOT 09:44 WATER. 09:44 >> Rosemary: WHAT ABOUT THE WAGE 09:45 SUBSIDY THAT THE PRIME MINISTER 09:46 AND THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED 09:48 LAST WEEK, 75% OF WAGES FOR 09:51 COMPANIES? 09:52 I KNOW YOU'VE HAD TO LAYOFF SOME 09:53 OF YOUR PEOPLE, BUT IF YOU 09:55 BROUGHT THEM BACK ON THE 09:57 PAYROLL, WOULD THAT BE ENOUGH TO 09:59 COVER WHAT THEY NEED? 10:00 WOULD THAT WORK FOR YOU? 10:03 >> Interview: IT MAY. 10:04 WE STILL HAVE TO READ THE FINE 10:07 PRINT. 10:08 MY BUSINESS PARTNER IS DOING HER 10:10 DUE DILIGENCE TODAY READING 10:12 THROUGH THIS, TODAY AND 10:15 TOMORROW. 10:15 THERE IS FINE PRINT. 10:16 WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW 10:17 EXACTLY THAT WORKS. 10:19 I CAN PUT EVERYBODY BACK ON 10:21 PAYROLL IF THE GOVERNMENT SAYS 10:24 SO, BUT EVENTUALLY FOUR WEEKS 10:25 FROM NOW I WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE 10:27 PAYROLL. 10:28 SO WE HAVE TO STUDY ALL OF THAT 10:31 AND ALL OF THE FINE PRINT VERY 10:35 CAREFULLY. 10:35 >> Rosemary: THEY ALSO HAVE PUT 10:38 SOME LOANS IN PLACE. 10:40 I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S 10:41 SOMETHING YOU DO PERSONALLY WITH 10:42 A CREDIT LINE. 10:43 >> Interview: YEAH, SURE, BUT 10:45 GETTING IN DEBT DURING THIS IS 10:48 ABSOLUTELY NOT OUR IDEAL 10:50 SCENARIO. 10:53 I DON'T WANT ANY LOANS TO BE 10:56 HONEST. 10:57 I'D LIKE UTILITIES TO CALM DOWN, 11:00 I WOULD LIKE BELL TO STEP OFF, 11:03 HYDRO QUÉBEC AND UTILITIES TO 11:05 STEP OFF. 11:06 I'M GOING TO WRITE OFF A MONTH 11:09 HERE. 11:09 I MIGHT WRITE OFF TWO MONTHS. 11:12 I EXPECT EVERYBODY TO WRITE OFF 11:14 DOWN THE CHAIN TWO MONTHS FOR 11:16 THIS TO WORK. 11:17 WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE TRUE 11:19 NATURE OF BIG BUSINESS COMING 11:21 SOON. 11:21 >> Rosemary: WHAT WORRIES YOU 11:23 ABOUT THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY 11:26 SORT OF ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND 11:27 IN THE UNITED STATES? 11:28 YOU HEAR SOME REALLY SAD STORIES 11:30 ABOUT EVEN BIG RESTAURANTS AND 11:33 BIG CHEFS HAVING TO CLOSE 11:36 THINGS. 11:36 >> Interview: IT'S EXACTLY JUST 11:37 THAT. 11:37 THE NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS IS A 11:41 VERY OLD, HISTORICAL BUSINESS OF 11:44 FEEDING PEOPLE AND RESTORING 11:46 PEOPLE IN SMALL ROOMS AND 11:47 GROUPS. 11:48 NOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IF THE 11:51 NEW REALITY IS THAT WE CAN'T SIT 11:54 MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN DINING ROOMS 11:56 IN CLOSE CONFINES, WE'LL HAVE TO 11:58 COMPLETELY CHANGE THE WAY THAT 12:00 WE PRACTICE OUR BUSINESS. 12:02 IT'S VERY SPECIAL. 12:06 I DON'T EVEN SEE LIGHT AT THE 12:07 END OF THE TUNNEL, TO BE HONEST, 12:10 THAT I CAN SIT 40 PEOPLE IN A 20 12:14 FOOT BY 20 FOOT DINING ROOM IN 12:17 THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS DOESN'T 12:19 SOUND REALISTIC TO ME. 12:20 SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A 12:22 HARD LOOK INTERNALLY AT HOW WE 12:24 WORK AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. 12:27 >> Rosemary: ARE YOU WORRIED 12:28 ABOUT YOUR FUTURE AND YOUR 12:31 BUSINESS? 12:31 >> Interview: ABSOLUTELY. 12:32 I'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I WAS 12:34 17 YEARS OLD. 12:35 I'M GOING TO BE 50 NEXT YEAR. 12:37 I'VE GIVEN MY WHOLE LIFE TO THE 12:38 RESTAURANT BUSINESS. 12:40 I LOVE IT. 12:41 I ENJOY IT. 12:43 YEAH, I CAN DEFINITELY SEE WE'RE 12:48 JUST HAEMORRHAGING MONEY. 12:52 THERE'S NOTHING TO -- IT COULD 12:55 BE THE END, YOU KNOW. 12:57 BUT THAT'S FINE. 12:58 CHIN UP. 12:59 I'LL BUY GROCERIES. 13:01 I'LL HELP OUT. 13:02 . 13:02 >> Interview: I COULD CRY ABOUT 13:04 IT. 13:04 I HAD A GOOD RUN. 13:06 HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET BACK TO IT, 13:08 STAY POSITIVE. 13:10 I'VE HAD A WONDERFUL CAREER AND 13:12 A GREAT RUN. 13:13 IF THAT'S IT, SO BE IT. 13:16 I JUST MAKE SURE THAT MY KIDS 13:18 ARE HAPPY AND HEALTHY AND MY 13:20 LOVED ONES ARE TAKEN CARE OF. 13:23 CHIN UP. 13:24 >> Rosemary: ARE YOU -- I'LL 13:25 JUST END ON THIS, AND I LIKE THE 13:28 EXPRESSION "CHIN UP." 13:29 I USE IT A LOT TOO. 13:32 THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE COOKING 13:34 AT HOME AND POSTING ON INSTAGRAM 13:36 AND TWITTER. 13:38 ARE YOU DOING THAT AND DOING 13:40 SOMETHING THAT BRINGS YOU HOPE 13:42 AND JOY AT HOME? 13:43 >> Interview: YEAH, WE'RE 13:45 COOKING FAMILY MEALS AND 13:47 OVERCOOKING AND SHARING FOODS. 13:50 SHARING WITH FRIENDS IN THE 13:52 IMMEDIATE QUARANTINE CIRCLE. 13:53 HAVING A GREAT TIME WATCHING 13:55 SOCIAL MEDIA. 13:56 LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING SOUR 14:00 DOUGH BREAD. 14:01 LOTS OF PASTAS. 14:04 LOTS OF PEOPLE SHARING FANCY 14:06 WINES THEY'RE DRINKING. 14:08 SOCIAL MEDIA IS FUN, LOTS OF 14:10 LIVE INSTAGRAM VIDEOS. 14:12 IT'S NEAT. 14:13 WE NEED A -- THANK GOD FOR 14:15 SOCIAL MEDIA. 14:15 AT LEAST WE HAVE A CONNECTION 14:18 WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT 14:19 THEY'RE UP TO. 14:20 >> Rosemary: LISTEN, I HOPE IT'S 14:22 NOT THE END FOR YOU AND OTHER 14:25 RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 14:26 BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME 14:27 OF THE STARK NUMBERS YOU PUT ON 14:29 INSTAGRAM, 700,000 PEOPLE LOSING 14:32 THEIR JOBS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF 14:35 WEEKS. 14:35 DAVE, THANKS. 14:36 I HOPE I GET BACK TO EAT YOUR 14:39 LOBSTER SPAGHETTI. 14:41 >> Interview: THANKS. 14:42 >> Rosemary: THAT WAS DAVE 14:44 MCMILLAN, THE OWNER OF JOE BEEF. 14:47 AS WE WAIT FOR THE PRIME 14:48 MINISTER, WE WILL BRING BACK 14:51 VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID 14:53 COCHRANE. 14:54 VASSY, I'LL GO TO YOU. 14:56 YOU SEE DAVE TALKING ABOUT 14:57 KEEPING HIS CHIN UP AND TRYING 14:59 TO PUT A GOOD FACE ON, BUT THERE 15:02 ARE ALREADY PEOPLE CONTEMPLATING 15:04 TWO MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, I 15:06 DON'T KNOW IF I CAN COME BACK, I 15:08 DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. 15:10 IS THERE A BIG SHIFT IN MANY 15:12 INDUSTRIES, BUT PARTICULARLY THE 15:13 HOSPITALITY ONE? 15:14 >> Vassy: YEAH, IT DOES 15:15 DEFINITELY DEPEND ON THE 15:17 INDUSTRY. 15:17 I THINK ANYBODY WHO RUNS THEIR 15:19 OWN BUSINESS -- I COME FROM A 15:21 FAMILY OF PEOPLE WHO DO -- IS 15:23 VERY MUCH RIGHT NOW WORRIED 15:24 ABOUT STAYING OPEN. 15:25 WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY 15:27 TO DRAW REVENUE, TO BRING IN ANY 15:30 REVENUE, VERY QUICKLY YOUR 15:32 RESERVES START TO LEAVE YOU. 15:33 I THINK THAT'S WHY THE POTENTIAL 15:35 FOR THIS WAGE SUBSIDY, THIS 15:38 INCREASED 75% WAGE SUBSIDY IS 15:41 HUGELY KEY. 15:42 I HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACH 15:44 OUT TO ME ON FRIDAY SAYING IF 15:46 THE DETAILS ARE OKAY AND I 15:49 QUALIFY, I CAN KEEP MY EMPLOYEES 15:50 ON THE PAYROLL FOR THE NEXT TWO 15:52 OR THREE MONTHS IF I HAVE TO. 15:54 IT IS SUBSTANTIAL. 15:55 AND I THINK THE IMPORTANT AND 15:56 THE SIGNIFICANT POINT WE'VE BEEN 15:58 HIGHLIGHTING ALL MORNING AND 15:59 THAT OUR VIEWERS NEED TO KNOW, 16:02 WE NEED SOME VERY CLEAR SIGNALS 16:05 FROM THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT WHO 16:06 WILL QUALIFY AND WILL SOMEONE 16:09 LIKE THE ONE YOU JUST SPOKE TO, 16:12 THE OWNER OF JOE BEEF, WILL THEY 16:15 BE ABLE TO QUALIFY, WILL THE 16:18 OWNERS OF A SALON QUALIFY. 16:20 NOT ALL BUSINESSES ARE RUN THE 16:22 SAME, SOME ARE INCORPORATED OR 16:24 PARTNERSHIPS, SOME ARE NOT. 16:26 SO I THINK THOSE DETAILS ARE 16:28 GOING TO BE HUGELY SIGNIFICANT. 16:29 I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS 16:30 SIGNALLED SO FAR IS THAT IT WILL 16:32 BE BROAD. 16:34 THAT'S WHAT THEY SIGNAL WITH THE 16:39 C.R.B. AS WELL. 16:40 THE IDEA IS TO CATCH A BIG SWATH 16:44 OF PEOPLE. 16:45 IT WILL HAVE TO MATCH UP WITH 16:47 THE RHETORIC AND JUDGE IT BASED 16:49 ON THAT AND SEE HOW MANY 16:50 BUSINESSES QUALIFY. 16:50 IF THE PRIME MINISTER CAN COME 16:52 OUT AND PROVIDE AN OVERALL COST 16:54 OF THE PROGRAM, THAT WILL GIVE 16:57 US AN IDEA OF HOW BIG A SWATH 16:59 THIS AIMS TO CATCH. 17:01 THAT IS SOMETHING I'M PAYING 17:02 ATTENTION TO AND LOOKING FOR 17:03 FROM THE PRIME MINISTER WHEN HE 17:04 SPEAKS ANY MOMENT NOW. 17:06 >> Rosemary: I THINK IT'S FAIR 17:07 TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS 17:09 TRYING TO FIRE HOSE AS MUCH OF 17:12 BUSINESSES AS THEY CAN. 17:13 IT WOULD BE TO THEIR BENEFIT AND 17:16 TO THE BENEFIT OF THE ECONOMY TO 17:17 CATCH AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY 17:20 CAN, AS YOU POINT OUT THERE, 17:22 VASSY. 17:23 I THINK THE PROBLEM IS, AS WE 17:24 HEARD FROM DAVE, AS WE HEAD INTO 17:28 THE END OF THIS MONTH AND INTO 17:30 APRIL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE 17:32 TO START NOT PAYING RENTS ON 17:34 THEIR COMMERCIAL LEASES AND NOT 17:37 PAYING BILLS AND KEEP THINGS 17:38 GOING. 17:39 YOU CAN SEE THAT AS YOU WALK 17:41 AROUND NEIGHBOURHOODS IN THIS 17:43 CITY AND ELSEWHERE, PLACES BEING 17:48 SHUTTERED. 17:48 IT'S NOT JUST THE PRESSURE OF 17:49 WHAT IS THERE, BUT THE QUESTION 17:51 OF HOW QUICKLY CAN THEY GET IT 17:53 TO PEOPLE. 17:55 >> Vassy: EXACTLY. 17:56 CASH IS GOING TO BE KING HERE, 17:58 LIKE IT IS NORMALLY, BUT THE 18:00 C.R.B. GOING TO THE C.R.A. 18:05 SYSTEM, WILL THE MONEY BE ONLINE 18:07 OR WHAT FORM. 18:09 THOSE ARE THE DETAILS THAT 18:12 PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE GETTING HELP 18:14 THROUGH THIS REALLY NEED TO 18:16 KNOW. 18:16 >> Rosemary: A REMINDER TO 18:17 PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY MIGHT 18:19 QUALIFY FOR THE CANADIAN 18:20 EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT, THE 18:21 GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT PORTAL WILL 18:23 BE OPEN A WEEK TODAY, SO THAT'S 18:25 APRIL 6. 18:26 THE PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY 18:27 MADE A GOOD SUGGESTION FOR 18:29 PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, 18:30 THAT YOU GO TO THE CANADA 18:33 REVENUE AGENCY, GO TO MY SOURCE, 18:35 AND OPEN AN ACCOUNT FOR YOURSELF 18:37 AND CHOOSE DIRECT DEPOSIT. 18:39 SO THAT ONCE THE MONEY STARTS 18:42 FLOWING, YOU CAN GET THAT AS 18:43 FAST AS POSSIBLE. 18:44 THAT WAS THE ADVICE FROM THE 18:45 PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY. 18:46 YOU WILL HAVE TO WEEK A WEEK TO 18:49 APPLY AND WAIT 10 DAYS TO GET 18:52 THE MONEY. 18:53 IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE 1.7 MILLION 18:56 PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR 18:58 EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OVER THE 18:59 PAST FIVE TO 10 DAYS, THAT'S 19:01 FINE, THAT'S IN THERE. 19:02 IF YOU APPLIED FOR THE EMERGENCY 19:04 RESPONSE BENEFIT, YOU'LL 19:05 AUTOMATICALLY GET TRANSFERRED 19:07 INTO THAT. 19:07 I'LL GO BACK TO DAVID AS WE WAIT 19:10 FOR THE PRIME MINISTER WHO IS A 19:11 COUPLE MINUTES LATE. 19:12 >> David: YEAH, I THINK THERE IS 19:14 A MORE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE FOR 19:16 SMALL BUSINESSES. 19:16 EVEN IF THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS 19:18 BROAD AND VAST, A LOT OF 19:20 BUSINESSES AREN'T ALLOWED TO 19:22 OPERATE. 19:23 IF YOU CAN OPERATE AND GET A 19:24 REVENUE STREAM GOING IN AND YOU 19:26 CAN USE THIS WAGE SUBSIDY, 19:28 THAT'S HELPFUL. 19:29 BUT IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS 19:31 OR A TOY STORE THAT'S BEEN 19:33 CLOSED BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED A 19:35 NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS, YOU HAVE 19:36 TO DIP INTO CASH RESERVES AND 19:40 SAVINGS TO PAY PEOPLE. 19:42 THAT'S WHY THESE BENEFITS ARE SO 19:48 IMPORTANT. 19:48 IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER 19:50 AND YOU CAN'T OPERATE AT ALL, 19:53 LIKE A DAYCARE, YOU CAN FURLOUGH 19:57 YOUR WORKERS AND THEY KEEP 19:59 WHATEVER WAGES THEY HAVE, BUT 20:01 THEN THEY GET THE C.R.B. FROM 20:03 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 20:04 IT'S HOW THESE THINGS WORK IN 20:05 CONCERT THAT IS GOING TO HELP 20:07 BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES IN THE 20:09 WAY THEY OPERATE. 20:09 DAVE MCMILLAN IN JOE BEEF HAS A 20:15 PECULIAR SITUATION. 20:16 THEY HAVE NO DRIVE-THRU WINDOW. 20:21 THAT IS A NICE SIT-DOWN 20:24 RESTAURANT. 20:24 THEY HAVE THE EXTRA CHALLENGE 20:25 THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO 20:27 OPERATE IN THE WAY THEY NORMALLY 20:29 OPERATE. 20:30 A WAGE SUBSIDY, UNLESS THEY 20:33 TOTALLY RETOOL TO BECOME 20:35 PRIMARILY TAKEOUT, WHICH THEY 20:37 COULD DO, THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS 20:39 NOT GOING TO BE THE SOLUTION. 20:40 NOBODY IS GOING TO COME OUT OF 20:42 THIS WHOLE OR COMPLETELY INTACT. 20:44 THE GOAL HAS TO BE TO 20:46 MITIGATE -- IT'S ALL ABOUT LOSS 20:48 MITIGATION AND DAMAGE MITIGATION 20:49 TO TRY TO CONTAIN IT AS MUCH AS 20:52 POSSIBLE. 20:52 I THOUGHT THE MOST TELLING THING 20:54 HE SAID WAS WE ARE GOING TO SEE 20:57 THE TRUE NATURE OF BIG BUSINESS 20:59 COMING SOON, AS FAR AS CALLING 21:01 RENT IN AND MORTGAGE AND 21:02 INSURANCE AND CANCELLING 21:04 UTILITIES. 21:05 WE'VE SEEN THAT ONE-QUARTER OF 21:07 SMALL BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY 21:08 DON'T HAVE THEIR APRIL RENT AND 21:11 MORTGAGE. 21:11 AS WE'RE WAITING FOR THE AID 21:15 PACKAGES, MOST OF THEM HAVE LOST 21:17 THEIR MARCH REVENUE AND PREPAID 21:19 THOSE COSTS. 21:20 THE ECONOMIC CONTAGION OF THIS 21:23 IS REALLY QUITE SEVERE AND 21:24 REALLY, LIKE ALL OF THESE THINGS 21:26 ARE DESIGNED TO GET US THROUGH 21:28 THIS SOCIAL DISTANCING AND 21:30 PHYSICAL DISTANCING CRISIS 21:31 PERIOD, THERE IS GOING TO BE A 21:34 LARGER CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO 21:35 HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT THE 21:36 REBUILDING AND RESTRUCTURING OF 21:39 THINGS ONCE THIS IS OVER IN 21:40 TERMS OF PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 21:42 FINANCES, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT 21:43 FINANCES AND SMALL- AND 21:44 MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES AND THE 21:46 LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIES HIT LIKE 21:49 AIRLINES, TOURISM, AND THE OIL 21:50 PATCH. 21:50 THE REBUILDING, THE 21:52 PHYSIOTHERAPY PART OF THIS, BACK 21:55 TO MEDICINE, THAT IS GOING TO BE 21:58 A SIGNIFICANT AND VASTLY 22:00 IMPORTANT TASK THE GOVERNMENT 22:02 HAS AHEAD OF IT. 22:03 >> Rosemary: WE GOT THE 22:05 TWO-MINUTE WARNING. 22:06 I'M GOING TO BRING IN DR. ISAAC 22:09 BOGOCH. 22:10 HE IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE 22:12 SPECIALIST AT TORONTO GENERAL 22:14 HOSPITAL. 22:14 I HAVE ONE QUESTION AFTER 22:16 HEARING DR. TAM ABOUT WHY THIS 22:18 WEEK IS SO IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF 22:21 GETTING A SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE 22:22 AT AND HOW WE'RE DOING. 22:28 >> Isaac Bogoch: WE KNOW 22:30 WE'VE -- 22:31 >> Rosemary: DR. BOGOCH, I'M 22:34 SORRY, THE PRIME MINISTER IS 22:36 EARLY. 22:36 I'LL COME BACK TO YOU. 22:37 HERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF 22:40 CANADA. 22:41 >> Prime Minister Justin 22:41 Trudeau: 22:43 THANK YOU 22:44 FOR BEING HERE. 22:45 TO FIGHT COVID-19, WE ARE ASKING 22:48 EVERYONE TO STAY HOME AS MUCH AS 22:51 POSSIBLE, BUT THESE 22:54 RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE HAD THE 22:56 EFFECT OF SLOWING DOWN BUSINESS 22:58 ACTIVITY. 22:59 SOME ARE EVEN HAD TO SHUT DOWN 23:01 AND THAT'S CONCERNING NOT ONLY 23:03 FOR BUSINESS PEOPLE, BUT FOR 23:07 YOUR EMPLOYEES WHO NEED THEIR 23:10 PAYCHEQUE IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR 23:12 NEEDS. 23:12 WE THEREFORE INTRODUCED A PLAN 23:14 IN THREE POINTS TO PROTECT JOBS 23:16 AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LAID 23:18 OFF, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING 23:20 BUSINESSES WHO ARE HAVING 23:21 PROBLEMS WITH CASH FLOW. 23:23 WE KNOW FOR MANY PEOPLE THEIR 23:25 MAJOR CONCERN IS TO ENSURE THAT 23:26 THEY CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A 23:28 SALARY. 23:29 WE, THEREFORE, ANNOUNCED A WAGE 23:31 SUBSIDY LAST WEEK TO ENCOURAGE 23:36 EMPLOYERS TO KEEP THEIR 23:38 EMPLOYEES ON PAYROLL. 23:39 WE 23:41 ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNMENT 23:42 WOULD SUBSIDYIZE UP TO 70% OF 23:46 WAGES FOR QUALIFYING BUSINESSES. 23:47 WE KNOW WHAT BUSINESSES ARE 23:49 GOING THROUGH. 23:49 OVER THE PAST WEEKS, YOU'VE HAD 23:51 TO GET CREATIVE TO KEEP MONEY 23:54 COMING IN. 23:54 IN SOME CASES, YOU'VE HAD TO 23:57 MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION OF 23:58 LETTING YOUR EMPLOYEES GO. 23:59 FOR PEOPLE TO GET THROUGH THIS 24:01 TOUGH TIME AND FOR THE ECONOMY 24:03 TO REBOUND, PEOPLE HAVE TO KEEP 24:05 THEIR JOBS. 24:06 SO WE ANNOUNCED THE CANADA 24:08 EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY. 24:10 I SAID LAST WEEK THAT WE WOULD 24:12 HAVE MORE DETAILS TO SHARE, AND 24:14 THAT'S THE FIRST THING I WANT TO 24:15 TALK WITH YOU ABOUT TODAY. 24:17 IF YOUR BUSINESS' REVENUES HAVE 24:20 DECREASED BY AT LEAST 30% 24:22 BECAUSE OF COVID-19, YOU WILL BE 24:25 ELIGIBLE FOR THIS SUBSIDY. 24:27 THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE 24:29 WILL NOT DETERMINE WHETHER OR 24:31 NOT YOU GET THIS SUPPORT. 24:33 IT WILL APPLY TO NON-PROFIT 24:36 ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITIES, AS 24:38 WELL AS COMPANIES BOTH BIG AND 24:42 SMALL. 24:42 THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT 24:44 PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING PAID 24:46 WHETHER THEY WORK FOR A BUSINESS 24:47 THAT EMPLOYEES 10 PEOPLE OR 24:50 1,000 PEOPLE. 24:52 SO HERE'S WHAT THIS MEANS FOR 24:54 WORKERS. 24:54 IF YOU WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT 24:57 HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19, 24:59 THE GOVERNMENT WILL COVER UP TO 25:02 75% OF YOUR SALARY ON THE FIRST 25:08 $58,700 THAT YOU EARN. 25:09 THAT MEANS UP TO $847 A WEEK. 25:16 AS I MENTIONED ON FRIDAY, THIS 25:19 WILL BE BACKDATED TO MARCH 15. 25:23 THIS SUBSIDY WILL MAKE A REAL 25:26 DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIVES AND 25:29 HELP EVERYONE AFFECTED, BRIDGE 25:30 TO BETTER TIMES. 25:32 IN QUÉBEC IT'S GOING TO HELP 25:35 TRUCKING AND LOGISTICS COMPANY 25:39 STAY IN BUSINESS SO THEY CAN 25:41 MOVE ESSENTIALS LIKE FOOD AND 25:43 TOILET PAPER. 25:44 IN CALGARY IT WILL GIVE 25:46 BREATHING ROOM TO THE BENGE HAIR 25:49 SALON THAT HAD TO CLOSE. 25:51 MINISTER MORNEAU AND MINISTER NG 25:54 ARE WORKING HARD TO GET THE 25:57 BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS EXPLAINING 25:57 THE TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THIS 25:59 MEASURE. 26:00 ON THAT NOTE, I WANT TO THANK 26:02 THE PUBLIC SERVICE WHO IS 26:04 WORKING AROUND-THE-CLOCK TO GET 26:06 THIS DONE. 26:07 BUSINESSES THAT 26:09 SHOW THAT THEIR REVENUES HAVE 26:11 GONE DOWN BY AT LEAST 30% WILL 26:14 BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY 26:16 ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK. 26:18 THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WILL NOT 26:23 DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY. 26:25 THE SUBSIDY WILL APPLY TO 26:26 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND 26:29 CHARITIES, AS WELL AS TO 26:30 COMPANIES BIG AND SMALL. 26:32 WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BE 26:36 PAID WHETHER THEY'RE WORKING FOR 26:38 A BUSINESS THAT HAS 10 EMPLOYEES 26:40 OR 1,000 EMPLOYEES. 26:43 SO IF THE BUSINESS FOR WHICH YOU 26:50 WORK HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY 26:52 COVID-19, THE GOVERNMENT 26:53 MR. COVER UP TO 75% OF YOUR 26:55 SALARY ON THE FIRST $58,700 THAT 26:59 YOU EARN. 27:00 THAT MEANS $847 PER WEEK -- UP 27:04 TO $847 PER WEEK. 27:06 AS I SAID LAST WEEK, THAT 27:08 SUBSIDY WILL BE RETROACTIVE TO 27:11 MARCH 15. 27:13 MINISTERS NG AND MORNEAU ARE 27:16 WORKING VERY HARD TO PROVIDE 27:17 MORE DETAILS TO COMPANIES AS 27:19 QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 27:20 IN THAT REGARD, I WANT TO THANK 27:22 THE ENTIRE PUBLIC SERVICE THAT 27:24 IS WORKING 24/7 TO FINALIZE THE 27:28 DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION ON 27:30 THIS. 27:31 ABOUT YOU, 27:32 ABOUT HARD-WORKING EMPLOYEES 27:34 ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 27:35 IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE YOU HAVE 27:37 MONEY TO BUY GROCERIES RIGHT NOW 27:38 AND A JOB TO COME BACK TO LATER, 27:42 ONCE WE'RE THROUGH THIS. 27:44 EVERY BUSINESS OF EVERY SIZE IS 27:46 HAVING TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT 27:47 DECISIONS BECAUSE OF COVID-19, 27:48 AND THAT'S WHY THE NUMBER OF 27:51 EMPLOYEES IS NOT THE ELIGIBILITY 27:54 CRITERIA WE'VE CHOSEN. 27:55 THIS IS IN LINE WITH BEST 27:56 PRACTICES WE'VE OBSERVED IN 27:58 OTHER COUNTRIES. 28:00 THAT SAID, I WANT TO OFFER A 28:02 WORD OF CAUTION TO BUSINESSES. 28:04 WE ARE TRUSTING YOU TO DO THE 28:07 RIGHT THING. 28:08 IF YOU HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY THE 28:10 REMAINING 25% THAT'S NOT COVERED 28:12 BY THE SUBSIDY, PLEASE DO SO. 28:14 AND IF YOU THINK THIS IS A 28:16 SYSTEM YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 28:18 OR GAME, DON'T. 28:21 THERE WILL BE SERIOUS 28:24 CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO DO. 28:26 THIS UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION 28:29 CALLS FOR UNPRECEDENTED ACTION. 28:32 IT CALLS FOR GOOD FAITH AND 28:35 TRUST BETWEEN EVERYONE INVOLVED. 28:39 WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER AND 28:41 THAT'S WHY OUR GOVERNMENT IS 28:43 STEPPING UP TO HELP ALL 28:44 EMPLOYERS KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES. 28:46 FOR THIS TO WORK, EVERYONE HAS 28:49 TO DO THEIR PART. 28:50 EVERY DOLLAR OF THIS SHOULD GO 28:52 TO WORKERS. 28:53 YOU SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO 28:55 TOP-UP THEIR WAGES AND EVERY 28:58 EFFORT TO HIRE BACK THOSE 28:59 WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF 29:01 IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF 29:03 COVID-19. 29:03 THAT'S WHY WE SET UP A 29:06 COMPREHENSIVE THREE-POINT PLAN 29:08 TO SUPPORT EVERYONE ACROSS THE 29:10 ECONOMY, WEATHER THE STORM, AND 29:13 COME ROARING BACK. 29:17 WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE 29:21 SUBSIDY, WE'RE PROTECTING JOBS. 29:23 WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY 29:25 RESPONSE BENEFIT, WE'RE HELPING 29:26 THOSE WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS. 29:29 AND WITH THE LOANS FOR 29:31 BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES, WE'RE 29:35 HELPING THOSE WHO NEED IT ACCESS 29:38 CREDIT. 29:39 I WOULD LIKE TO 29:40 SPEAK DIRECTLY TO BUSINESSES FOR 29:41 A MINUTE. 29:41 WE TRUST YOU TO DO THE RIGHT 29:43 THING. 29:43 IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PAY THE 25% 29:45 THAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WAGE 29:48 SUBSIDY, PLEASE DO. 29:50 IF YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN TAKE 29:56 ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM, DO NOT 29:59 DO THAT. 30:00 THERE WILL BE SERIOUS 30:01 CONSEQUENCES FOR ANYONE WHO 30:04 TRIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. 30:06 WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED 30:07 SITUATION AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE 30:09 TO TAKE UNPRECEDENTED ACTION. 30:10 THIS CRISIS IS CALLING ON US ALL 30:13 TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH. 30:16 WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT, AND 30:18 THAT IS WHY OUR GOVERNMENT WANTS 30:19 TO HELP ALL EMPLOYERS TO KEEP 30:22 THEIR EMPLOYEES. 30:23 BUT IN ORDER FOR OUR STRATEGY TO 30:25 WORK, EVERYONE HAS TO DO HIS OR 30:28 HER SHARE. 30:29 EVERY DOLLAR IS INTENDED FOR 30:31 EMPLOYEES. 30:32 YOU MUST DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN 30:34 TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR WAGES AND 30:36 REHIRE ANY WORKERS WHO WERE LAID 30:38 OFF IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. 30:40 WE HAVE A PLAN, A THREE-POINT 30:43 PLAN TO HELP THE ECONOMY TO 30:46 REBOUND. 30:46 FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, WE 30:50 HAVE THE CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE 30:52 SUBSIDY. 30:53 IF YOU LOSE YOUR JOB OR IF YOU 30:55 ARE SELF-EMPLOYED, THE NEW 30:58 CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 30:59 BENEFIT WILL BE THERE FOR YOU. 31:01 AND IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH 31:03 CASH FLOW, WE HAVE ANNOUNCED A 31:04 NUMBER OF MEASURES TO HELP YOU. 31:08 AND IN ADDITION, TO GIVE YOU 31:11 MORE TIME TO MAKE YOUR PAYMENTS 31:14 AND PAY WHAT YOU NEED TO PAY, WE 31:19 HAVE POSTPONED THE PAYMENT UNTIL 31:22 JUNE THE PAYMENT OF DUTIES ON 31:24 IMPORTS AND G.S.T. PAYMENTS. 31:30 OUR TOP 31:30 PRIORITY IS TO GET YOU THE HELP 31:33 NEEDED. 31:33 TO DO THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS 31:34 READY FOR EVERY SCENARIO. 31:35 OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, 31:38 THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES HAVE 31:39 BEEN GEARING UP TO SUPPORT OUR 31:41 EFFORTS AND COMMUNITIES AS WE 31:43 FIGHT COVID-19. 31:44 OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM 31:46 HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR 31:48 CANADIANS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED, 31:50 AND PANDEMIC IS NO EXCEPTION. 31:53 FOR THE TIME BEING, 31:55 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS 31:56 RECEIVED NO REQUEST FROM THE 31:58 PROVINCES TO HAVE THE ARMY 32:01 RESPOND, BUT IF THAT WERE TO 32:03 CHANGE, THE CANADIAN ARMED 32:06 FORCES WOULD BE PREPARED TO 32:07 ANSWER THE CALL AS THEY HAVE 32:09 DONE THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, 32:12 WHETHER TO BRING MEDICAL 32:13 EQUIPMENT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT 32:15 OR TO HELP OUT WITH FOREST FIRES 32:17 OR FLOODING, OUR MEN AND WOMEN 32:19 IN UNIFORM ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR 32:21 YOU. 32:21 THEY HAVE A PLAN TO SUPPORT OUR 32:23 COMMUNITIES DURING THIS 32:24 DIFFICULT PERIOD. 32:25 AT NOON A NUMBER OF MINISTERS 32:28 AND THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE 32:32 STAFF WILL HOLD A MEDIA BRIEFING 32:34 TO SAY MORE ABOUT THIS. 32:36 WE WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT 32:37 EMERGENCY PLANNING WITH THE 32:39 PREMIERS OF THE PROVINCES AND 32:40 TERRITORIES AT OUR NEXT VIRTUAL 32:42 MEETING. 32:42 I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY 32:44 TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE 32:46 CANADIAN ARMED FORCES FOR THEIR 32:48 WORK AND THEIR SERVICE. 32:50 YOU ARE ALWAYS READY TO STEP UP, 32:52 AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE 32:53 EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US. 32:57 I KNOW 32:58 WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 32:59 DAYS WHEN THINGS ARE BACK TO 33:02 NORMAL, BUT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, 33:04 WE NEED TO KEEP TAKING THE RIGHT 33:06 STEPS TODAY. 33:08 IT MEANS FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEALTH 33:10 RECOMMENDATIONS. 33:11 YOU KNOW THE DRILL. 33:12 STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. 33:14 WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN. 33:15 KEEP AT LEAST 2 METRES FROM EACH 33:18 OTHER. 33:19 OUR GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP DOING 33:22 EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE 33:23 WORKERS ARE GETTING PAID AND 33:25 COMPANIES ARE SUPPORTED. 33:26 THE MEASURES WE'VE ANNOUNCED 33:28 WILL HELP DO JUST THAT AND 33:30 ENSURE THAT OUR ECONOMY IS WELL 33:32 POSITIONED TO RECOVER FROM THIS. 33:34 WE'RE GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME 33:36 RIGHT NOW ALL TOGETHER, BUT YOU 33:39 KNOW YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS YOUR 33:45 BACK. 33:45 AND AS ALWAYS, IF WE NEED TO DO 33:48 MORE, WE WILL DO MORE. 33:50 I WANT TO CLOSE THIS MORNING BY 33:53 THANKING ALL FIRST RESPONDERS 33:57 ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE DOING 33:58 AN INCREDIBLE JOB FOR ALL 33:59 CANADIANS. 34:00 MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, FIRST 34:02 RESPONDERS, CUSTODIAL STAFF, 34:05 FARMERS, PEOPLE WHO WORK ALONG 34:07 THE SUPPLY CHAIN. 34:07 THANK YOU. 34:08 GOING TO WORK RIGHT NOW IS 34:11 STRESSFUL AND I KNOW YOU'RE 34:13 WORRIED, BUT WE'RE DOING 34:14 EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP YOU 34:16 SAFE. 34:16 YOU ARE DOING ESSENTIAL WORK AND 34:18 WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. 34:21 AS ALWAYS, CANADA AND CANADIANS 34:24 WILL GET THROUGH THIS BY LEANING 34:26 ON EACH OTHER AND EVERYONE DOING 34:30 THEIR PART. 34:33 MERCI BEAUCOUP. 34:42 >> THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM 34:44 RYAN SILTY, "NATIONAL POST." 34:48 YOUR LINE IS OPEN. 34:50 >> Question: GOOD MORNING, PRIME 34:51 MINISTER. 34:52 I'M WONDERING WITH THE WAGE 34:53 SUBSIDY DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE 34:54 RIGHT NOW AS TO WHAT THAT WILL 34:57 COST THE TREASURY, WHAT THE 34:58 OVERALL COST OF THAT WILL BE? 35:01 >> Prime Minister Justin 35:01 Trudeau: WE HAVE BEEN MAKING 35:03 CHANGES TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING 35:04 OVER THE PAST DAYS AND WEEKS. 35:06 THESE COSTS KEEP CLIMBING, BUT I 35:09 CAN ASSURE PEOPLE THAT OUR FOCUS 35:12 RIGHT NOW IS ON MAKING SURE THAT 35:16 CANADIANS KEEP THEIR JOBS, EVEN 35:19 IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING ON THEM 35:20 RIGHT NOW AND KEEP THEIR 35:22 PAYCHEQUES ROLLING IN, THAT 35:23 PEOPLE WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS GET 35:26 THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 35:27 BENEFIT TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH 35:29 THIS DIFFICULT TIME. 35:31 AND THAT THERE IS CREDIT TO 35:33 ACCESS FOR COMPANIES AND 35:34 BUSINESSES WHO NEED TO BRIDGE 35:36 THROUGH IN THE COMING WEEKS. 35:38 OUR FOCUS IS ON MAKING SURE THAT 35:40 CANADIANS ARE SAFE NOW AND THAT 35:43 OUR ECONOMY CAN BOUNCE BACK 35:45 STRONGLY AFTER THIS TIME OF SLOW 35:48 DOWN, OF STOPPAGE, IS DONE. 35:55 FORTUNATELY, CANADA HAS TAKEN 35:56 RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS OVER THE 35:58 PAST MANY YEARS TO HAVE ONE OF 36:00 THE BEST BALANCE SHEETS IN THE 36:03 G7. 36:03 WE HAVE BEEN MAKING SURE THAT WE 36:04 HAVE MONEY ASIDE FOR A RAINY 36:07 DAY. 36:07 WELL, IT'S RAINING, AND WE ARE 36:10 NOW ABLE TO INVEST IN CANADIANS, 36:12 TO SUPPORT CANADIANS, AS WE MAKE 36:14 THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS NEEDED 36:16 TO GET THROUGH THIS AND TO COME 36:20 BACK STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE. 36:23 >> Question: BUT DO YOU EVEN 36:25 HAVE A BALLPARK ESTIMATE, IS 36:27 THIS GOING TO BE IN THE TENS OF 36:28 BILLIONS OR HUNDREDS OF 36:31 BILLIONS? 36:32 >> Answer: THE FINANCE MINISTER 36:35 WILL BE ADDRESSING CANADIANS 36:37 TOMORROW WITH MANY MORE DETAILS, 36:38 INCLUDING DETAILED COSTINGS AND 36:40 EXPECTATIONS. 36:41 RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS IS ON 36:43 CREATING A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING 36:44 TO HELP CANADIANS KEEP THEIR 36:46 JOBS, STAY IN THEIR JOBS, EVEN 36:48 IF THEY'RE STAYING AT HOME SO WE 36:51 CAN ALL DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO 36:54 DO TO KEEP OURSELVES SAFE, TO 36:55 KEEP OUR FAMILIES SAFE, TO KEEP 36:58 OUR HEALTH WORKERS SAFE, AND TO 37:00 KEEP ALL CANADIANS SAFE. 37:02 WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. 37:04 THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. 37:06 RIGHT NOW, WE ARE 37:08 FOCUSED ON COMING THROUGH THIS 37:11 DIFFICULT SITUATION AND IN ORDER 37:15 TO DO THAT, WE NEED CANADIANS TO 37:18 STAY HOME AND FOLLOW THE 37:20 RECOMMENDATIONS IN ORDER TO 37:21 FOLLOW THE SITUATION. 37:23 WE KNOW THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT 37:25 FOR BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS 37:26 AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE PROVIDING 37:28 THEM A WAGE SUBSIDY SO THAT THEY 37:32 CAN KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES ON THE 37:34 PAYROLL DURING THIS DIFFICULT 37:35 TIME SO THAT WE CAN COME BACK 37:38 AND RECOVER QUICKLY AT THE END 37:40 OF THIS. 37:41 THAT IS OUR PRIORITY. 37:42 FOR MORE DETAILS, THE MINISTER 37:45 OF FINANCE AND THE MINISTER OF 37:47 SMALL BUSINESS WILL BE AVAILABLE 37:48 TOMORROW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. 37:50 BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO 37:53 REASSURE EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS 37:55 RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE 37:57 WILL BE THERE FOR THEM. 38:05 . 38:07 >> Question: 38:09 GOOD 38:09 MORNING, PRIME MINISTER. 38:10 I UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS WILL BE 38:12 COMING, BUT WHEN WILL THIS 38:13 SUBSIDY BE PAID TO EMPLOYEES? 38:16 >> Answer: RIGHT NOW WE ARE 38:19 WORKING TO FINALIZE THOSE 38:25 DETAILS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 38:27 FOR C.R.A., IT'S ABOUT ENSURING 38:31 THAT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE 38:33 BENEFIT CAN GET TO PEOPLE AS 38:36 QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 38:37 BUT I CAN ALSO SAY NOW TO 38:39 ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS 38:40 PEOPLE AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT 38:43 THIS HELP WILL BE GETTING TO 38:45 THEM SOON. 38:46 THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RE-HIRE 38:49 THEIR EMPLOYEES. 38:50 THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT THEY 38:52 WILL GET PAID THROUGH THE CREDIT 38:55 FACILITY THAT WE MADE AVAILABLE 38:57 BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE 38:59 THERE TO PROVIDE A WAGE SUBSIDY 39:02 OF UP TO 75% IF YOU'RE AFFECTED 39:04 BY COVID-19. 39:05 SO WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO 39:07 GET THAT MONEY OUT THE DOOR IN 39:10 THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. 39:12 IN THE MEANTIME, YOU HAVE ACCESS 39:14 TO CREDIT WHICH WILL ALLOW YOU 39:16 TO MOVE FORWARD. 39:17 KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE 39:19 THERE TO HELP YOU AND TO HELP 39:21 YOUR EMPLOYEES. 39:22 >> Question: ON ANOTHER TOPIC, 39:24 THE UNITED STATES PROVIDED SOME 39:28 VERY STRIKING FIGURES ABOUT WHAT 39:35 IS THERE. 39:36 I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT SOME 39:38 SCENARIOS. 39:39 DO YOU THINK CANADA IS FOLLOWING 39:41 THE U.S. TRAJECTORY AT THIS 39:42 TIME? 39:43 >> Answer: WELL, I THINK I WOULD 39:44 SAY WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY ON THE 39:46 SAME TRAJECTORY. 39:47 WE ARE QUICKER TO GET THE 39:50 SCREENING DONE AND I THINK WE 39:55 WOULD HAVE MORE SUCCESS IN 39:58 GETTING PEOPLE TO SELF-ISOLATE. 40:01 BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE WILL SEE 40:03 WHAT THE CLEAR SITUATION IS IN 40:06 THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO BASED ON 40:08 WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IN THE 40:10 LAST WEEK AND THEN WE WILL KNOW 40:13 WHETHER THAT IS BEARING FRUIT. 40:15 EVERYTHING IS BASED ON THE 40:17 DECISIONS PEOPLE HAVE MADE AND 40:19 CONTINUE TO MAKE. 40:21 I AM PROUD OF THE WAY CANADIANS 40:22 HAVE RALLIED AND CONTINUE TO 40:24 ABIDE BY THE GUIDELINES. 40:26 AND I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND WE 40:28 ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE 40:29 A DIRECT IMPACT ON CANADA'S 40:31 ABILITY TO COME OUT OF THIS. 40:33 I'M VERY PROUD TODAY TO BE 40:36 CANADIAN. 40:42 >> Question: GOOD MORNING, 40:45 MR. TRUDEAU. 40:47 NOW, THE TRANS MOUNTAIN 40:49 CONSTRUCTION WORK IS CONTINUING. 40:54 IT ALLOW BELONGS TO THE FEDERAL 40:56 GOVERNMENT. 40:56 THERE ARE SOME INDIGENOUS 40:57 COMMUNITIES WHO ARE WORRIED 40:58 ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THOSE 41:00 WORKERS. 41:00 I'M WONDERING AS OWNER OF T.M.X. 41:04 WHY YOU DON'T STOP THAT 41:06 CONSTRUCTION WORK. 41:07 >> Answer: THAT'S A GOOD 41:09 QUESTION. 41:09 A NUMBER OF DECISIONS ARE BEING 41:11 TAKEN RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY 41:13 ABOUT WHETHER SOME WORKERS ARE 41:15 ESSENTIAL OR NOT OR WHETHER 41:16 CERTAIN TYPES OF WORK SHOULD 41:18 CONTINUE OR NOT. 41:20 I WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THAT 41:22 TO GIVE YOU A BETTER ANSWER 41:25 TOMORROW. 41:27 >> Question: AND SINCE YOU DON'T 41:28 SEEM TO HAVE THE ANSWER NOW, I 41:31 WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WITH RESPECT 41:33 TO TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU SAY 41:35 THERE WILL BE SERIOUS 41:36 CONSEQUENCES FOR BUSINESSES THAT 41:38 TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SUBSIDY. 41:39 WHY DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO WARN 41:43 PEOPLE? 41:46 DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A 41:48 RISK THAT THIS WILL BE LIKE AN 41:51 OPEN BAR THAT PEOPLE WILL 41:53 EXPLOIT? 41:54 >> Answer: NO, I DON'T THINK IT 41:56 WILL BE A PROGRAM THAT WILL BE 41:59 EASILY EXPLOITED. 42:00 WE HAVE DEVELOPED PARAMETERS FOR 42:03 COMPANIES IN TERMS OF KEEPING 42:05 PEOPLE ON THE PAYROLL OR 42:07 BRINGING THEM BACK IN IF THEY 42:08 WERE LAID OFF. 42:09 BUT WE DO UNDERSTAND WHEN THE 42:12 PRIORITY IS TO GIVE HELP TO AS 42:15 MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AS 42:16 QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, YOU DO HAVE 42:18 TO ACT QUICKLY AND TRUST IS 42:19 REQUIRED IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. 42:21 YOU HAVE TO TRUST PEOPLE TO DO 42:23 THE RIGHT THING AND NOT TAKE 42:25 ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION. 42:27 BUT I WANT TO ENSURE EVERYONE WE 42:28 WILL HAVE THE MEASURES AND 42:30 SYSTEMS IN PLACE IN THE WEEKS TO 42:32 COME TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO 42:34 ABUSE. 42:34 I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF THERE IS 42:37 ABUSE, THERE WILL BE SEVERE 42:39 CONSEQUENCES FOR ANYONE WHO 42:41 TRIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE 42:42 SYSTEM AND, THEREFORE, TAKE 42:45 ADVANTAGE OF CANADIANS DURING 42:46 THIS DIFFICULT TIME. 42:51 . 42:53 >> THE NEXT QUESTION BRIAN LILY 42:55 "TORONTO SUN." 42:57 YOUR LINE IS OPEN. 42:58 >> Question: PRIME MINISTER, I'M 42:59 WONDERING WITH THE ECONOMIC 43:01 HARDSHIP THAT SO MANY CANADIANS 43:02 ARE FACING EVEN ONCE THIS WAGE 43:04 SUBSIDY KICKS IN, HAVE YOU OR 43:07 OTHER M.P.s THOUGHT OF FOREGOING 43:08 YOUR RAISE THAT KICKS IN ON 43:10 APRIL 1 OR PAUSING THE CARBON 43:13 TAX THAT IS SET TO GO UP BY 50% 43:15 ON APRIL 1? 43:17 >> Answer: THE PRICE ON 43:18 POLLUTION HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS 43:21 TO PUT MORE MONEY IN HOUSEHOLDS' 43:25 POCKETS, MORE MONEY IN THE 43:27 POCKETS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, 43:29 WHILE WE'RE DOING WHAT IS 43:30 NECESSARY TO FIGHT POLLUTION AND 43:32 PROTECT OUR PLANET. 43:34 THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING 43:35 TO CONTINUE TO DO BECAUSE WE 43:37 KNOW WE NEED TO DO THINGS TO 43:39 MAKE SURE WE'RE BOTH SUPPORTING 43:40 FAMILIES THROUGH ORDINARY TIMES 43:42 AND THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND 43:44 MOVING FORWARD ON CONTINUING THE 43:46 FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, 43:48 WHICH REMAINS EVEN AT A TIME OF 43:52 IMMEDIATE CRISIS AND PANDEMIC. 43:53 IN REGARDS TO SALARIES, I 43:56 HAVEN'T HEARD THE PARLIAMENT OF 43:57 CANADA HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, 43:59 BUT I'M SURE THEY WILL REFLECT 44:02 ON IT NOW THAT YOU'VE ASKED THE 44:04 QUESTION. 44:06 WITH RESPECT TO A 44:08 PRICE ON POLLUTION, WE 44:10 INTRODUCED THAT PROGRAM IN ORDER 44:11 TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO FAMILIES 44:13 AND MORE MONEY TO THE MIDDLE 44:15 CLASS THAN WHAT IT WOULD COST 44:17 THEM BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S 44:19 IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, 44:21 WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FIGHTING 44:22 CLIMATE CHANGE. 44:23 WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD 44:25 WITH OUR CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN. 44:28 . 44:29 >> Question: THE TRAVEL 44:30 SCREENING MEASURES THAT YOU 44:32 TALKED ABOUT ON SATURDAY, YOU 44:34 HAD PREVIOUSLY DISMISSED THOSE 44:35 FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS. 44:37 YOU DISMISSED CALLS FOR BANNING 44:41 TRAVEL EARLIER ON, EVEN JUST 44:43 LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOU 44:45 EVENTUALLY DID. 44:46 AT THAT POINT, MOST OF THE CASES 44:47 OF COVID-19 WERE TRAVELLERS 44:49 COMING INTO CANADA. 44:51 NOW IT'S 63% COMMUNITY SPREAD. 44:53 DO YOU REGRET NOT ACTING SOONER 44:55 ON TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AT 44:58 AIRPORTS FOR FLIGHTS FROM 45:00 INTERNATIONAL HOT SPOTS? 45:02 >> Answer: I THINK THERE'S GOING 45:04 TO BE LOTS OF ANALYSES AROUND 45:11 WHAT HAPPENED WHEN. 45:12 OUR FOCUS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY 45:14 WAS DOING WHAT WAS NECESSARY 45:15 EVERY MOMENT BASED ON THE 45:17 RECOMMENDATIONS OF EXPERTS, 45:18 BASED ON SCIENCE, AND DOING WHAT 45:20 WE CAN TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE. 45:22 WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT IN AN 45:24 UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION. 45:26 WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO GET 45:28 THINGS PERFECTLY RIGHT, BUT 45:30 WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE 45:31 COMMITTED TO DOING THINGS THE 45:34 BEST WE CAN AND FIGURING OUT 45:35 WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T AND 45:37 MOVING FORWARD IN A WAY THAT IS 45:39 NIMBLE AND FOCUSED ON HELPING 45:41 CANADIANS INSOMUCH AS A 45:43 GOVERNMENT CAN BE NIMBLE AND 45:45 AGILE. 45:45 I THINK WE'VE DEMONSTRATED WE'RE 45:47 GOING TO STAY FOCUSED ON 45:48 CANADIANS AND DOING THE RIGHT 45:49 THINGS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. 45:55 >> Question: JULIE VAN DUSEN, 45:59 CBC. 45:59 HOW CAN YOU GET AN ACCURATE 46:03 PICTURE OF COVID WITHOUT A LOT 46:05 MORE TESTING, ESPECIALLY THOSE 46:07 WORKING IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES 46:08 WHO MAY BE OUT THERE WITHOUT 46:10 SYMPTOMS AND SPREADING THE VIRUS 46:11 AND NOT EVEN KNOWING IT? 46:13 >> Answer: OVER THE PAST FEW 46:15 WEEKS WE'VE BEEN RAMPING UP OUR 46:17 TESTING CAPACITIES AND THAT 46:20 CONTINUES, BOTH WITH MORE TESTS, 46:22 BETTER TESTS, DIFFERENT KINDS OF 46:25 TESTS, WITH TESTS THAT RETURN 46:27 RESULTS MORE QUICKLY. 46:28 THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE AN 46:30 ESSENTIAL PART OF MANAGING THE 46:32 SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AND INDEED 46:33 REDUCING THE SPREAD OF THIS 46:35 DISEASE. 46:35 WE WILL CONTINUE TO RAMP UP OUR 46:39 TESTING EFFORTS, BUT AT THE SAME 46:41 TIME THE MEASURES AROUND 46:42 SELF-ISOLATION THAT HAVE BEEN 46:43 PUT IN PLACE ARE ALSO GOING TO 46:45 BE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE FOR 46:47 KEEPING PEOPLE AT HOME. 46:48 IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS 46:50 OF COVID-19, SELF-ISOLATE. 46:52 TAKE MEASURES TO NOT SPREAD. 46:55 WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET A TEST 46:57 BACK IMMEDIATELY OR TESTED RIGHT 46:59 AWAY, YOU CAN TAKE MEASURES 47:01 THROUGH SELF-ISOLATING YOURSELF 47:02 THAT WILL PREVENT THE SPREAD. 47:04 AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL GET 47:07 MORE AND MORE MEASURES TO TEST 47:09 MORE ACCURATELY, TEST MORE 47:11 RAPIDLY, GET THOSE RESULTS BACK, 47:13 AND KEEP CANADIANS SAFE. 47:15 RIGHT NOW THESE SELF-ISOLATION 47:17 MEASURES ARE AN EXTREMELY 47:19 IMPORTANT THING WHILE WE RAMP UP 47:20 OUR TESTING CAPACITIES. 47:24 WE UNDERSTAND THAT 47:29 MASSIVE SCREENING IS IMPORTANT 47:30 IN ORDER TO COME THROUGH THIS, 47:32 AND THAT'S WHY EVERY DAY AND 47:35 EVERY WEEK WE HAVE BEEN 47:39 SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING OUR 47:43 TESTING CAPACITY AND THE NUMBER 47:44 OF TESTS THAT ARE CARRIED OUT. 47:46 THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO UP 47:48 BECAUSE WE NEED TO MANAGE THAT 47:51 CRISIS IN THE NEXT WEEKS AND 47:53 MONTHS WITH A LOT MORE TESTING, 47:56 AS OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE DONE. 47:58 BUT FOR THE TIME BEING, AND 48:00 THAT'S WHY SELF-ISOLATION IS SO 48:02 IMPORTANT, IF YOU DON'T FEEL 48:03 WELL OR IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, 48:06 IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU 48:07 SELF-ISOLATE AND NOT WAIT FOR A 48:09 POSITIVE RESULT TO TAKE THIS 48:11 ACTION. 48:18 YOU HAVE TO SELF-ISOLATE 48:19 IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT YOUR 48:20 FAMILY AND COMMUNITY AND PREVENT 48:21 THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. 48:23 . 48:24 >> Question: WHERE DO YOU STAND 48:25 ON THE ENERGY SECTOR AND WILL 48:26 THERE BE HELP FOR THE ENERGY 48:28 SECTOR. 48:28 AND WITH CANADIAN OIL OPENING UP 48:30 AT LESS THAN $5 A BARREL, WILL 48:33 THERE BE HELP FOR THE ENERGY 48:35 SECTOR AND, IF SO, WHEN? 48:38 >> Answer: FIRST OF ALL, THE 48:40 WAGE SUBSIDY WE HELPED WILL HELP 48:43 COMPANIES LARGE AND SMALL ACROSS 48:44 ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY. 48:47 THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO 48:50 ENSURING WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS 48:52 THAT THEY WILL GET THROUGH THE 48:55 COMING WEEKS. 48:56 THERE ARE CERTAIN INDUSTRIES 48:57 THAT HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HARD 48:59 HIT BY BOTH THE DROP IN OIL 49:01 PRICES AND THE COVID-19 49:03 CHALLENGE, WHETHER AIRLINES, OIL 49:05 AND GAS, TOURISM. 49:06 THERE ARE AREAS WE WILL HAVE TO 49:08 DO MORE, AND AS I SAID FROM THE 49:10 VERY BEGINNING, WE WILL BE DOING 49:12 MORE. 49:13 WE RECOGNIZE WHAT 49:23 WE DID WITH THE WAGE SUBSIDY 49:26 ANNOUNCEMENT WILL HELP MANY 49:29 EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE COUNTRY 49:32 THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY 49:34 COVID-19, BUT THERE ARE ALSO 49:35 PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES THAT WILL 49:36 BE MORE HARD HIT THAN OTHERS. 49:39 FOR EXAMPLE, THE AIRLINE 49:43 INDUSTRY, THE OIL INDUSTRY, THE 49:45 TOURISM SECTOR. 49:48 THERE WE WILL NEED TO DO MORE 49:49 AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN 49:51 DO THAT. 49:53 . 49:54 >> Question: WHY ISN'T THE 49:56 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELEASING 49:57 THEIR MODELLING NUMBERS? 49:58 IN ADDITION, WHAT ABOUT 49:59 PREDICTIONS THERE COULD BE A 50:01 SECOND AND THIRD WAVE? 50:03 IF YOU COULD ANSWER IN FRENCH, 50:05 PLEASE. 50:05 THANK YOU. 50:06 >> Answer: WE WILL CONTINUE TO 50:07 RELEASE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE 50:09 IN AS ACCURATE AS -- A WAY AS 50:15 POSSIBLE TO SEE WHERE WE'RE 50:17 GOING AND HOW WE'RE DOING. 50:19 WE RECOGNIZE WHAT'S GOING TO 50:21 HAPPEN IN A FEW WEEKS OR A MONTH 50:24 AND MONTHS FROM NOW DEPENDS ON 50:26 HOW PEOPLE ARE BEHAVING TODAY. 50:28 WITH THE BUILT-IN LAG IN 50:29 COVID-19 OF TWO WEEKS, WITH THE 50:31 DELAYS OF GETTING TEST RESULTS 50:33 AND FROM GETTING RESULTS FROM 50:35 PROVINCES, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S 50:38 NOT ALWAYS AN ACCURATE PICTURE 50:39 TODAY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY. 50:41 THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO KEEP 50:44 MODELLING THE DIFFERENT 50:45 SCENARIOS THAT COULD HAPPEN AND 50:46 CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE TO 50:48 CANADIANS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS 50:49 THAT THEY ABIDE BY THE RULES AND 50:55 RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDELINES 50:57 SET FORTH BY PUBLIC HEALTH 50:59 AGENCY OF CANADA. 51:04 WE KNOW THAT IT'S 51:05 IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE 51:07 INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE WILL 51:09 CONTINUE TO FIGHT COVID-19 AND 51:13 WHAT IS HAPPENING. 51:15 WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE 51:18 INFORMATION AS IT COMES. 51:20 IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE WE 51:23 HAVE MODELS THAT WILL PREDICT 51:26 WHAT WILL HAPPEN BASED ON 51:28 PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOUR TODAY AND WE 51:29 WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT A RANGE 51:31 OF SCENARIOS AND KEEP CANADIANS 51:33 INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING 51:34 AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. 51:37 . 51:37 >> Question: TODAY NEW SCREENING 51:38 MEASURES ARE COMING IN PLACE FOR 51:40 AIRLINES AND TRAINS. 51:42 I'M WONDERING, MANY OF THESE 51:45 PEOPLE WHO ARE CONDUCTING THESE 51:46 TESTS TO SCREEN PASSENGERS FOR 51:48 COVID-19 ARE NOT MEDICAL 51:50 PROFESSIONALS. 51:51 HOW ARE THEY EXPECTED TO 51:55 ADEQUATELY DO THEIR JOB AND WHAT 51:57 TYPE OF TRAINING AND PROTECTIVE 51:59 EQUIPMENT WILL THESE PEOPLE 52:01 HAVE? 52:01 >> Answer: THE FUNDAMENTAL 52:02 PRINCIPLE WE HAVE PUT FORWARD IS 52:03 IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF 52:05 COVID-19, IF YOU FEEL YOU MIGHT 52:06 HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, STAY 52:09 HOME, SELF-ISOLATE, DON'T GO 52:11 OUTSIDE, DON'T TRAVEL. 52:13 THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF ALL 52:16 CANADIANS. 52:17 THESE MEASURES WE'VE BROUGHT IN 52:19 FOR AIRLINES AND RAILWAYS IS AN 52:21 ADDITIONAL MEASURE, AN 52:23 ADDITIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND 52:24 EXPECTATION THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE 52:25 SYMPTOMS OF A COLD OR OF 52:27 COVID-19 WILL NOT TRAVEL. 52:29 THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND 52:31 IT'S SOMETHING THAT, LIKE SO 52:33 MANY OF THESE MEASURES WE PUT IN 52:35 PLACE, IS GOING TO RELY ON 52:38 PEOPLE STEPPING UP, DOING WHAT 52:39 IS RIGHT, AND NOT TRAVELLING IF 52:42 THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19. 52:44 >> Question: LAST WEEK THE 52:46 BUSINESS LOAN OF -- EXCUSE ME, 52:50 FROM THE BANK OF CANADA -- MANY 52:53 PUBS AND BARS AND CANNABIS 52:55 INDUSTRY BUSINESSES ARE 52:56 WONDERING WHY THEY DON'T QUALIFY 52:58 FOR THAT EXTENDED LINE OF 53:11 CREDIT. 53:13 >> Answer: WHAT WE ARE PUTTING 53:18 FORTH IS LOANS FOR BUSINESSES 53:22 WHO HAVE HAD TO OR ARE ABOUT TO 53:24 LAYOFF THEIR WORKERS. 53:26 NOW THEY CAN KEEP THEIR WORKERS 53:28 ON THE PAYROLL AT 75% OR MORE IF 53:30 THEY CAN TOP IT UP OF THEIR 53:33 SALARIES, SO THAT WHEN WE ARE 53:34 THROUGH THIS, THEY CAN PICK UP 53:36 AGAIN WHERE WE LEFT OFF AND GET 53:38 OUR ECONOMY ROARING BACK. 53:40 THAT IS OUR FOCUS NOW. 53:41 IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO CREDIT, 53:43 THERE ARE MANY MECHANISMS OUT 53:44 THERE FOR BUSINESSES OF ALL 53:46 DIFFERENT SIZES TO ACCESS 53:49 CREDIT. FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, 53:51 THERE IS THE $40,000 LOAN, OF 53:54 WHICH $10,000 WILL NOT HAVE TO 53:56 BE REPAID IF THEY MEET CERTAIN 54:00 CONDITIONS. 54:00 THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE'RE 54:01 DOING OUT THERE WITH 54:03 LOW-INTEREST OR NO-INTEREST 54:05 LOANS TO HELP BUSINESSES GET 54:08 THROUGH THIS. 54:09 BUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY AND THE 54:11 EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT FOR 54:13 THOSE WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS WILL 54:16 BE THERE TO MAKE SURE WE COME 54:18 THROUGH THIS STRONGLY. 54:20 >> Question: 54:20 I'D LIKE 54:21 TO COME BACK TO THE CANADIAN 54:22 ARMED FORCES. 54:24 IN SOME CASES THEY ARE USING THE 54:29 ARMY TO USE OR PRODUCE MEDICAL 54:32 EQUIPMENT. 54:32 YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF 54:33 SCENARIOS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO 54:35 KNOW EXACTLY WHY WE MIGHT NEED 54:37 THE ARMY AND UNDER WHAT MEDICAL 54:39 SCENARIO THEY COULD BE HELPFUL. 54:42 >> Answer: THE MINISTER OF 54:43 DEFENCE WILL BE AT A PRESS 54:46 CONFERENCE LATER AND CAN GIVE 54:47 YOU DETAILS ON THAT. 54:51 BUT I CAN TELL YOU THE CANADIAN 54:56 ARMED FORCES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN 54:57 THERE TO HELP CANADIANS AND 54:59 COMMUNITIES IN DIFFICULTY, 55:00 WHETHER IT WAS BECAUSE OF 55:04 FLOODING OR OTHER EMERGENCIES. 55:05 WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME 55:08 SCENARIOS UNDER WHICH THEY COULD 55:11 HELP AND WE KNOW THAT THE ARMY 55:14 COULD DO A LARGE NUMBER OF 55:21 THINGS. 55:22 WE WILL ASK FOR HELP TO WORK 55:26 WITH THE PROVINCES AND 55:27 TERRITORIES IF THERE IS A 55:29 REQUEST, BUT THE POINT IS 55:31 THEY'RE THERE IF WE NEED THEM. 55:33 >> Question: NOW, YOU SAY PEOPLE 55:35 WILL RECEIVE SEVERE PENALTIES IF 55:37 THEY ABUSE THE SYSTEM. 55:38 HOW WILL YOU KNOW AND HOW WILL 55:40 YOU PENALIZE THEM? 55:42 >> Answer: WELL, WE'LL BE 55:44 PUTTING IN PLACE A SYSTEM IN THE 55:45 COMING WEEKS TO ENSURE THAT THIS 55:50 WAGE SUBSIDY DOES GET TO 55:52 BUSINESSES AND THE MONEY GETS TO 55:54 THOSE COMPANIES WHO TRULY NEED 55:56 IT. 55:56 IF THERE ARE COMPANIES OR 55:58 INDIVIDUALS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE 56:00 OF THE PROGRAM, THERE WILL BE 56:03 SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. 56:04 WE'RE AT A TIME WHEN CANADIANS 56:05 HAVE TO TRUST EACH OTHER AND BE 56:07 ABLE TO RELY ON EACH OTHER. 56:09 PEOPLE WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A 56:11 CRISIS TO PUT MONEY IN THEIR OWN 56:17 POCKETS WILL SEE STIFF 56:20 CONSEQUENCES ON THE PART OF OUR 56:22 SOCIETY, BUT ALSO ON THE PART OF 56:24 THE GOVERNMENT. 56:27 WE'LL MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT 56:29 TOMORROW. 56:31 . 56:31 >> Question: IT'S NEARLY APRIL 1 56:33 AND CANADA'S SMALLEST BUSINESSES 56:36 ARE WONDERING HOW TO PAY RENT. 56:39 THEIR WORKERS ARE COVERED BY 56:41 MEASURES YOU'VE ANNOUNCED, BUT 56:43 THE BUSINESS OWNERS CAN'T TAKE 56:45 ON MORE DEBT, EVEN INTEREST-FREE 56:48 LOANS. 56:48 IS RENT REALLY ON THE TABLE FOR 56:50 THEM? 56:50 >> Answer: WE KNOW THAT A 56:52 SIGNIFICANT PART OF BUSINESS 56:55 EXPENSES ARE AROUND PAYROLL AND 56:57 OUR FOCUS IS ON SUPPORTING 56:58 WORKERS AND SUPPORTING CANADIANS 57:01 SO THEY CAN STAY HOME, SO THEY 57:03 CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE 57:05 THINGS WE NEED TO TO GET THROUGH 57:07 THIS AS QUICKLY AND AS WELL AS 57:09 WE POSSIBLY CAN. 57:10 OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON THIS 57:12 WAGE SUBSIDY OF 75% FOR 57:15 EMPLOYERS WHO NEED IT. 57:18 THAT WILL GIVE CANADIAN WORKERS 57:20 UP TO $847 A WEEK, DEPENDING ON 57:25 WHAT THEIR SALARY IS. 57:26 THESE ARE MEASURES THAT WILL 57:29 MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN RELIEF 57:32 FOR BUSINESSES, IN RELIEF FOR 57:34 WORKERS, IN ENSURING OUR 57:36 CAPACITY TO BOUNCE BACK, TO RUSH 57:38 BACK STRONGLY WHEN THIS IS ALL 57:41 THROUGH. 57:41 THAT IS OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW. 57:44 AS I'VE SAID, THESE ARE MEASURES 57:46 WE'RE DOING NOW. 57:47 WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO LOOK AT, 57:49 ARE THERE MORE THINGS WE NEED TO 57:51 DO. 57:51 ARE THERE OTHER WAYS WE CAN AND 57:54 MUST HELP PEOPLE GET THROUGH 57:55 THIS DIFFICULT TIME. 57:56 WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AND 57:59 LISTEN TO PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE WE 58:01 COME THROUGH THIS AS STRONG AS 58:03 POSSIBLE AND GET OUT THE OTHER 58:05 SIDE AS STRONGLY AS POSSIBLE. 58:10 >> Rosemary: THAT IS THE PRIME 58:12 MINISTER OF CANADA WITH HIS 58:14 DAILY UPDATE ON HOW HIS 58:16 GOVERNMENT IS DEALING WITH THE 58:19 PANDEMIC, COVID-19. 58:21 SOME DETAILS TODAY, FIRST, THAT 58:23 WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT ACTUALLY 58:26 TOMORROW ABOUT HELP FOR 58:27 BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY. 58:28 YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE 58:29 GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK DECIDED TO 58:31 INCREASE THE AVAILABLE WAGE 58:33 SUBSIDY IT HAD PREVIOUSLY 58:34 ANNOUNCED ALL THE WAY UP TO 75%. 58:37 WELL, THE BIG CHANGE IN WHAT WE 58:39 HEARD FROM THE PRIME MINISTER 58:40 TODAY IS THAT IT WILL NOW APPLY 58:42 TO COMPANIES BIG AND SMALL. 58:44 IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY 58:45 EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE. 58:46 IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED THE WAGE 58:49 SUBSIDY TO KEEP YOUR EMPLOYEES 58:50 ON THE PAYROLL AND PAY THEM UP 58:53 TO 75% AND -- RATHER, HAVE THE 58:58 GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZE THEM UP TO 59:01 75%, THEY WILL DO THAT. 59:04 THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DOES NOT 59:06 MATTER. 59:07 AND IMPORTANTLY, AND I KNOW THIS 59:09 IS SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE HAVE 59:11 BEEN ASKING ABOUT, IT DOES APPLY 59:14 TO NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND CHARITIES. 59:15 THEY CAN ALSO USE THIS WAGE 59:19 SUBSIDY MOVING FORWARD. 59:20 THOSE DETAILS ARE COMING 59:23 TOMORROW. 59:23 WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU HERE ON 59:25 CBC TELEVISION. 59:26 IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE NOON 59:31 COVERAGE, WE'RE ON CBC NEWS 59:32 NETWORK AND ON cbc.ca. 59:35 I'M ROSEMARY BARTON. 59:36 SEE YOU BACK TOMORROW. 59:38 THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. 59:39 59:51 >> Rosemary: WELCOME BACK TO OUR 59:52 ONGOING CBC NEWS SPECIAL. 59:53 I'M ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN 59:54 OTTAWA. 59:55 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CBC 59:57 NEWS NETWORK AND STREAMING 60:00 AROUND THE WORLD ON cbc.ca. 60:03 IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS WE WILL 60:06 HEAR FROM FEDERAL OFFICIALS ON 60:11 THE PANDEMIC. 60:11 WE ARE WAITING TO SEE IF THESE 60:14 PHYSICAL DISTANCING MEASURES WE 60:15 ARE TAKING ARE REALLY GOING TO 60:16 PAY OFF. 60:17 THERE IS A HOPE AND A DESIRE 60:19 FROM THE HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT 60:21 THEY WILL. 60:22 THEY HAVE SEEN SOME GLIMMERS OF 60:24 HOPE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, FOR 60:25 INSTANCE. 60:26 TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM CANADA'S 60:28 TOP SOLDIER, THE CHIEF OF THE 60:31 DEFENCE STAFF, TO TALK ABOUT 60:32 POSSIBLE MILITARY INVOLVEMENT. 60:34 THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED 60:41 THAT, BUT HE SAID WE WILL WAIT 60:43 TO SEE IF THERE WILL BE 60:46 INVOLVEMENT. 60:47 WE HAVE VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID 60:49 COCHRANE JOINING US. 60:50 VASSY, TO ME, THE BIGGEST DEAL 60:52 IS THAT IT NOW APPLIES 60:55 EVERYWHERE BIG AND SMALL. 60:56 YOU CAN TAP INTO THIS IF YOU 60:58 THINK IT CAN HELP. 60:59 >> Vassy: THE WAY I READ THAT, 61:02 AND IF IT CHANGES TOMORROW, 61:04 CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, IT 61:05 SOUNDS LIKE THERE WILL NOT BE A 61:07 CAP PER EMPLOYER. 61:09 THAT WAS ONE OF THE HUGE 61:11 QUESTIONS THAT SELF-EMPLOYED AND 61:15 SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED 61:16 BUSINESSES HAD. 61:18 BEFORE THERE WAS A CAP. 61:18 THAT MEANS THIS APPLIES, AS YOU 61:21 RIGHTLY POINTED OUT, ROSIE, NOT 61:24 ONLY TO RESTAURANTS THAT 61:26 EMPLOYEE 20 OR 30 PEOPLE, BUT 61:28 COULD BE AN EMPLOYER THAT 61:29 EMPLOYEES 1,000 PEOPLE. 61:31 THE SPECIFICS HERE, THERE ARE A 61:33 FEW THE PRIME MINISTER GAVE, 61:34 THAT ARE RELEVANT. 61:35 UP TO 75% OF YOUR SALARY ON THE 61:38 FIRST $58,700 THAT YOU EARN. 61:44 IT WILL BE UP TO $847. 61:59 THIS APPLIES TO BIG AND SMALL 62:03 BUSINESSES. 62:03 IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THERE IS 62:05 AN OVERALL CAP. 62:07 THE OVERALL COST OF THE PROGRAM 62:08 WILL PROBABLY BE LARGE, BUT I 62:11 THINK THAT HEADLINE IS CERTAINLY 62:13 SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF 62:14 BUSINESSES WILL BE PAYING 62:15 ATTENTION TO. 62:15 THE OTHER THING HE MENTIONED WAS 62:18 30%, SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE -- YOUR 62:20 REVENUES HAVE TO HAVE DECLINED 62:22 BY 30% COMPARED TO PRIOR TO THE 62:23 START OF THIS PANDEMIC. 62:25 SO THE GRANULAR DETAILS THERE AS 62:28 WELL, WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME 62:30 YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER TIME 62:32 PERIOD WILL BE SIGNIFICANT. 62:33 BUT REALLY THE BIG NEWS HERE IS 62:35 THAT IT WILL APPLY TO SMALL AND 62:37 MEDIUM AND LARGE-SIZED 62:41 BUSINESSES. 62:41 >> Rosemary: AND THAT 62:42 NON-PROFITS AND CHARITIES 62:43 BECAUSE MANY OF THEM HAD BEEN 62:44 ASKING FOR HELP. 62:46 DAVID, ONE OF THE THINGS THE 62:47 PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED ABOUT 62:49 BUT DIDN'T GIVE AN ANSWER OTHER 62:51 THAN TO SAY WE'LL SEE. 62:54 A LOT OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS 62:55 THAT ARE E-MAILING ME SAYING 62:57 THAT'S NICE, BUT I WON'T BE ABLE 63:00 TO PAY RENT TOMORROW OR IN TWO 63:02 DAYS. 63:02 I CAN BRING ALL THESE EMPLOYEES 63:05 BACK ON THE PAYROLL OR KEEP THEM 63:06 ON THE PAYROLL, BUT IF THERE'S 63:08 NO BUSINESS TO COME BACK TO, I'M 63:10 NOT SURE HOW THAT HELPS ME. 63:11 >> David: THERE'S A COUPLE OF 63:13 THINGS. 63:13 RENT RELIEF IS A PROVINCIAL 63:15 ISSUE. 63:15 THE RENTAL MARKETS ARE 63:17 CONTROLLED PROVINCIALLY. 63:18 THAT'S SOMETHING VARIOUS 63:19 PROVINCES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO 63:21 TAKE MEASURES ON WHEN RENT IS 63:24 BEING FURLOUGHED, FOR LACK OF A 63:26 BETTER WORD. 63:27 I THINK THE VIEW OF THE FEDERAL 63:28 GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW IS THE 63:30 $40,000 INTEREST-FREE CREDIT 63:34 LINES BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO 63:35 SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT'S WHAT 63:36 YOU CAN USE TO PAY YOUR RENT. 63:38 I HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY 63:41 ON THE WAGE SUBSIDY, SOME 63:44 DETAILS FROM GOVERNMENT 63:45 OFFICIALS WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS 63:46 GOING ON. 63:47 THE $847 A WEEK UP TO THAT 63:50 AMOUNT. 63:51 THAT IS FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE YOU 63:54 HAVE WHETHER YOU ARE OPEN ARE 63:56 NOT. 63:57 THE SALARY CAP OF $58,700, THAT 64:00 NUMBER WASN'T PLUCKED OUT OF 64:01 THIN AIR. 64:02 THAT IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF 64:04 EARNINGS THAT QUALIFY UNDER 64:06 C.P.P. AS PENSIONABLE INCOME. 64:07 THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE GONE WITH 64:09 THAT NUMBER. 64:09 YOU WILL GET UP TO $847 A WEEK 64:13 FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES WHETHER OR 64:14 NOT YOUR OPEN. 64:15 THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT. 64:17 THE 25% TOP-UP IS NOT A 64:20 REQUIREMENT, BUT DO IT IF YOU 64:21 CAN. 64:22 THE TWO EXAMPLES USED, A 64:24 TRUCKING COMPANY IN QUÉBEC, THEY 64:26 WOULD HAVE A REVENUE STREAM AND 64:27 THEY COULD DO IT. 64:28 THE SALON SHUT DOWN IN CALGARY 64:32 CANNOT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SHUT 64:35 DOWN FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS. 64:38 THE COST OF THIS IS GOING TO BE 64:40 STAGGERING BECAUSE THEY ARE 64:42 ESSENTIALLY UNDERWRITING THE 64:43 FIRST 0.75 ON EVERY DOLLAR FOR 64:48 EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE COUNTRY. 64:50 IN TERMS OF THE TEST AND THE 64:50 CONSEQUENCES THAT HE TALKED 64:52 ABOUT, THE 30% REVENUE DROP, 64:53 THAT WILL BE ASSESSED AFTER THE 64:56 FACT. 64:56 IF YOU ARE FOUND TO HAVE NOT HAD 64:59 A 30% REVENUE DROP, THERE WILL 65:01 BE A REPAYMENT REQUIREMENT OF 65:03 SOME FORM. 65:04 I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A TOTAL 65:06 AMOUNT, IF IT COMES IN AT 27.5 65:11 AND YOU THINK IT'S 30. 65:14 THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DEAL 65:16 WITH IT. 65:16 EVERY BUSINESS, TAKE DAYCARES IN 65:18 THIS CITY, I'VE GOT A KID IN 65:20 DAYCARE. 65:21 THAT DAYCARE IS SHUT DOWN RIGHT 65:22 NOW. 65:23 THERE IS NO REVENUE COMING IN. 65:25 THE OWNER OF THAT DAYCARE WILL 65:28 QUALIFY FOR A 75% WAGE SUBSIDY. 65:31 THEY CAN MAINTAIN THEIR 65:32 RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR EMPLOYER 65:33 AND THE MINUTE ALL OF THIS IS 65:35 LIFTED, THEY CAN GO BACK TO WORK 65:37 WITHOUT HAVING TO REAPPLY AFTER 65:39 BEING LAID OFF. 65:40 IT MAINTAINS THAT RELATIONSHIP 65:41 AND PUTS A FINANCIAL FLOOR UNDER 65:43 THE PAYROLLS OF BASICALLY EVERY 65:46 COMPANY AND NON-PROFIT IN THE 65:49 COUNTRY DEPENDING ON HOW THIS 65:51 WILL APPLY. 65:53 IT ALLOWS THEM TO COME BACK 65:56 QUICKER. 65:56 THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALSO ABOUT 65:58 TOO, PREPARING EVERYBODY FOR THE 65:59 TIME WHEN ALL OF THESE EXTREME 66:00 MEASURES ARE OVER AND THINGS CAN 66:03 COME BACK. 66:07 LIKE WE'VE SEEN FROM THE 66:11 C.E.R.V. IS THE POLICY WILL BE 66:12 PAY FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS 66:15 LATER. 66:15 THEY WILL DEAL WITH PAYMENTS, 66:19 REPAYMENTS, AND FRAUD AFTER THE 66:21 FACT. 66:22 >> Rosemary: INTERESTING REALLY 66:22 FOR THE FIRST TIME WE DID HEAR 66:24 FROM THE PRIME MINISTER -- IT 66:25 HASN'T BEEN THE CASE SO MUCH 66:27 WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY 66:28 BENEFIT, IT'S THE PRIORITY TO 66:30 GET THE MONEY OUT TO PEOPLE AS 66:32 QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT HERE 66:34 THE PRIME MINISTER CALLING FOR 66:35 GOOD FAITH AND TRUST FOR ALL 66:37 INVOLVED AND TELLING BUSINESSES, 66:40 DON'T BOTHER TRYING TO TAKE THIS 66:43 BECAUSE WE WILL GET YOU. 66:45 >> David: THIS IS A VERY BIG 66:48 CARROT SO IT NEEDS TO BE BACKED 66:51 UP BY A BIG STICK. 66:52 >> Rosemary: I'M GOING TO LEAVE 66:54 YOU TWO. 66:56 I'M GOING TO BRING BACK 66:58 DR. ISAAC BOGOCH. 67:01 I CUT HIM OFF BUT IT WAS FOR THE 67:03 PRIME MINISTER. 67:04 WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE PRIME 67:05 MINISTER, DOCTOR, ABOUT WHY THIS 67:07 WEEK IS SO IMPORTANT. 67:08 GIVE US YOUR SENSE OF WHY IT IS 67:11 IMPORTANT TO WATCH FROM A PUBLIC 67:14 HEALTH PERSPECTIVE. 67:15 >> Isaac Bogoch: CERTAINLY THIS 67:16 WEEK WE WILL SEE IF THE SOCIAL 67:18 DISTANCING OR PHYSICAL 67:19 DISTANCING MEASURES ARE PAYING 67:20 OFF. 67:20 THERE ARE SHREDS OF EVIDENCE 67:22 FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA THAT MAYBE 67:23 THEY'RE GOING TO START TO SEE A 67:27 REDUCED NUMBER OF NEW CASES PER 67:29 DAY. 67:29 LET'S SEE IF THAT PANS OUT OVER 67:32 TIME. 67:32 WE REALLY START TO SEE THAT PICK 67:34 UP IN ONTARIO. 67:36 THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE 67:37 THERE WAS CERTAINLY A GREATER 67:38 NUMBER OF CASES IN ONTARIO DAY 67:40 BY DAY. 67:41 QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE TO 67:42 FLATTEN THE CURVE HERE TO 67:43 PREVENT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 67:44 FROM GETTING OVERWHELMED. 67:46 >> Rosemary: WELL, I HAVE TO 67:53 SAY, THE AMOUNT OF TESTING IN 67:55 ONTARIO, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 67:56 THE BACKLOG OR THE NUMBER OF 67:58 TESTS, SEEMS WORRYING BECAUSE IT 68:00 WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE 68:02 ARE MORE CASES THAN WE KNOW 68:05 ABOUT. 68:06 B.C., QUEBEC, AND ALBERTA ARE 68:08 TESTING PEOPLE PROPORTIONALLY 68:11 MANY MORE. 68:12 ONTARIO SAYS IT'S HOPING TO DO 68:15 5,000 A DAY BY EARLY THIS WEEK, 68:20 SURGING INTO APRIL. 68:21 WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THIS SORT 68:22 OF TESTING IN ONTARIO IS, 68:24 PERHAPS, TROUBLING BECAUSE IT 68:26 DOESN'T GIVE US A REALLY GOOD 68:28 PICTURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING? 68:29 >> Isaac Bogoch: 100%, I AGREE 68:32 WITH YOU 100%. 68:35 WE NEED TO BE DOING BETTER. 68:39 THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE 68:41 SCALING BACK ON TESTING. 68:45 IT'S NICE TO HEAR THAT FOR 68:48 APRIL, BUT WE NEED THAT TODAY. 68:49 IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE 68:51 A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE 68:52 TRUE BURDEN OF INFECTION, BOTH 68:55 HERE IN ONTARIO AND ELSEWHERE IN 68:58 CANADA. 69:00 YOU'VE SEEN PLACES LIKE ALBERTA 69:03 AND BRITISH COLUMBIA LEAD THE 69:06 WAY, AND QUÉBEC IS PICKING UP 69:08 SPEED, BUT IT HAS TO BE BETTER 69:09 IN ONTARIO. 69:10 >> Rosemary: WHAT IS THE 69:12 REASONING? 69:12 IS IT THAT THEY'RE LIMITING IT 69:13 TO A PARTICULAR SECTION OF 69:15 PEOPLE, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 69:16 OLDER PEOPLE, OR PEOPLE THAT 69:18 HAVE BEEN ABROAD? 69:19 WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING WHY 69:20 THE TESTING ISN'T HAPPENING? 69:23 >> Isaac Bogoch: I THINK THERE'S 69:24 SEVERAL ISSUES. 69:25 CERTAINLY THERE WAS LAB CAPACITY 69:27 ISSUES WHICH WE HEARD ABOUT THIS 69:30 BACKLOG WHICH IS SLOWLY GETTING 69:32 RESOLVED AND I THINK THERE WAS 69:35 NOW ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHERE WE'VE 69:38 HEARD FROM THE MINISTER OF 69:41 HEALTH REDUCING THE BUREAUCRATIC 69:44 HURDLES TO GET TESTING KITS 69:46 ALLOWED IN CANADA. 69:48 I THINK WE WILL SEE AN EXPLOSION 69:50 OF TESTS IN ONTARIO. 69:52 MY CONCERN IS THE DELAY. 69:54 THIS IS A CRUCIAL WEEK AND LAST 69:56 WEEK AND THE WEEK AHEAD ARE SUCH 69:58 PIVOTAL POINTS HERE. 70:00 WE NEED ALL THE DATA WE CAN 70:03 FIND. 70:03 THIS HELPS GUIDE THE PUBLIC 70:05 HEALTH RESPONSE AND CLINICAL 70:08 MANAGEMENT. 70:09 DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IS ONE OF THE 70:11 MAIN OR MULTIPLE PILLARS OF 70:15 EPIDEMIOLOGY MANAGEMENT. 70:16 YOU CAN'T FIGHT BLINDLY. 70:18 IF WE REALLY DO START TO EXPAND 70:19 TO 5,000 A DAY AND HOPEFULLY 70:21 MORE THAN THAT, I THINK WE WILL 70:24 BE IN A BETTER POSITION IN PONT. 70:27 >> Rosemary: DR. BOGOCH, I'M 70:30 GOING TO CUT YOU OFF FOR THE 70:32 DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. 70:33 HERE IS THE DEPUTY PRIME 70:35 MINISTER. 70:35 >> PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING. 70:38 I KNOW THAT IT IS HARD, BUT WE 70:43 ALL MUST STAY STRONG AND STAY AT 70:46 HOME UNLESS WE ARE DOING 70:48 ESSENTIAL WORK LIKE STOCKING THE 70:51 SHELVES IN OUR GROCERY STORES, 70:53 LIKE WORKING ON THE FRONTLINES 70:56 OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. 70:57 OF COURSE YOU CAN GO FOR A WALK 70:59 OR A RUN, BUT MAINTAIN YOUR 71:02 DISTANCE WHILE YOU DO IT AND 71:03 WASH YOUR HANDS, PLEASE, WHEN 71:06 YOU GET HOME. 71:07 THIS IS A CRITICAL 71:12 WEEK IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE 71:15 VIRUS. 71:15 CANADIANS MUST PRACTICE SOCIAL 71:17 DISTANCING AND PHYSICAL 71:18 DISTANCING. 71:18 WE MUST REMAIN STRONG AND STAY 71:20 HOME UNLESS YOU'RE AN ESSENTIAL 71:23 WORKER, SUCH AS FILLING GROCERY 71:26 SHELVES OR WORKING IN THE 71:27 HEALTHCARE FIELD. 71:28 YOU CAN GO OUT FOR A WALK. 71:30 YOU CAN GO RUNNING, BUT STAY 71:32 APART FROM OTHERS AND WASH YOUR 71:36 HANDS AS SOON AS YOU GET HOME. 71:38 I KNOW IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO 71:40 DO, BUT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS. 71:43 TODAY YOU 71:44 WILL HEAR FROM DR. TAM, THE 71:47 MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, 71:52 HARJIT SAJJAN. 71:57 PABLO RODRIGUEZ, OUR MINISTER OF 72:01 HEALTH PATTY HAJDU, GENERAL 72:05 VANCE, DR. NJOO. 72:07 WE ARE TRYING TO SPREAD 72:09 OURSELVES OUT WHICH IS WHY YOU 72:10 DON'T SEE THEM AT THE PODIUM, 72:13 BUT THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR 72:15 QUESTIONS. 72:16 DR. TAM. 72:17 >> HELLO, EVERYONE. 72:20 IN CANADA THERE ARE 6,671 CASES, 72:25 INCLUDING 66 DEATHS. 72:26 IN ADDITION, AT ANY POINT IN 72:29 TIME THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE 72:31 UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR 72:34 COVID-19. 72:35 THEY ARE AWAITING LAB RESULTS OR 72:36 NOT YET TESTING. 72:38 EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT HEARING OF 72:39 CASES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IT 72:41 DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE ARE NO 72:43 CASES OR NO EXPOSURES WAITING TO 72:46 HAPPEN. 72:46 WE NOW HAVE COMPLETED TESTS FOR 72:50 OVER 220,000 PEOPLE IN CANADA, 72:53 WITH ABOUT 3% OF THE PEOPLE 72:55 CONFIRMED AS POSITIVE AND OVER 72:58 93% CONFIRMED AS NEGATIVE. 73:00 SO OF THE OVER 6,000 CASES THAT 73:04 WE KNOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW, 73:06 APPROXIMATELY 7% ARE REQUIRING 73:08 HOSPITALIZATION AND 3% ARE 73:10 CRITICALLY ILL, WITH 1% HAVING 73:13 BEEN FATAL. 73:15 THIS IS DATA FOR WHAT IS 73:17 HAPPENING IN REAL TIME SO WE CAN 73:21 EXPECT THESE RATES TO FLUCTUATE 73:23 AS AND WHEN THE PROVINCES REPORT 73:26 NEW INFORMATION. 73:31 THERE HAVE BEEN 73:32 REPORTS OF CASES IN COMMUNITIES 73:34 THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK OF SEVERE 73:37 OUTCOMES OF COVID-19. 73:40 NOTABLY, THE FIRST CASE OF 73:42 COVID-19 WAS REPORTED IN NUNAVIK 73:47 IN NORTHERN QUÉBEC THIS PAST 73:49 WEEKEND. 73:49 IN ADDITION, THERE CONTINUE TO 73:51 BE OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM CARE 73:53 FACILITIES LEADING TO 73:56 DEVASTATING OUTCOMES. 73:59 PREVENTIVE MEASURES ARE CRUCIAL 74:00 TO PREVENT THE ACCELERATION OF 74:01 SPREAD IN ENCLOSED ENVIRONMENTS, 74:04 WHERE PERSONS WITH UNDERLYING 74:06 MEDICAL CONDITIONS RESIDE. 74:09 PREVENTION IS A KEY PART OF OUR 74:11 PANDEMIC RESPONSE. 74:13 THERE HAVE 74:14 BEEN REPORTS OF CASES IN 74:16 COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AT HIGH 74:18 RISK OF SEVERE OUTCOMES OF 74:21 COVID-19. 74:22 NOTABLY, THE FIRST CASE OF 74:24 COVID-19 WAS REPORTED IN NUNAVIK 74:26 IN NORTHERN QUÉBEC THIS PAST 74:29 WEEKEND. 74:29 IN ADDITION, THERE CONTINUE TO 74:31 BE OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM CARE 74:33 FACILITIES, LEADING TO 74:35 DEVASTATING OUTCOMES. 74:36 IT IS CRUCIAL TO PREVENT THE 74:37 ACCELERATION OF SPREAD IN 74:39 ENCLOSED ENVIRONMENTS WHERE 74:41 PERSONS WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL 74:43 CONDITIONS RESIDE AND IT IS A 74:45 KEY PART OF OUR PANDEMIC 74:47 RESPONSE. 74:47 WITH THE WARM WEATHER PRO 74:49 TEMPORING, I WANT TO REITERATE 74:51 MY MESSAGE FROM YESTERDAY. 74:55 OUR KEY MESSAGE IS ON RETURNING 74:58 TRAVELLERS AND PROTECTING THOSE 75:01 IN VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. 75:03 FOR TRAVELLERS RETURNING FROM 75:04 OUTSIDE OF CANADA, SNOWBIRDS, 75:07 MARCH BREAK VACATIONERS, AND 75:09 OTHERS, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE 75:11 THE RIGHT ACTION TO PROTECT ALL 75:13 CANADIANS, HEAD DIRECTLY HOME, 75:14 DO NOT STOP FOR GROCERIES OR 75:17 OTHER ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, USE 75:19 THE PHONE TO ORDER WHAT YOU 75:21 NEED, BUT DO NOT GO OUT INTO 75:23 PUBLIC SPACES. 75:24 ONCE HOME, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO 75:27 BE THERE AND QUARANTINE 75:31 YOURSELF. 75:32 LIKE, SOME IMPORTANT 75:34 OBSERVANCERS ARE COMING UP, 75:36 INCLUDING EASTER, PASSOVER, 75:38 RAMADAN. 75:38 NOW IS THE TIME WHEN ALL 75:41 ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN 75:43 VIRTUALLY. 75:43 PREPARE AHEAD TO CONNECT THROUGH 75:46 SOCIAL MEDIA AND OVER THE PHONE 75:51 AND INTERNET. 75:52 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. TAM. 75:54 NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM THE 75:59 MINISTER OF DEFENCE. 76:02 >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. 76:04 WHEN CANADA NEEDS THEIR ARMED 76:06 FORCES, THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE. 76:07 IT SHOWS THAT IN TIMES OF GREAT 76:11 DIFFICULTY, CANADIANS NEVER FACE 76:12 HARDSHIP ALONE. 76:13 THEY FOUGHT FOR CANADIAN VALUES 76:15 DURING THE GREAT WARS, HAVE BEEN 76:17 THERE FOR OUR FRIENDS AND 76:20 PARTNERS IN THE PACIFIC AND 76:22 UKRAINE AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST. 76:25 THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 76:27 COMMUNITIES LIKE NEWFOUNDLAND 76:29 THIS YEAR AND FOR FLOODS IN 76:31 QUÉBEC AND ONTARIO OR FOREST 76:32 FIRES LIKE THOSE THAT HIT 76:34 ALBERTA AND B.C. IN PREVIOUS 76:36 YEARS. 76:36 WE DEVELOPED OUR DEFENCE POLICY, 76:39 STRONG, SECURE, ENGAGED, IN 76:41 ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR ARMED 76:42 FORCES TO BE PREPARED AND 76:43 EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE 76:45 CHALLENGES THAT LAY AHEAD. 76:48 NOW, DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED 76:50 TIMES, THOSE WHO WEAR THE 76:52 UNIFORM WILL BE THERE FOR 76:53 CANADIANS WHEN CALLED UPON. 76:54 THAT IS WHY WE TOOK 76:56 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES EARLY TO 76:58 ENSURE THAT THE FORCES REMAINED 77:01 READY. 77:01 IT IS WHY EARLY IN THIS CRISIS 77:04 THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF 77:05 DIRECTED MANY OF THEM TO ENGAGE 77:08 IN PHYSICAL DISTANCING, TO STAY 77:10 HOME AND TO BE HEALTHY AND READY 77:12 TO RESPOND. 77:13 FROM THE BEGINNING, THE CANADIAN 77:15 ARMED FORCES HAVE BEEN PART OF 77:17 THE WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT EFFORT 77:19 IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19. 77:20 WE ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN IN 77:23 UNIFORM ASSISTING BRINGING 77:24 CANADIANS HOME FROM CHINA AND 77:26 JAPAN TO C.F.B. TRENTON. 77:27 OVER THE PAST WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN 77:29 IN CONTACT WITH MY INTERNATIONAL 77:30 PARTNERS AND COLLEAGUES TO LEARN 77:33 FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES. 77:34 WITH THAT INFORMATION AND 77:36 LOOKING AT THE POSSIBLE NEEDS 77:36 ACROSS CANADA, I DIRECTED THE 77:38 CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF TO 77:40 DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WOULD ALLOW 77:42 US TO SUPPORT A DOMESTIC 77:44 RESPONSE TO COVID-19 BASED 77:45 AROUND THREE PRIORITIES. 77:46 TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO SPLO 77:49 THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, TO 77:52 PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VULNERABLE 77:54 COMMUNITIES ACROSS CANADA, TO 77:56 ASSIST OUR PROVINCIAL AND 77:57 TERRITORIAL PARTNERS WITH 78:00 LOGISTICS, INCLUDING DIRECTLY 78:02 SUPPORTING MUNICIPALITIES IF 78:04 NEEDED. 78:04 AND I ALSO WANT TO STRESS THAT 78:07 THIS RESPONSE TO COVID-19 WOULD 78:08 OCCUR WHILE STILL MAINTAINING 78:11 OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO 78:12 POSSIBLE FLOODING OR FOREST 78:15 FIRES. 78:15 BASED ON THIS GUIDANCE, THE 78:18 CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF HAS 78:20 DEVELOPED A PLAN THAT WOULD SEE 78:22 THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 78:24 MOBILIZING UP TO 24,000 REGULAR 78:27 AND RESERVE MEMBERS ACROSS THE 78:29 CANADIAN ARMED FORCES TO SUPPORT 78:30 THESE EFFORTS. 78:32 THE CANADIAN ARMY HAVE READIED 78:38 10,000 MEMBERS ACROSS CANADA. 78:40 THEY CAN PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN 78:42 PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT 78:43 AND DELIVERING SUPPLIES. 78:45 THEY WILL BE READY TO RESPOND TO 78:47 SUPPORT CANADIANS, NO MATTER 78:48 WHERE THEY LIVE. 78:50 ALSO MADE AVAILABLE, RESERVISTS 78:52 AND CANADIAN RANGERS ARE BEING 78:55 BROUGHT INTO FULL-TIME SERVICE 78:56 AND WILL BE PART OF AN 78:58 INTEGRATED CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 78:59 RESPONSE. 79:00 THESE FLEXIBLE TEAMS ARE CAPABLE 79:02 OF OPERATING AS LOCAL RESPONSE 79:04 FORCES TO ASSIST WITH 79:05 HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE, WELLNESS 79:07 CHECKS, NATURAL DISASTER 79:09 RESPONSE, AND OTHER TASKS AS 79:10 REQUIRED. 79:11 I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT 79:13 PARTICULAR ATTENTION WAS GIVEN 79:14 TO INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AND 79:16 ARCTIC COMMUNITIES. 79:18 THIS -- THESE NEEDS DIRECTED OUR 79:23 PLANNING. 79:23 THAT IS WHY OVER 50 CANADIAN 79:26 RANGER PATROLS WILL BE AVAILABLE 79:27 TO ENHANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF 79:28 THE NEEDS OF THE NORTHERN, 79:30 REMOTE, AND INDIGENOUS 79:32 COMMUNITIES AND WE WILL BE READY 79:34 TO RESPOND AS REQUIRED. 79:36 OUR ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE HAS 79:38 ALL NECESSARY CAPABILITIES AND 79:40 PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT A 79:45 WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT SUPPORT THE 79:47 EFFORTS AGAINST COVID-19. 79:49 THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY ARE ALSO 79:51 READY TO RESPOND ON SHORT NOTICE 79:53 TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES WHO MIGHT 79:55 NEED A HELPING HAND. 79:57 WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS 79:58 PLAN TO HELP SUPPORT CANADIANS, 80:00 NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, WHEN, 80:02 AND WHERE IT IS NEEDED. 80:05 THOUGH WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED 80:07 ANY FORMAL REQUESTS FOR 80:08 ASSISTANCE, THE TEAM AT THE 80:11 DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE 80:12 AND I CONTINUE TO WORM WITH 80:14 MINISTER BLAIR AND PUBLIC SAFETY 80:16 CANADA SO WE ARE READY WHEN 80:17 CALLED UPON. 80:18 WE WILL PROVIDE LOCAL COMMANDERS 80:19 THE AUTHORITY TO BE FLEXIBLE IN 80:21 OUR ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT 80:23 LOCAL NEEDS ARE MET QUICKLY. 80:25 AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THE 80:27 CANADIAN ARMED FORCES REMAIN 80:29 READY TO HELP CANADIANS DURING 80:30 THESE CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES, 80:33 WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENSURING 80:34 THAT THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 80:35 WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT 80:37 COMMUNITIES THAT MAY BE IMPACTED 80:39 BY SPRING FLOODING AND FOREST 80:40 FIRES. 80:41 THE DECISION THAT WE MADE EARLY 80:43 HAS MADE SURE THAT THE CANADIAN 80:46 ARMED FORCES IS HEALTH AND 80:48 STANDS READY TO SERVE. 80:50 WE WILL BE READY TO TAKE STRONG 80:53 PRECAUTIONS SO THAT THE MEN AND 80:55 WOMEN WHO SERVE WILL STAY 80:57 HEALTHY AND BE READY TO HELP. 80:58 THE PLAN WE HAVE DONE WILL ALLOW 81:01 YOUR FORCES TO RESPOND TO 81:03 COVID-19 AT HOME AND TO PROTECT 81:05 COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY NATURAL 81:06 DISASTERS, WHILE ALLOWING US TO 81:08 CONTINUE THE WORK WE DO WITH OUR 81:10 ALLIES AND PARTNERS TO SUPPORT 81:12 INTERNATIONAL SECURITY. 81:12 WE WILL BE THERE. 81:13 WE ARE READY TO HELP. 81:15 NO MATTER HOW CHALLENGING THE 81:17 CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN CALLED UPON, 81:18 THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ARE 81:19 READY TO SERVE. 81:21 TO ALL OUR CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 81:23 MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 81:29 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. 81:31 >> NOW I'LL GIVE THE FLOOR TO 81:34 THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE LEADER, 81:37 PABLO RODRIGUEZ. 81:41 >> OUR MESSAGE IS THAT 81:43 WE ARE READY AND WE HAVE ASKED 81:46 THE ARMED FORCES TO ESTABLISH A 81:50 MOBILIZATION PLAN SO THAT THEY 81:51 CAN BE PREPARED TO GO WHERE 81:52 NEEDED AND QUICKLY. 81:54 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 24,000 81:56 MEMBERS OF REGULAR OR RESERVE 81:58 MEMBERS, WHETHER IN THE ROYAL 82:00 CANADIAN AIR FORCE, THE ROYAL 82:02 CANADIAN NAVY, AND OUR 82:04 INTERVENTION PLAN, IF REQUIRED, 82:06 WOULD BE BASED ON THREE 82:07 PRIORITIES. 82:08 FIRST OF ALL, TO SLOW THE SPEED 82:10 OF SPREADING OF COVID-19, 82:12 PROVIDING SUPPORT TO VULNERABLE 82:13 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE 82:16 COUNTRY, AND TO HELP OUR F.P.T. 82:20 PARTNERS IN THE AREA OF 82:21 LOGISTICS AND, SPECIFICALLY, 82:23 SUPPORTING MUNICIPALITIES 82:24 CONCRETELY. 82:25 WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE OUR 82:28 HELICOPTERS TO SUPPORT ISOLATED 82:31 COMMUNITIES, WHETHER THEY BE 82:32 INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. 82:34 WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT 82:35 PROVINCES AND MUNICIPALITIES 82:37 DIRECTLY IN THEIR EFFORTS. 82:39 WE COULD ALSO HELP WITH 82:42 LOGISTICS, TRANSPORTATION OF 82:44 MATERIAL, HUMANITARIAN 82:45 ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT WHERE 82:47 PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES WOULD 82:48 NEED HELP. 82:49 WE KNOW THAT THE WORK COULD BE 82:53 RELATED TO SOMETHING ELSE. 82:55 WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FLOODS 82:56 AND FOREST FIRES, OUR TROOPS 82:58 WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT 83:00 SUPPORT, BUT ALSO HAVING THE 83:01 CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT 83:03 AGAINST CORONAVIRUS. 83:04 BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, AS THE 83:07 MINISTER SAID, WE ARE NOT 83:08 PLANNING TO DEPLOY OUR FORCES AT 83:11 THIS POINT. 83:12 WE HAVE DAILY CONTACT WITH THE 83:14 PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES. 83:15 FOR NOW NO PREMIER HAS ASKED US 83:21 TO DEPLOY OUR TROOPS. 83:22 IT IS FUNDAMENTAL THAT WE 83:24 CONTINUE TO DISCUSS AND EXCHANGE 83:26 AND COLLABORATE WITH THE 83:27 PROVINCES. 83:28 THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE 83:29 SAYING TODAY IS THAT WE ARE 83:31 READY TO INTERVENE IF A PREMIER 83:33 ASKS US OFFICIALLY TO DO SO. 83:35 THE PLANNING THAT THE ARMED 83:37 FORCES HAS DONE WILL ALLOW THEM 83:39 TO DEPLOY QUICKLY TO HELP 83:41 CANADIANS WHO NEED THAT HELP AND 83:42 WILL BE THERE FOR ALL CANADIANS, 83:45 REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE. 83:47 WE WON'T FORGET ANYBODY. 83:51 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PABLO. 83:55 . 83:55 >> WE'LL START WITH QUESTIONS 83:58 FROM THE PHONE. 84:00 OPERATOR. 84:00 >> THANK YOU. 84:02 MERCI. 84:03 IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE 84:05 PRESS STAR 1 ON YOUR TELEPHONE 84:07 KEY PAD. 84:19 >> Question: 84:20 HELLO. 84:22 MY QUESTION IS FOR YOU, MADAM 84:23 FREELAND. 84:24 I KNOW THAT DETAILS WILL BE 84:26 FORTHCOMING TOMORROW FROM 84:27 MR. MORNEAU, BUT COULD YOU 84:29 INDICATE WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS 84:33 CHANGED VIEW, DECIDING THAT THIS 84:35 WAGE SUBSIDY WOULD NOT BE 84:37 LIMITED TO S.M.E.s, BUT WOULD 84:39 APPLY TO ALL COMPANIES? 84:41 >> Answer: WE HAVEN'T CHANGED A 84:44 VIEW. 84:44 ALL WE'VE DONE IS CLARIFY THE 84:48 DETAILS. 84:56 AND THE DETAILS WE'VE 84:57 ESTABLISHED ARE NECESSARY AND 84:59 CORRECT FOR THE CANADIAN 85:00 ECONOMY. 85:01 WE UNDERSTAND THAT CORONAVIRUS 85:03 AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 85:06 CORONAVIRUS DOES NOT MAKE ANY 85:09 DISTINCTION BETWEEN LARGE 85:10 COMPANIES, SMALL COMPANIES, OR 85:13 MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES. 85:14 THE IDEA OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO 85:17 HELP ALL CANADIAN BUSINESSES TO 85:20 CONSERVE JOBS. 85:24 WE KNOW THAT BUSINESSES WANT TO 85:27 MAINTAIN THEIR WORKFORCE AND WE 85:29 KNOW THAT FOR CANADIANS WHO HAVE 85:33 WORK AT THIS POINT, IT'S MUCH 85:35 BETTER TO HAVE THAT WORK 85:37 AVAILABLE TO THEM. 85:40 THAT'S WHY WE ESTABLISHED THIS 85:43 HUGE ECONOMIC PROGRAM TO HELP 85:45 EMPLOYERS TO CONSERVE THEIR 85:48 BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO TO CONSERVE 85:51 JOBS FOR THEIR WORKERS. 85:54 THIS PROGRAM IS A VERY GOOD 86:02 ADDITION TO THE PROGRAM WE 86:03 ALREADY ANNOUNCED. 86:05 THAT IS THE PROGRAM TO HELP 86:07 CANADIANS WHO DO NOT HAVE A JOB, 86:09 WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB, OR WHO 86:12 CANNOT WORK BECAUSE OF 86:17 CORONAVIRUS. 86:17 WITH THOSE TWO PROGRAMS, WE HAVE 86:20 ONE PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE WHO 86:22 CANNOT WORK AND WE HAVE ANOTHER 86:25 PROGRAM TO HELP COMPANIES TO 86:27 MAINTAIN THE JOBS OF THEIR 86:29 WORKERS. 86:30 THAT'S TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT IN 86:32 THIS CONTEXT. 86:33 FURTHER TO THAT, WE HAVE ALSO 86:40 HELPED COMPANIES AND THE ECONOMY 86:41 BY PROVIDING A GREAT AMOUNT OF 86:43 FINANCIAL RESOURCES. 86:44 THANK YOU. 86:45 >> Question: SECOND QUESTION. 86:50 THE QUESTION IS PERHAPS FOR 86:52 MR. RODRIGUEZ OR PERHAPS 86:55 MR. SAJJAN COULD ANSWER THAT. 86:58 IN RELATION TO THE CANADIAN 86:59 ARMED FORCES AND YOUR CAPACITY 86:59 TO DEPLOY THEM, THERE'S A 87:02 COMMUNITY, AN INDIGENOUS 87:03 COMMUNITY, NABITIBI, THAT SENT A 87:09 LETTER ASKING THE ARMY TO COME, 87:12 IN ORDER TO ENSURE A STATE OF 87:14 EMERGENCY. 87:15 THEY WANT TO CLOSE OFF THEIR 87:17 TERRITORY. 87:17 ARE YOU TAKING UP THAT REQUEST 87:21 BY OTHER COMMUNITIES OR SHOULD 87:23 IT GO BEFORE A PREMIER OF A 87:26 PROVINCE FIRST? 87:29 DO YOU WANT 87:31 ME TO TRANSLATE? 87:33 >> Answer: WE'VE GOT 87:34 TRANSLATION. 87:34 WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH MANY REMOTE 87:37 COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY 87:37 INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. 87:38 THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF HAS 87:40 BEEN PLANNING KIND OF EARLY 87:42 MEASURES OF WHAT WE CAN DO. 87:44 MORE IMPORTANTLY, THERE'S ALSO 87:47 STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN EARLY 87:48 ON, NOT JUST WITH THE CANADIAN 87:50 ARMED FORCES, BUT ALSO WITH THE 87:52 PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES. 87:53 SO WE'RE TAKING EVERY REQUEST 87:55 VERY SERIOUSLY. 87:56 I WANT TO REMIND THAT THE 87:57 CANADIAN ARMED FORCES IS A 88:01 WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT RESPONSE. 88:02 SO WHEN WE LOOK AT A CONCERN 88:03 THAT COMES UP, WE LOOK AT ALL 88:07 THE THINGS IN OUR TOOLBOX, DOWN 88:09 TO THE MUNICIPALITY, SO WE CAN 88:13 ENSURE THE RIGHT RESPONSE IS 88:14 THERE SO CANADIANS IMPACTED WILL 88:17 BE LOOKED AFTER. 88:20 >> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 88:22 BILL CURRY FROM "THE GLOBE AND 88:30 MAIL". 88:30 >> Question: THANK YOU. 88:31 MY QUESTION IS FOR MS. FREELAND. 88:34 IN TERMS OF LARGE COMPANIES AND 88:36 FUTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS, IS THE 88:39 GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING DIRECTOR 88:40 OWNERSHIP STAKES, LIKE WE SAW 88:43 WITH THE AUTO SECTOR IN 2009. 88:47 WILL THERE BE ANYTHING IN TERMS 88:49 OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND IS 88:50 THE GOVERNMENT CONCERNED ABOUT 88:51 FOREIGN TAKEOVERS OF COMPANIES 88:54 DURING THIS PERIOD? 88:55 >> Answer: THANK YOU FOR THE 88:58 QUESTION, BILL. 89:00 I THINK AS YOU PROBABLY EXPECT, 89:01 I AM NOT TODAY GOING TO PRE-EMPT 89:04 FUTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS. 89:05 I WILL SAY TO YOU, AND I WOULD 89:07 LIKE TO ASSURE ALL CANADIANS, 89:10 THAT WE VERY MUCH UNDERSTAND 89:12 THAT PARTICULAR SECTORS OF THE 89:14 ECONOMY, WHETHER IT IS TOURISM 89:15 AND AVIATION OR THE ENERGY 89:17 SECTOR, ARE FACING PARTICULAR 89:19 STRAINS BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF 89:21 THE CORONAVIRUS, BOTH IN CANADA 89:23 AND WORLDWIDE. 89:25 WE ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT AND 89:28 IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE 89:30 DEFINITELY FOCUSED ON. 89:33 >> ONE FOLLOW-UP. 89:35 >> Question: YES, ON ANOTHER 89:36 TOPIC. 89:37 SINCE THE SERVICE CANADA OFFICES 89:39 SHUT DOWN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF 89:42 STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE NOT ABLE TO 89:44 REACH AN OFFICIAL ON A PHONE TO 89:46 ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. 89:47 THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET HELP IN 89:50 PERSON AS TRYING TO GET E.I. 89:52 IS THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO 89:54 RE-OPEN THESE OFFICES? 89:56 HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH THIS 89:58 PROBLEM? 89:58 >> Answer: OF COURSE IT'S VERY 89:59 IMPORTANT FOR CANADIANS TO HAVE 90:01 ACCESS TO THE GOVERNMENT 90:03 PROGRAMS WE'VE PUT IN PLACE OVER 90:04 THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WE 90:07 ARE WORKING HARD TO ENSURE 90:08 CANADIANS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO 90:10 THOSE PROGRAMS, EVEN AS WE ARE 90:12 THOUGHTFUL ABOUT AND MINDFUL OF 90:15 THE NEED TO BE MAINTAINING 90:17 PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN OUR DAILY 90:18 LIVES AND THE NEED TO ENSURE 90:19 THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE 90:21 GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ARE ALSO 90:22 SAFE AS THEY DO THEIR WORK. 90:24 I KNOW THAT IT IS HARD FOR ALL 90:28 OF US, WHETHER IT IS IN THE 90:30 DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS 90:32 OR WHETHER IT IS, AS DR. TAM WAS 90:36 DESCRIBING FOR RETURNING 90:38 SNOWBIRDS, TO NOT GO TO THE 90:41 GROCERY STORE AND TO FIGURE OUT 90:42 HOW TO ORDER THEIR GROCERIES 90:44 ONLINE OR OVER THE PHONE. 90:45 IT IS NOT EASY TO OPERATE IN AN 90:47 ECONOMY AND IN A SOCIETY WHERE 90:49 WE ALL HAVE TO PRACTICE PHYSICAL 90:51 DISTANCING, BUT IT'S WHAT WE 90:52 HAVE TO DO. 90:53 I DO WANT TO SAY TO ALL THE 90:56 CANADIANS WHO NEED ACCESS TO 90:57 THESE PROGRAMS, WE GET IT. 90:59 THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PUT THESE 91:01 PROGRAMS IN PLACE. 91:02 I REALLY APOLOGIZE SINCERELY FOR 91:09 SOME OF THE KINKS IN THE 91:10 DELIVERY OF THESE PROGRAMS, BUT 91:13 I WANT TO ASSURE PEOPLE WE ARE 91:17 WORKING 24/7 TO GET SUPPORT OUT 91:21 TO CANADIANS. 91:24 >> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 91:27 BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH FROM THE 91:36 "TORONTO STAR." 91:38 >> Question: I WONDER IF YOU 91:38 COULD SPEAK MORE SPECIFICALLY 91:39 ABOUT THE TYPE OF HELP THAT THE 91:41 MILITARY MIGHT BE ABLE TO 91:42 PROVIDE. 91:43 IN THE U.S. WE'RE SEEING THE 91:45 MILITARY THERE PROVIDE FIELD 91:47 HOSPITALS, MILITARY ENGINEERS TO 91:48 HELP RE-ENGINEER CIVILIAN SPACES 91:53 TO MAKESHIFT HOSPITALS. 91:55 I'M WONDERING PRACTICALLY WHAT 91:58 WE COULD SEE IF THE HELP FOR 92:01 PROVINCES CAME. 92:04 >> Answer: SPEAKING WITH 92:05 SECRETARY ESPER ON A NUMBER OF 92:08 THE LAST FEW DAYS ON WHAT 92:10 THEY'VE BEEN DOING, BUT IT'S 92:12 ALSO TO KEEP IN MIND, EVERY 92:14 SITUATION IS GOING TO BE VERY 92:15 DIFFERENT HERE. 92:16 WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MAKING SURE 92:18 THAT WE HAVE A FORCE THAT WE'RE 92:21 ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE VARIOUS 92:23 NEEDS. 92:24 WE ARE THE LAST RESORT WHEN IT 92:27 COMES TO PROVIDING SUPPORT. 92:28 SO THE COMPOSITION THAT WE HAVE 92:30 CREATED AND THE PRIORITIES THAT 92:32 WE HAVE SET OUT IS MAKING SURE 92:34 WE ARE FLEXIBLE AND MAKING SURE 92:37 WE CAN RESPOND DIRECTLY, WHETHER 92:39 THERE IS A SURGE IN THE NEED, 92:40 WHETHER IT'S A NORTHERN 92:42 COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS DIRECT 92:44 SUPPORT, WHETHER IT'S A 92:45 LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. 92:46 SO THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF 92:48 SUPPORT THAT ALLOWS THE CANADIAN 92:50 ARMED FORCES TO RESPOND. 92:51 THE CHIEF IS GOING TO GO INTO A 92:53 FEW DETAILS OF IT, BUT JUST KEEP 92:56 IN MIND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO 92:58 RESPOND ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH 93:02 PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE 93:03 NORTH AND THE ARCTIC. 93:04 CHIEF. 93:05 >> THANKS, MINISTER. 93:06 IF I COULD START OFF, I WOULD 93:08 LIKE TO SAY AND OFFER 93:11 CONDOLENCES TO PEOPLE SUFFERING. 93:14 ON BEHALF OF THE ARMED FORCES, 93:15 IT'S A TOUGH TIME. 93:17 WE'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR A LONG 93:19 TIME FOR THIS. 93:19 WE HAVE GOOD PLANS IN PLACE. 93:22 WE HAVE THE TROOPS SEQUESTERED, 93:24 STAYING AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE 93:26 SO WE CAN MOUNT MANY PEOPLE IF 93:29 WE NEED TO. 93:30 THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 93:31 WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO 93:34 RESPOND EITHER WITH SPECIALIST 93:36 CAPABILITIES, LIKE MEDICAL, 93:38 LOGISTICS, ENGINEERING FOR A 93:40 SHORT-DURATION EVENT OR FOR 93:41 LONGER-DURATION EVENTS, 93:43 DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE 93:45 PROVINCES. 93:45 WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT 93:46 SIGNIFICANT RESPONSES. 93:47 IN THE EVENT THAT COMMUNITIES 93:49 START TO SUFFER MULTIPLE EVENTS, 93:51 INCLUDING FLOODS, FOREST FIRES 93:54 INSIDE A COVID ENVIRONMENT, 93:55 WHERE THE ARMED FORCES WILL BE 93:57 ABLE TO PUT IN PLACE NECESSARY 93:59 SUPPORT TO CRITICAL 94:01 INFRASTRUCTURE, LOGISTICS, AS 94:02 WELL AS SOME MEDICAL SUPPORT. 94:04 IT'S SCALEABLE, BRUCE, DEPENDING 94:06 ON THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. 94:08 THANK YOU. 94:14 >> BRUCE, ONE FOLLOW-UP? 94:19 OKAY. 94:19 WE'LL TURN TO THE ROOM FOR THREE 94:21 QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO BACK ON 94:23 THE PHONE. 94:27 >> Question: THIS IS A QUESTION 94:29 FOR YOU AND MS. HAJDU IF YOU 94:31 WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT. 94:32 I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR 94:34 THOUGHTS. 94:34 DR. TAM, A FEW DAYS AGO YOU SAID 94:37 A WELL PERSON DOES NOT NEED TO 94:38 WEAR A MASK, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A 94:41 LOOK AT COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DONE 94:43 QUITE WELL, CHINA, TAIWAN, AND 94:49 OTHERS, THE CULTURE IS TO WEAR 94:52 MASKS. 94:52 IS CANADA TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO 94:54 WEAR MASKS BECAUSE WE ARE 94:55 WORRIED ABOUT A SHORTAGE AND WE 94:57 WANT TO MAKE SURE DOCTORS AND 95:00 OTHER FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS 95:02 HAVE THEM? 95:03 >> Answer: I THINK THERE'S TWO 95:04 SEPARATE REASONS. 95:05 FOR SURE, ABSOLUTELY, WE WANT TO 95:08 PROTECT OUR FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE 95:10 WORKERS. 95:11 PRIORITIZING SUPPLY IN THAT 95:13 SETTING IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. 95:16 WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT 95:18 AVENUES TO PROCURE. 95:20 FOR THE PUBLIC, I THINK THE 95:25 CURRENT SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE WE 95:26 ARE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE, OF 95:29 COURSE WE CAN BE FLEXIBLE IF WE 95:31 FIND ANY NEW EVIDENCE, BUT I 95:33 THINK THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IS 95:35 IF YOU ARE SICK, PUT ON A MASK 95:37 TO PREVENT THOSE DROPLETS FROM 95:40 FLYING IN ANY SPACE AS PERHAPS 95:42 YOU'RE GOING TO A CLINIC OR 95:44 HAVING TO MOVE YOURSELF AROUND 95:46 THE COMMUNITY FOR ESSENTIAL 95:48 NEEDS. 95:49 PUTTING A MASK ON AN 95:51 ASYMPTOMATIC PERSON IS NOT 95:55 BENEFICIAL OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE 95:56 NOT INFECTED. 95:57 IF YOU HAVE A CLOSE CONTACT OF A 96:00 CASE AND UNDER CERTAIN 96:03 CIRCUMSTANCES, ESPECIALLY -- YOU 96:05 WOULD ALSO BE IN SELF-ISOLATION 96:06 IF YOU WERE IN CLOSE CONTACT OF 96:07 A CASE AND YOU ALSO NEED TO MOVE 96:10 FOR ANY ESSENTIAL REASON, THAT'S 96:13 PERHAPS ANOTHER SITUATION. 96:16 WHAT WE WORRY ABOUT IS ACTUALLY 96:18 THE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE ASPECTS 96:19 OF WEARING MASKS, WHERE PEOPLE 96:21 ARE NOT PROTECTING THEIR EYES OR 96:24 OTHER ASPECTS OF WHERE THE VIRUS 96:27 COULD ENTER YOUR BODY, AND THAT 96:30 GIVES YOU A FALSE SENSE OF 96:32 CONFIDENCE. 96:32 BUT ALSO IT INCREASES THE 96:34 TOUCHING OF YOUR FACE IF YOU 96:36 THINK ABOUT IT. 96:37 IF YOU'VE GOT A MASK AROUND YOUR 96:39 FACE, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T HELP 96:41 IT BECAUSE YOU'RE TOUCHING PARTS 96:42 OF YOUR FACE. 96:44 THE OTHER THING IS THE OUTSIDE 96:47 OF THE MASK COULD BE 96:47 CONTAMINATED AS WELL. 96:49 THE KEY IS HAND WASHING. 96:51 IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU'RE 96:54 DOING, HAND WASHING IS KEY. 96:57 EVEN IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING, WE 97:00 FIND THAT IT'S REMOVING PERSONAL 97:03 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT CAN 97:04 ACTUALLY LEAD TO INFECTION. 97:05 IF PEOPLE TRY TO USE THESE 97:09 MEASURES, THEY HAVE TO BE 97:11 REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL AND WASH 97:14 THEIR HANDS. 97:14 WE'RE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE 97:17 POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE IMPACTS. 97:22 >> Question: 97:23 -- EXPECT TO 97:24 GET MORE ACCURATE TESTING. 97:27 YOU'VE SAID RIGHT NOW THAT 93 97:34 WAS THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO 97:35 ARE DEEMED TO BE NEGATIVE. 97:38 CAN YOU TELL US THE ACCURACY OF 97:39 THE TESTING. 97:41 AND WHAT IS THE ACCURACY LEVEL, 97:44 IS THERE A NUMBER WE CAN KNOW? 97:46 >> Answer: THE TESTS AVAILABLE 97:49 AT THE PRESENT TIME ARE WHAT WE 97:50 CALL REAL-TIME P.C.R. 97:55 THEY HAVE BEEN VALIDATED BY THE 97:59 NATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY LAB. 98:06 SO THESE TESTS ARE HIGHLY 98:09 PERFORMING, BUT OF COURSE WHEN 98:11 YOU'RE TAKING A SWAB OF SOMEONE, 98:12 THEN -- AND SENDING IT IN TO THE 98:15 LAB, ET CETERA, THERE'S MULTIPLE 98:17 COMPONENTS. 98:18 ONE IS YOU'VE GOT TO TEST THE 98:20 RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME. 98:21 IF YOU TEST SOMEONE TOO EARLY, 98:24 YOU MAY NOT ACTUALLY GET A 98:26 POSITIVE SAMPLE, YOU MAY HAVE TO 98:29 RETEST. 98:29 THE METHODOLOGY AND HOW WELL YOU 98:31 SWAB THAT SAMPLE MAY COME INTO 98:34 PLAY AS WELL. 98:35 THERE'S CLINICAL JUDGMENT 98:37 WHETHER SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE 98:39 TESTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. 98:40 IT DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. 98:42 BUT THE ACTUAL P.C.R. TEST IS 98:45 VERY SPECIFIC AND IT'S QUITE 98:47 SENSITIVE. 98:50 >> THANK YOU, DOCTOR. 98:53 >> Question: TO FOLLOW UP ON THE 98:54 TESTING, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU 98:56 ON THE NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY IN 98:58 ONTARIO WE'RE HEARING OF 99:00 RATIONING OF TESTS, LONG WAITS 99:01 TO GET RESULTS. 99:03 WE'RE HEARING THE I.C.U. NUMBERS 99:05 MAY BE UNDERREPORTED. 99:07 DOES IT CONCERN YOU THAT ONTARIO 99:08 IS TESTING PEOPLE AT A MUCH 99:11 LOWER RATE PER 1,000 PEOPLE THAN 99:14 OTHER PROVINCES? 99:15 >> Answer: SO I THINK THE 99:17 COLLECTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL IS 99:18 TO INCREASE TESTING FOR SURE. 99:21 SO WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT 99:23 WE CAN RIGHT NOW TO INCREASE THE 99:24 CAPACITY OF TESTING IN CANADA. 99:26 FOR SURE, THOUGH, IF YOU 99:28 ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS 99:29 OF PEOPLE TESTED PER CAPITA, 99:32 CANADA IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PER 99:35 CAPITA TESTING COUNTRIES IN THE 99:37 WORLD. 99:37 BUT WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE NEED 99:40 TO BE SUPPORTING JURISDICTIONS 99:42 TO GET BEING THROUGH ANY SORT OF 99:45 RATE-LIMITING STEPS. 99:46 WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING IN 99:48 TERMS OF UPPING THE CAPACITIES 99:49 OF PROVINCIAL LABS, BUT ALSO 99:53 THESE NEW DIAGNOSTICS THAT HAVE 99:56 BEEN MENTIONED BY MINISTER HAJDU 99:57 AND OTHERS. 99:58 WE ARE CURRENTLY AT THE N.M.L. 100:04 LOOKING AT THESE NEW TESTING 100:08 METHODS TO SEE IF THEY CAN BE 100:11 VALIDATED AND IF THEY ARE 100:12 ACCURATE AND PERFORM WELL, WE 100:15 ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THOSE. 100:17 I KNOW AUTHORITIES IN ONTARIO 100:18 ARE TRYING VERY HARD FOR SURE TO 100:21 PROVIDE THOSE TESTS. 100:24 WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT 100:26 HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS ARE 100:28 PRIORITIZED FOR SURE. 100:29 YOU'RE GOING TO BE TESTING 100:30 PATIENTS IN I.C.U., HOSPITAL 100:33 PATIENTS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 100:34 LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, ALL 100:36 OF THOSE MUCH-HIGHER-RISK 100:39 SITUATIONS. 100:40 PROVINCES KNOW THAT THEY ARE 100:50 PRIORITIZING ALL OF THOSE 100:50 OPTIONS. 100:51 >> Question: JUST TO CLARIFY, 100:52 HOW TO NORTHERN AND FIRST 100:54 NATIONS COMMUNITIES ASK FOR 100:55 ASSISTANCE? 100:55 AND ALSO, IS THE ARMED FORCES 100:57 PREPARED TO HELP NEIGHBOURHOODS 100:58 SUCH AS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN 101:00 QUÉBEC RIGHT NOW WITH 101:02 QUARANTINES? 101:03 >> Answer: WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE 101:06 DIRECT SUPPORT INTO NORTHERN 101:07 COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE A VERY 101:09 GOOD PROCESS IN PLACE. 101:11 OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS, WE'VE 101:12 BEEN RESPONDING TO FLOODS AND 101:15 FIRES AND EVACUATION FOR CERTAIN 101:17 COMMUNITIES, BUT THE CANADIAN 101:18 ARMED FORCES ARE THERE TO 101:19 RESPOND TO ANY EMERGENCIES AND 101:20 WE HAVE CONTINGENCIES IN PLACE. 101:25 WE HAVE A GOOD PROCESS IN PLACE. 101:27 WE HAVE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 101:29 LEADERSHIP IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, 101:31 ESPECIALLY THROUGH OUR CANADIAN 101:33 RANGERS. 101:33 THROUGH THE TERRITORIES, WE'RE 101:35 ABLE TO HAVE AN ONGOING DIALOGUE 101:41 WITH THE -- WITH PUBLIC SAFETY 101:43 AND THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES. 101:43 THIS IS NOT DONE IN A SEQUENCE. 101:47 THIS IS DONE ALL AT ONCE SO WE 101:50 HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING EARLY 101:51 ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE SO WE CAN 101:53 GET READY TO RESPOND WITH THE 101:55 RIGHT RESOURCES. 101:56 IF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ARE 101:58 NEEDED, WE CAN RESPOND. 102:00 >> Question: 102:01 -- 102:01 >> Answer: WHEN IT COMES TO 102:02 QUARANTINE, WE HAVE TO BE 102:04 MINDFUL THAT THE CANADIAN ARMED 102:05 FORCES IS PART OF THE WIDER 102:07 GOVERNMENT RESOURCE. 102:08 WHEN IT COMES TO QUARANTINE, WE 102:09 HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT BASED 102:11 ON THE RIGHT EXPERT HEALTH 102:13 ADVICE AND THE RIGHT OFFICIALS. 102:16 THE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE ON 102:17 WHAT'S ACTUALLY REQUIRED. 102:19 YES, WE CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT, BUT 102:21 WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE 102:22 PROVIDING THE RIGHT SUPPORT. 102:24 RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IT 102:25 COULD VARY ON VARIOUS THINGS 102:27 THAT WE COULD PROVIDE, WHETHER 102:30 QUARANTINE, LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, 102:31 MEDICAL SUPPORT. 102:33 THAT'S GOING TO BE BASED ON EACH 102:36 UNIQUE NEED THAT'S THERE. 102:37 WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT 102:39 OUR COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND 102:40 HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE 102:43 TO RESPOND QUICKLY AS WELL. 102:50 >> Question: MINISTER SAJJAN OR 102:52 GENERAL VANCE. 102:56 I'M WONDERING HOW DO WE KNOW WE 102:59 HAVE ENOUGH TROOPS TO HANDLE 103:01 THIS SITUATION? 103:01 IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'VE DONE 103:03 BEFORE. 103:03 HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT WE 103:05 CAN RESPOND AT THIS TIME? 103:06 >> Answer: WHEN IT COMES TO 103:08 HISTORICALLY, THE CANADIAN ARMED 103:09 FORCES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE AT 103:10 TIME OF NEED. 103:12 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS -- 103:15 EVEN THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED 103:16 TIME. 103:17 WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN THIS TYPE OF 103:18 CRISIS BEFORE, BUT THE CANADIAN 103:21 ARMED FORCES, WITH THE 103:22 WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH, 103:23 WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS. 103:26 BECAUSE ONE, THE FRONT-END 103:30 HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO FIRST 103:31 RESPONDERS FROM POLICE, FIRE, 103:34 PARAMEDICS, THE CANADIAN ARMED 103:35 FORCES HAVE ALWAYS WORKED 103:37 TOGETHER ON VARIOUS OTHER 103:39 CHALLENGES. 103:39 THIS IS NO DIFFERENT. 103:40 WE WILL PUT THE SUPPORT AND WE 103:42 HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND 103:44 LEADERSHIP TO PLAN FOR THE LONG 103:48 TERM. 103:48 >> Question: BECAUSE THE WORLD 103:49 STILL GOES ON, HOW ARE WE STILL 103:51 ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR 103:52 INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS WHILE 103:54 ALL THIS OTHER STUFF IS 103:55 HAPPENING? 103:55 >> Answer: IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. 103:57 KEEP IN MIND, THE REST OF THE 103:58 WORLD IS ALSO DEALING WITH A 104:00 COVID-19 ENVIRONMENT. 104:01 I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MY 104:04 COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE WORLD 104:05 AND I HAVE A NUMBER OF PHONE 104:07 CALLS TODAY AS WELL. 104:08 WE'RE LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER 104:10 AND LOOKING AT THE CURRENT 104:11 MISSIONS THAT WE HAVE, WHETHER 104:12 IT'S THE WORK THAT WE DO AT 104:15 NATO, IN THE UKRAINE, IN THE 104:18 MIDDLE EAST. 104:18 WE'RE MAKING MINOR ADJUSTMENTS 104:20 BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 104:21 ENVIRONMENT. 104:21 THE CAPACITY-BUILDING THAT WE 104:23 USED TO DO IS NOT HAPPENING 104:25 BECAUSE IN CERTAIN AREAS LIKE 104:27 UKRAINE, WE CAN'T DO CAPACITY 104:29 BUILDING FOR THIS REASON. 104:30 WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE FORCE 104:32 IS PROTECTED AS WELL. 104:33 AND WE'RE ALSO VERY MINDFUL THAT 104:36 WE'RE LOOKING AT ANY ADVERSARIES 104:38 THAT MIGHT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE 104:40 SITUATION. 104:40 WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT AND 104:42 WE'RE TAKING THE RIGHT MEASURES. 104:44 THIS IS WHAT -- WHEN YOU'VE BEEN 104:45 OPERATING IN A VERY CLOSE 104:47 MULTI-LATERAL ENVIRONMENT, 104:48 SOMETHING THAT THE PRIME 104:49 MINISTER HAS EMPHASIZED GREATLY, 104:51 AND THROUGH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS 104:52 WE'RE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE 104:54 VARIOUS THREATS. 104:55 >> WE'LL TURN TO THE PHONE FOR 104:58 THREE LAST QUESTIONS. 105:03 OPERATOR. 105:04 >> THANK YOU. 105:06 THE NEXT QUESTION 105:07 IS FROM "LE DEVOIR." 105:10 THE FLOOR IS YOURS. 105:12 >> Question: MY QUESTION IS FOR 105:14 YOU, MADAM FREELAND. 105:15 I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO 105:17 LAST FRIDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE. 105:19 YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS 105:22 POSSIBILITY THAT THE 105:22 UNITED STATES MIGHT DEPORT 105:24 REFUGEES THAT WE WOULD HAVE SENT 105:27 BACK TO THEM SINCE THE BORDER IS 105:30 CLOSED TO IMMIGRANTS. 105:32 SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD 105:35 GIVE US AN UPDATE AS TO THE 105:38 URGENT DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU 105:39 REFERRED TO. 105:40 SO DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE IN 105:42 RELATION TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS? 105:43 DID YOU OBTAIN GUARANTEES FROM 105:45 THE AMERICANS RELATING TO THAT? 105:51 IN TERMS OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE 105:52 BEEN SENT BACK TO THE 105:54 UNITED STATES AS OF THE 20th OF 105:56 MARCH, HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE 105:57 GONE BACK TO THEIR COUNTRIES OF 105:59 ORIGIN? 106:00 >> Answer: THANK YOU VERY MUCH 106:01 FOR YOUR QUESTION. 106:03 AS I SAID ON FRIDAY LAST, IT IS 106:07 AN ISSUE THAT IS OF TREMENDOUS 106:09 CONCERN TO CANADA. 106:11 MYSELF AND MINISTER BLAIR AND 106:14 OUR AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON 106:16 HAVE ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS 106:20 RELATING TO THAT ISSUE AND THE 106:23 DISCUSSIONS ARE ONGOING. 106:25 >> Question: SO I UNDERSTAND 106:27 THAT IT'S NOT SETTLED, BUT ARE 106:29 YOU AWARE OF CASES WHERE PEOPLE 106:32 WERE REALLY SENT BACK TO THE 106:34 UNITED STATES AND THEN WERE 106:36 SUBSEQUENTLY DEPORTED OR IS THIS 106:37 A THEORETICAL CONCERN? 106:40 >> Answer: THIS IS ONE OF THE 106:42 QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING 106:44 RIGHT NOW. 106:48 >> NEXT QUESTION. 106:52 . 106:52 >> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 106:55 JORJE BARRERA FROM CBC. 106:59 >> Question: MINISTER FREELAND, 107:01 THERE'S BEEN SOME FIRST NATIONS 107:03 LEADERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE 107:04 SOUTHERN CHIEFS ORGANIZATION IN 107:05 MANITOBA, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE 107:07 HUMAN DOCTORS COME IN TO HELP 107:09 DEAL WITH THE POTENTIAL 107:11 OUTBREAKS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. 107:12 I'M JUST WONDERING HOW YOUR 107:14 GOVERNMENT FEELS ABOUT THIS 107:16 REQUEST. 107:19 >> Answer: OUR GOVERNMENT HAS 107:23 EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THE 107:25 EXCELLENCE OF THE CANADIAN 107:27 MEDICAL SYSTEM, IN THE 107:30 EXCELLENCE OF CANADIAN 107:31 HEALTHCARE WORKERS. 107:33 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HEARING OVER 107:35 THE PAST FEW DAYS A LOT FROM 107:40 MARC MILLER, THE MINISTER 107:43 CHARGED WITH INDIGENOUS 107:44 SERVICES, AND HE HAS BEEN 107:45 EMPHASIZING THE EXTENT TO WHICH 107:47 THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE 107:50 PARTICULAR VULNERABILITIES 107:51 INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FACE. 107:52 SO I HAVE HUGE FAITH AND TRUST 107:57 IN CANADIAN FRONTLINE MEDICAL 107:59 WORKERS. 108:00 THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND 108:01 THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO 108:03 THAT. 108:03 I WONDER IF DR. TAM WANTS TO SAY 108:06 ANY MORE ABOUT OUR MEDICAL 108:09 WORKERS. 108:09 >> SO I'VE CERTAINLY WORKED VERY 108:13 CLOSELY WITH THE CHIEF MEDICAL 108:14 OFFICER OF INDIGENOUS SERVICES 108:18 CANADA. 108:18 IF THERE ARE ANY REQUESTS OR 108:19 NEEDS, THERE ARE MECHANISMS IN 108:22 PLACE. 108:23 WE ALSO HAVE MECHANISMS FOR 108:26 MUTUAL AID BETWEEN DIFFERENT 108:28 JURISDICTIONS. 108:28 SHOULD THAT BE REQUIRED, THAT 108:30 CAN ALSO BE CHANNELLED THROUGH 108:31 THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF 108:34 CANADA. 108:35 >> THANK YOU, DOCTOR. 108:40 FOLLOW-UP. 108:41 >> Question: WHAT I'M HEARING IS 108:43 THROUGH THE MUTUAL AID IT IS 108:46 POSSIBLE TO BRING IN CUBAN 108:48 DOCTORS IF PARTICULAR FIRST 108:49 NATIONS WANT THAT HELP. 108:50 THERE IS REPORTS OF DOCTORS 108:52 BEING PULLED OUT TO DEAL WITH 108:55 OTHER REGIONS. 108:56 I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS A 108:58 POSSIBILITY ON THE TABLE RIGHT 108:59 NOW? 109:00 >> Answer: LET ME JUST SAY AND 109:02 BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE VERY 109:05 CONFIDENT THAT CANADA'S 109:06 HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WHICH IS 109:12 STAFFED BY OUTSTANDING 109:14 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, HAS 109:16 THE CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH THIS 109:18 EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGE. 109:19 OUR JOB AS A GOVERNMENT IS TO 109:20 WORK VERY HARD TO PROVIDE OUR 109:22 HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WITH ALL OF 109:23 THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO TAKE 109:26 CARE OF CANADIANS, INDIGENOUS 109:28 AND NON-INDIGENOUS. 109:30 WE ARE VERY AWARE OF THE 109:32 PARTICULAR CHALLENGES VULNERABLE 109:33 COMMUNITIES FACE. 109:35 >> THANK YOU, MINISTER. 109:36 NEXT QUESTION ON THE PHONE. 109:38 >> THANK YOU. 109:39 THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM EMILIE 109:47 BERGERON. 109:49 >> Question: 109:50 YES, 109:51 HELLO. 109:52 I'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE 109:53 POSSIBILITY OF RELYING ON THE 109:56 EMERGENCIES ACT. 110:00 SEVERAL WEEKS HAVE GONE BY WHERE 110:02 ONE IS STUDYING THAT, AND I 110:05 WONDER WHERE ONE'S THOUGHTS ARE 110:07 IN TERMS OF USING THE 110:08 EMERGENCIES ACT OR NOT. 110:09 >> Answer: AS THE PRIME MINISTER 110:11 SAID THE OTHER DAY, THERE IS 110:13 ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT IS 110:15 EXCLUDED OR OFF THE TABLE AT 110:19 THIS POINT, BUT IT'S NOT ON THE 110:20 TABLE AT THIS POINT. 110:21 THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS ON A DAILY 110:23 BASIS WITH THE VARIOUS 110:25 PROVINCES, AND WE ARE CONFIDENT 110:26 THAT THE PROVINCES THROUGH THE 110:29 TOOLS AND THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE 110:30 CARRYING OUT THEIR WORK. 110:32 I MUST UNDERSCORE THE EXCELLENT 110:35 WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN 110:37 QUÉBEC. 110:38 SO IT'S A TOOL THAT'S PART OF 110:40 THE TOOLBOX, BUT IT'S NOT 110:42 SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT 110:45 RIGHT NOW. 110:46 >> Question: THANK YOU. 110:48 WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBLE 110:50 INTERVENTION OF THE ARMED 110:52 FORCES, IS THERE AN ORDER 110:53 FIREFIGHTER PRIORITY THAT'S BEEN 110:56 ESTABLISHED? 110:57 FOR INSTANCE, INTERVENE IN ONE 110:59 PROVINCE FIRST RELATIVE TO 111:03 ANOTHER? 111:04 . 111:05 >> Answer: NO, THERE IS NO 111:06 PRIORITY SET. 111:07 THIS WILL BE BASED ON THE NEEDS 111:09 ON THE GROUND. 111:12 THE ASSESSMENTS THAT WILL HAPPEN 111:14 ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 111:16 WE HAVE A VERY GOOD SYSTEM IN 111:19 PLACE, BASED ON OUR PREVIOUS 111:21 EXPERIENCE, TO TRIAGE THE RIGHT 111:23 REQUESTS AND MAKING SURE THE 111:25 RIGHT SUPPORT IS PROVIDED. 111:26 HAVING SAID THIS, WE ALSO HAD TO 111:30 MAKE SURE THAT THE PLAN THAT 111:31 GENERAL VANCE HAS PUT TOGETHER 111:32 FOR THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 111:34 ALLOWS US TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE TO 111:36 BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO MULTIPLE 111:38 AREAS IF NEEDED. 111:39 BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO 111:41 COMMUNITIES, WHILE AILMENT BEING 111:42 ABLE TO RESPOND TO FLOODS AND 111:44 FIRES IF NEED BE, AND AT THE 111:46 SAME TIME BEING ABLE TO RESPOND 111:49 TO NORTHERN COMMUNITIES AND 111:49 ISOLATED COMMUNITIES IF 111:52 REQUIRED. 111:52 THERE IS NO PRIORITY PER SE, BUT 111:55 WILL BE BASED ON THE EXPERT 111:57 ADVICE FROM OUR OFFICIALS. 112:00 >> THAT'S IT FOR TODAY. 112:02 THANK YOU. 112:05 >> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT. 112:07 THAT IS OUR DAILY FEDERAL 112:09 BRIEFING FROM CABINET MINISTERS 112:11 AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS. 112:12 ONE OF THE MESSAGES THAT WE 112:14 HADN'T HEARD YET WAS THE 112:20 INVOLVEMENT OF CANADA'S MILITARY 112:21 INSIDE OF THE PANDEMIC. 112:22 WE HAD SEEN MEMOS AND REPORTS ON 112:25 HOW THEY WERE PREPARING. 112:26 WE GOT MORE DETAILS ON THAT 112:28 TODAY. 112:29 LET ME BRING IN MY COLLEAGUE THE 112:31 HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS," 112:33 VASSY KAPELOS, AND DAVID 112:35 COCHRANE. 112:35 I'LL START WITH YOU, VASSY. 112:36 UP TO 24,000 REGULAR AND RESERVE 112:39 FORCES PREPARED TO HELP IF 112:40 NEEDED. 112:41 >> Vassy: YEAH, AS DESCRIBED BY 112:43 THE DEFENCE MINISTER, HARJIT 112:44 SAJJAN, ROSIE, HE BASICALLY 112:50 TASKED THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE 112:52 STAFF, GENERAL VANCE, TO COME UP 112:53 WITH A PLAN. 112:54 IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT THAT 112:56 INCLUDES, YOU'RE RIGHT, 24,000 112:59 EITHER REGULAR OR RESERVE FORCE 113:00 MEMBERS AT THE READY. 113:01 THAT WILL DEPEND ON -- "AT THE 113:05 READY," WHAT I MEAN IS THAT WILL 113:07 DEPEND ON THE NEED. 113:08 WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER OUTLINED 113:11 AND MINISTER SAJJAN REITERATED, 113:14 NO PROVINCE HAS ASKED FOR HELP, 113:15 BUT THEY ARE READY TO ASSIST. 113:18 I WILL GO OVER THE THREE AREAS 113:20 THEY COULD BECOME INVOLVED IN. 113:22 THE FIRST IS PREVENTING THE 113:24 SPREAD OF COVID-19. 113:25 HE SPECIFIED PEOPLE WHO COULD 113:27 HELP IN ENGINEERING OR MEDICAL 113:30 SUPPLIES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE 113:31 SPECIALTIES IN THE ARMY THAT 113:33 COULD BE LENT OUT TO SUPPORT IN 113:35 THOSE TASKS. 113:36 ALSO TO SUPPORT PROVINCES AND 113:37 MUNICIPALITIES IF THERE IS A 113:39 NEED FOR MITIGATION, FOR 113:40 EXAMPLE, TO HELP WITH 113:42 COMMUNITIES THAT MIGHT NEED THE 113:44 HELP, THEN THAT WILL BE PART OF 113:46 THE TASK AS WELL. 113:47 THE THIRD IS TO ASSIST 113:49 VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. 113:51 I HEARD THE MINISTER SPECIFY THE 113:53 NORTH AND THE ARCTIC AS 113:54 POTENTIAL FOR THAT. 113:55 WE KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, A NUMBER 113:57 OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE 113:58 NORTH ARE VERY, VERY 114:01 UNDERSTAFFED WHEN IT COMES TO 114:03 MEDICAL STAFF AND LOTS OF SUPPLY 114:06 ISSUES AS WELL UP THERE. 114:07 SO YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THERE 114:09 IS GOING TO BE A NEED FOR THE 114:11 MILITARY IN THAT CAPACITY AS 114:12 WELL. 114:12 NOT A LOT OF DETAILS ABOUT HOW 114:14 THE PROCESS WILL WORK EXACTLY, 114:16 BUT I THINK THE MESSAGE TODAY 114:17 SEEMED TO BE, OKAY, WE HAVE THIS 114:19 PLAN READY. 114:19 IF WE NEED TO, WE CAN RESPOND IF 114:22 WE ARE CALLED. 114:23 THE OTHER THING I WOULD 114:24 HIGHLIGHT THAT THEY POINTED OUT 114:26 IS THAT IF THERE ARE FLOODS, 114:28 WHICH THAT'S THE SEASON WE'RE IN 114:31 RIGHT NOW IN A NUMBER OF PARTS 114:33 OF THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING WHERE 114:35 WE ARE, IF THERE ARE FOREST 114:37 FIRES, A PLAN IS IN PLACE THAT 114:39 THE MILITARY WILL STILL BE ABLE 114:41 TO RESPOND TO THAT AND HELP IN 114:43 THOSE EFFORTS AS WE SAW LAST 114:46 YEAR IN BOTH INSTANCES WITH 114:48 FIRES AND FLOODS, WHILE STILL 114:50 BEING ABLE TO LEND THEMSELVES TO 114:52 WHERE THE NEEDS ARE TO COMBAT 114:55 THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. 114:56 THAT WAS THE OVERARCHING THEME 114:59 BEHIND TODAY. 115:02 WE WILL HAVE TO SEE THE 115:04 THRESHOLD TO WHICH THE MILITARY 115:05 IS APPLIED, BUT THIS WAS THE 115:07 BROAD STROKES OF IT. 115:09 >> Rosemary: IT'S INTERESTING 115:10 THAT GENERAL VANCE SAID TROOPS 115:14 HAD BEEN SEQUESTERED TO KEEP 115:15 THEM HEALTHY. 115:16 I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF 115:18 LEFT, DAVID. 115:20 IF YOU WANT TO WRAP-UP ON THE 115:23 WAGE SUBSIDY QUESTION. 115:24 >> David: THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS 115:25 THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC RESPONSE 115:27 THE GOVERNMENT HAS HAD TO 115:28 COVID-19. 115:29 IF YOUR REVENUE DROPS BY 30%, 115:31 YOU QUALIFY FOR A WAGE SUBSIDY 115:35 UP TO 75% PER EMPLOYEE 115:41 RETROACTIVE TO MARCH 15. 115:42 THERE WILL BE POST-PAYMENT 115:43 COMPLIANCE MEASURES. 115:45 IF YOU'RE FOUND TO HAVE NOT 115:47 NEEDED THIS OR HAD THE REVENUE 115:49 DROP AS SEVERE A BENCHMARK, 115:51 THERE WILL BE A REPAYMENT 115:54 OPTION. 115:54 IF YOU'RE RIPPING OFF THE 115:56 GOVERNMENT, THERE WILL BE 115:57 SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. 115:58 IT APPLIES TO SMALL, MEDIUM, 116:01 LARGE, NOT-FOR-PROFITS, AND 116:03 CHARITIES. 116:03 THEY ARE PUTTING A FINANCIAL 116:06 FLOOR UNDER EVERYBODY SO THE 116:07 MINUTE THIS PASSES WE CAN GO 116:09 BACK TO LIFE AND START THE 116:11 ECONOMIC RECOVERY THEY ARE 116:12 HOPING WILL BE THERE. 116:13 >> Rosemary: THANK YOU, DAVID, 116:15 AND VASSY. 116:17 YOU CAN CHECK VASSY ON HER SHOW, 116:23 "POWER & POLITICS" AND DAVID 116:25 WILL BE ON "THE NATIONAL." 116:28 A REMINDER, AS OF NOON TODAY, AN 116:30 HOUR AGO, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO 116:31 GET ON A PLAIN OR A TRAIN WITH 116:33 SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, YOU WILL 116:34 BE PREVENTED FROM DOING THAT. 116:36 I'M ROSEMARY BARTON. 116:38 STAY WITH CBC NEWS NETWORK FOR 116:39 UP TO THE MINUTE INFORMATION AND 116:42 UPDATES SOME PROVINCIAL LEADERS 116:45 WILL BRING YOU ALL THE LATEST 116:46 AND THE HEALTH OFFICIALS WHO ARE 116:48 WORKING HARD TO CONTROL THE 116:49 PANDEMIC.   Read the full article

[themeathead]

So, I did a thing...

TL; DR I got lit up like a Christmas Tree this weekend and LOVED IT.

So, I did a thing this weekend.

I did a wild and crazy, possibly injurious, thing this weekend.

I did a thing no sane person of my age (42), height (5’ 8” – yeah, yeah I know, leave me with my delusions), weight (more than is healthy), skill level (negligible), and fitness level (round is a shape, right?) should EVER do.

What was that thing, you might ask?

Well, if you’ve been following ANY of my other social media accounts you will have seen the pictures and you’ll already know. For those of you that aren’t – yeah, I did the National Lacrosse League Combine.

I KNOW, RIGHT?

I have always wanted to play in the NLL. Since watching my first game at Maple Leaf Gardens in the 90s through to today, I have wanted to step onto that floor and hear my name announced and then play a game. I know there are a LOT of things that are stacked against me. Specifically age, height, weight, fitness, skills, or incredible lack thereof, and an inability to cradle and run at the same time. That didn’t stop me, however. As I realized early in my Fann Cup career that being a runner wasn’t for me, I turned to the twine. Again, all of the things stacked against me were still there, but I worked at it. This summer between May 7, 2017 and the Combine I faced over 1,000 shots playing in three different leagues, and a tournament or two. Against my better judgement, but firmly convinced no one in the NLL offices was incompetent enough to let a beer league goalie slip through, one fine night in July I submitted my name and a $150USD payment to the National Lacrosse League to participate in their 2017 Combine at the TRAC in Oakville, ON. I listed my “qualifications” and other information on the application form, and sent the payment from my local pub. Yes, you read that right. Whilst sitting with a frosty BEvERage by my right hand I clicked “Send Money” on PayPal, and that was it. The die was cast.

The only thing to do from there was to wait for the inevitable rejection letter that was to come. So I waited. And waited. And waited.

Until in mid-August it hit me – I’m not actually getting a rejection letter.

I’m going to have to actually do this thing, like do this thing. I’m going to be putting my abused carcass on the goal line vs. a whole bunch of Jr. A and B, Sr. A and B, college and other players who are looking to crack an NLL roster, and all because I was sure that I’d get a rejection letter and could back out if I wanted to…talk about all time backfires. So, yeah, the realization hits me when I get the combine schedule in the mail and the form greeting email from Brian Lemon at the NLL. Do I still have the cardio? 30m, 5km, and a heart rate under 160 on the elliptical says I do. Do I have the balls to do this? Well, seeing as it’s done, apparently I’ve got a pair of brass clangers the size of cantaloupes.

SO September 16 dawns bright, I hit the elliptical for a quick 5km at 10, then get breakfast and carb load. Come 5pm, I’m rolling up to the TRAC with another player from Reno, NV. There’s 71 athletes ther and then there’s me, one of the shortest people at the combine by a large margin, and one of the oldest by at LEAST a decade checking in, getting my combine wristband, pinnie number, and a LOT of strange looks.

So, physical testing was first. Yeah, THAT was fun. I did as well as I expected on that on, and by as well as I expected, I mean I finished DEAD LAST. Slowest 40 yard dash (6.143s – 72/72). Slowest 300m shuttle (1:25 – T71/72) Slow Agility Weave (14.779s – 71/72) Slowest Pro Agility 5-10-5 (6.4s – 72/72) Short broad jump (6’1” – 71/72) Short seated medicine ball toss (16’7” – T-57/72) Pitiful vertical (18.5” – 70/72). The one surprise was the shot where I was clocked at 51mph (67/72), but even still, I finished dead last in goalies, dead last in the entire Combine. As expected. I list these not as a “Hey, pity me, I’m out of shape” sort of thing and definitely NOT as a “See how AWESOME I AM?” kind of thing, but more as a “Here’s where I started, how much better than me would you have done?” kind of thing.

But that’s really not what the goalies are there for, right? We are there to play. How quickly we can weave in and out of flags cradling a ball means diddly. It’s a situation that we would never have to deal with. Same goes for the pro agility 5-10-5 or the shuttle run. The 40yd might count in getting off the floor, but thank God that didn’t come up in the scrimmage…long story short, I got 27m of floor time. We changed goalies on the fly, and I let in 2 goals on 4 shots in 7 minutes in the 3rd quarter, and 6 goals in the 4th. I mean I got TORCHED and loved EVERY SECOND OF IT. It was like shooting fish in a barrel for these guys. Here’s a stumble-bum 42 year old and he’s putting himself up against dudes that have been playing at some of the highest levels in the sport – what I think was gonna happen? But man…it was glorious. And I’m sad to say it’ll probably never happen again, but I’m glad I did it.

Final haul for the weekend – 1 StringKing head, one Combine t-shirt, 1 NLL Combine jersey (black), assorted muscle and joint strains and soreness, and a story that, along with $7, will get me a pint.

[movietvtechgeeks]

Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/donald-trump-ready-different-america/

Is Donald Trump ready for a very different America?

President-elect Donald Trump has a penchant for the 1980’s, but as his inauguration looms closer, it’s very noticeable that America is very different than it was back in the days of Reaganomics.

The week after Donald Trump was elected president, Dr. Mai-Phuong Nguyen and two dozen other Vietnamese-Americans active in liberal causes gathered in a circle of folding chairs, consoling one another about an America almost beyond comprehension.

Now, days before Trump takes the oath of office, Nguyen sits in a restaurant booth in Orange County’s neon-lit Little Saigon and studies perhaps the most confounding face of the divide exposed by the election – her father’s.

“All I know is, if a man makes $100 million he is really something,” Son Van Nguyen, 76, says of Trump.

Here in a county transformed by waves of newcomers, the elder Nguyen – a government translator airlifted from South Vietnam with his family in 1975 as Communist forces pressed in on the capital – built a new life as a record-setting life insurance salesman, watching people strive and struggle.

“And I know a lot of people out there sit there and wait for welfare,” he says, explaining his hopes that Trump will rein in such spending and create jobs.

“But he is trying to prevent other people from coming in and enjoying some of the same things you came here for, Dad,” says his daughter, a 47-year-old physician who pushed for health care reform and fears Trump will take away the medical coverage it extended to millions of Americans. “If he does wrong, are you going to support him?”

Their disagreement is a reminder that for Orange County, just as for the rest of the country, there has never been a moment quite like this one.

When Hillary Clinton won this county of 3.2 million in November, it marked the first time the OC had backed a Democrat for president since Franklin Roosevelt. Best known for Disneyland, and long a hothouse of conservatism in a blue state, it was the largest county in the country to flip.

The shift was expected eventually. Orange County’s citrus groves turned to tract housing decades back to welcome a mostly white influx from Los Angeles and Midwestern states. Today, though, Santa Ana’s quinceanera shops reflect a county that is a third Latino. One in five Orange Countians is Asian.

The hopes and anxieties stirred by Trump’s inauguration spotlight even more complicated tensions.

Most Vietnamese traditionally voted for Republicans, viewed as opponents of communism. But many of their adult children, also refugees, see Trump as rejecting American ideals and people like them.

Local Republicans, who once embraced the John Birch Society and recently erected a statue of Ronald Reagan in the park where he launched two White House bids, long espoused a muscular conservatism. Most voted for Trump, but not without soul-searching.

At Jimmy Camp’s house, a “No Trump” sign made by Camp’s son still hangs in the window. Heading out to feed his family’s a goat and potbellied pig, Camp recalls his start in Republican politics three decades ago – knocking on doors for candidates to earn cash.

Camp played guitar in a rock band then and embraced platforms calling for government to stay out of people’s lives. He’d always loved the outdoors in a county that stretches from the ocean to the Santa Ana Mountains. After meeting county native Richard Nixon, he read up on the disgraced president’s often forgotten chartering of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Camp became one of the state’s busiest Republican political consultants. Then, last summer he emailed fellow Republicans, renouncing his party membership because of his disgust with Trump.

“If you go through and look at everything Jesus said in the Bible, this guy is opposite of it,” says Camp, 52, a pastor’s son.

Camp, who has friends from Iran and Egypt, cringes at a president who would castigate Muslims as supposedly tied to terrorists, though he doubts Trump will fulfill his most extreme rhetoric.

“I hope he doesn’t drive us off a cliff,” Camp says. “I hope that we survive the next four years. I think we will.”

Others voice confidence in Trump.

Gloria Pruyne says her family had reservations about Trump’s morality early on. But the conservative activist ended up knocking on more than 500 doors to get out the vote. Now Pruyne, 78, says she wants Trump to install a conservative Supreme Court justice, revoke an Affordable Care Act she blames for a $500 increase in her family’s monthly insurance bill, and back Israel.

“We’re looking forward to a radical change with this president,” she says.

With the inauguration approaching, Ron Brindle has no plans to remove the 5-foot-square portrait of Trump from his oil well fronting a main road in Huntington Beach. Brindle bought this land for his tree nursery business more than 40 years ago. Today, it is surrounded by tract homes, many owned by Asian families.

“Now I don’t have anything against any of them, but what happened to the country?” Brindle says.

The first thing Trump should do, he says, is close the border so Americans no longer have to foot the bill to care for foreigners. But Brindle also hopes that Trump will reach out to skeptics.

Steven Mai is ready to listen. Mai, a 42-year-old registered Republican, rejected Trump for criticizing the Muslim parents of a slain American soldier.

But Trump will be his president, Mai says.

Still, if Trump really wants to lead, he should come to places like Orange County, says Mai’s wife, Tammy Tran. He could work in a sandwich shop for a few hours or see what it’s like to care for an elderly person. Maybe then, the couple say, Trump will understand his responsibility to the many Americas.

“I just hope he’s going to be the president that my parents were thinking,” Mai says. “If he can be a good president, then we all benefit.”

The Big American Party Switch

Towns along the Susquehanna River are filled with people whose grandparents worked in coal mines, garment factories and small manufacturing companies. But those jobs are long gone in Luzerne County, and Wilkes-Barre, the county seat, has seen its population drop by more than half. Dozens of public officials have fallen to scandal.

All of which helps explain how Ed Harry – who, at 70, has spent most of his working life as a union president and a Democratic party activist, running phone banks for candidates and even serving as a delegate for Bill Clinton in 1992 – became an unlikely apostle for Donald Trump.

When the billionaire businessman and reality TV star entered the presidential race, “I laughed, like everyone else,” Harry says. Then he took note of Trump’s opposition. “The Rs said they hated him, the Ds wanted no part of him, the lobbyists didn’t like him. China came out against him, India came out against him, Mexico came out against him.

“And I said, ‘I think I might have a candidate.'”

Harry, who had grown disillusioned with what he saw as Washington’s broken and corrupt politics, switched parties, publicly endorsed Trump and resigned his labor post. He expects the new president to renegotiate trade deals and reduce corporate taxes, which he believes will help lure back manufacturing jobs. And he is not alone.

In Luzerne County, Trump crushed Hillary Clinton by 20 points – in no small part because lifelong Democrats like Harry believed she was the candidate of Wall Street, ignoring the working class while taking its vote for granted. As Trump enters office, these largely older, white, blue-collar voters want him to keep his promise on manufacturing jobs, rebuild deteriorating roads and bridges, crack down on illegal immigration and “drain the swamp.”

“There’s no hope the way things were,” Harry explains. “It had to be something different.”

And listen to Tom Pikas, who is also counting on Trump to bring change. The 61-year-old Wilkes-Barre native remembers a time when you could easily get a decent-paying job right out of high school. He worked in a shoe factory, then for an electrical contractor, and downtown Wilkes-Barre pulsed with life. “This used to be a nice town,” Pikas says.

More recently, Pikas has toiled in a series of temp jobs, the last one paying $8 an hour. Now looking for work, he found himself at the unemployment office this month, enrolling in a jobs program for seniors. The waiting area was packed.

He has faith that Trump will find a way to turn things around but also counsels patience. “Some people expect he’s gonna do miracles the first month,” Pikas says. “No. No. You gotta at least give the guy a year.”

At a bar up the street, William Chase, 55, a construction foreman recovering from surgeries to his back and both knees, says most of the people in his circle are as hopeful about the future as he is.

“I want to be proud of my area again,” he says.

But just 90 minutes or so down the road, one hears a very different set of voices.

In the wealthy Philadelphia suburbs, where million-dollar homes are advertised for sale and luxury cars fill the parking lot of an organic grocery, the pocketbook issues raised in Luzerne County take a back seat for many.

As Inauguration Day draws near, many people in Chester County – Pennsylvania’s richest, where Clinton won by roughly 9 points despite a Republican majority – remain unsettled by Trump’s volatility, demeanor and offensive comments about women, immigrants and others.

“He kind of frightens me,” says business owner Keely Comstock Shaw, 34, who voted a straight Republican ticket, except for the top office.

“I see him as really breaking all the rules, throwing them all aside, and that’s what is scary to me,” adds Kate Young, a 43-year-old Democrat and stay-at-home mom who lives in West Chester, a bustling college town.

The 2016 election compelled Young to become politically active for the first time. Upset that her candidate won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College vote, she joined an organization that’s fighting to end gerrymandered legislative districts.

Young predicts Trump will ignore global warming, roll back environmental protections and create a hostile environment for women and minorities. She also doubts he will be able to produce the manufacturing jobs that voters in places like Luzerne County say they want, citing the rise of automation.

“If that’s what people were hoping to get,” she says, “I just think the world economy is moving in a different direction.”

Movie TV Tech Geeks News

[ecotone99]

[RF] The Second Best Dentist in Town

The Second Best Dentist in Town

Dr. Marvin Gill was the second best dentist in Mankato. He was 62 years young and had a perfectly groomed white mustache and piercing blue eyes. He spoke plainly and with a conviction you don't find in most folks. If you had to assign him a flavor of ice cream based on personality, most would say the man was mint-chip.

Dr. Marvin Gill was a proud man. He never hesitated to inform his patients about the various trophies and medals he had won, many of which weren't even related to his dental practice (although of course some were). He would tell people about how he had won ribbons for growing squash, raising pigs, and carving wooden sculptures. He took home first place in an Irish jig competition, even though he hated dancing the Irish jig.

He was an avid hunter, and had proudly stuffed and displayed various game he had bagged over the years throughout his office. There was an 8-foot tall polar bear standing on its hind legs, teeth and claws bared in a menacing pose. There was a 400-pound male African lion he had popped several years back, sitting upright, proudly surveying his waiting room. He had named it Vaughn. The heads of various deer and elk adorned the walls of his dental practice. "You see that one," he would say while injecting Novocain into a patients' gum, "shot him square in the heart from 60 yards out- dropped dead on the spot. That was a park record."

May was an important month for dentists in North Mankato- reason being that North Mankatons tended to overdo it in March and April eating Cadbury Eggs. The average North Mankaton consumed between 10 to 12 crème eggs a day. Obviously this over-indulgence lead to a spike in both cavities and diabetes, the former being most important to Dr. Marvin Gill's dental practice. Whenever Easter came around, Dr. Gill would say to his hygienists, "Ok ladies, go ahead and clear up those calendars for the next two months. We'll be drillin' and fillin' till the cows come home." And away they'd go.

Dr. Gill always showed up to work particularly early on the First of May. He wouldn't show it on the outside, but on the inside he would be giddy with excitement. On this particular May 1st he was even giddier than normal because this was the first year that the North Mankato Contests and Competitions Board (the NMCCB) had decided to hold a "Which Dentist Can Perform the Most Fillings Contest". The NMCCB was not known for its creativity in coming up with contest names. When Dr. Gill heard about the competition, he rushed to his stationary desk to fill out, sign, seal and deliver the application to the Board. It should be noted that, despite his best efforts, his was the second application received.

The first patient to arrive that day was Betty Pinge. Betty was a heavyset woman in her early 50s, and would certainly be placed on the 'above average' region of the spectrum where dental work was concerned. She had been coming to Dr. Gill for decades. Despite finding her quite bothersome and a bit grotesque, Dr. Gill didn't mind seeing Ms. Pinge one bit because he knew that she was a guaranteed 4 fillings, minimum.

After Katrina (one of the hygienists) finished up with her initial cleaning, Dr. Gill entered the exam room with his standard professional smile, asking, "And how are we today Betty? Been keeping up with your flossing?" To which Betty giggled and replied, "The best I can, Dr. Gill! You know I just lovethose Cadbury Eggs though... I tend to go a little wild this time of year! Hopefully my teeth don't show it!"

Dr. Gill smiled to himself, though not nearly wide enough for Ms. Pinge to notice. He pulled his stool up alongside her and said, "Well then let's take a look and see what we've got here." Betty Pinge opened up her mouth wide and Dr. Gill, utensils in hand, began his exam. "Hmmm..." said Dr. Gill as he prodded and poked around Ms. Pinge's gums. Right off the bat he was able to identify 6 cavities in need of filling. "Looks a little concerning in here." He said this to Ms. Pinge with an unfaltering sense of concern and professionalism, but on the inside all he could think was "Jackpot..."

The rest of the day went about as well as Dr. Gill could've hoped for. He kept an old-fashioned mechanical counter in his jacket pocket that he would 'click' every time he completed a filling. By noon he had already racked up 42- well above average even for May. Despite this, his competitive nature kept him on edge. He certainly wasn't going to rest on his laurels or think for even one second that he could take a break. No- he was going to drill, fill, drill, fill, drill and fill some more until every last patient that had been booked that day was done, and every last speck of a cavity had been treated- no matter how small. By 6 pm his counter read 222. He said good evening to his hygienists Katrina and Karol, and to Jackie (his receptionist), walked out the glass storefront doors of the dental practice, got into his silver 2008 BMW 3-series and headed home.

...

Now you may have noticed that I said Dr. Marvin Gill was the second best dentist in town. That is because the best dentist in town was Dr. Gill Marvin. Dr. Marvin, too, was a proud man. He had won slightly more trophies and medals than Dr. Gill. Where Dr. Gill had won silver medals, Dr. Marvin had taken home gold. When Dr. Gill won blue ribbons, Dr. Marvin had gotten red. Dr. Marvin had a 9-foot polar bear in his office, and a 500-pound lion. Dr. Marvin did not bother competing in the Irish jig competition, because he was busy winning both a salsa and a tap dancing competition at a better venue across town, back-to-back.

Dr. Gill hated Dr. Marvin with a passion that burned hotter than a thousand hot pockets that just came out of a thousand microwaves, all having been heated for a thousand minutes. It was a hate that burned deep, deep inside of Dr. Gill, but that he never once spoke of. In fact, the only shred of evidence that this hatred even existed was an almost invisible twitch of the left side of Dr. Gill's mustache at the mention of Dr. Marvin's name.

One time Dr. Gill was out having a fancy dinner with his wife, Mary. He had just handed his American Express card to the waitress when she looked at it and said, "Oh you have almost the same name as my dentist! His name is Dr. Gill Marvin!"

While she giggled for a moment, Dr. Gill held back an involuntary grunt and said, "Well that's not me. I'm Dr. Marvin Gill, and I am in fact a dentist. My patients all tell me I'm the best in town, you know. If you're ever in need of top quality dental work, please do stop by."

The waitress then replied, "Oh I'm sure that won't be necessary. Dr. Marvin is FANTASTIC! I'd never stop going there. He really is the best! Oh this is too funny, Dr. Marvin Gill and Dr. Gill Marvin- who would have thought!" She kept giggling and turned away to run the American Express card. Dr. Gill's mustache twitched ever-so-slightly, but just enough that Mary noticed. She was the only one who knew to look for it.

"Oh don't listen to her Marvin! She's just a foolish young girl who knows nothing of quality dental care!" said Mary. "Why don't we go dancing, hmm? Wouldn't that be lovely?? It's been ages since we've danced the foxtrot."

But Dr. Gill didn't feel like dancing. In fact, Dr. Gill felt like murdering... Murdering Dr. Gill Marvin. He stared vacantly into his half empty gin and tonic, lost in thought. "Murder," he mumbled.

"What was that dear?" asked Mary.

Flustered, he replied, "I... I said herder. I'm thinking about becoming... a sheep herder."

Mary giggled. "Oh Marvin you do say the most outlandish things sometimes! A sheep herder- what an absolute gas!"

...

It was now the 8th of May- one week into High Cavity season. Dr. Marvin Gill was in good spirits as he had already had to re-order dental cement twice. His mechanical counter currently read 1068. He was in particularly high spirits as he had entered and won a sack-race over the weekend. He had had the sack stuffed and mounted over his fireplace, with a small placard that read "2016 North Mankato Tri-Annual Sack-Race Winner, Spring Invitational- Dr. Marvin Gill, DDS". Dr. Gill had insisted they include "DDS" on the placard.

The morning had been a bit slower than Dr. Gill would have liked. He had seen 3 patients, though had only performed 4 fillings between them. There had also been an unusually high number of cancellations over the past few days, which irked Dr. Gill.

No matter though- looking at the schedule he saw that the Bigglebun twins were scheduled for that afternoon. Those Bigglebuns were well-known around town as fat little piggies, and as a conservative estimate they probably ate roughly 40 Cadbury Eggs a day, each. Townspeople would often encounter them riding their tricycles down this street or that, one hand on the handlebars and the other holding a chocolate egg dripping with crème, bellies protruding out of the midsections of their skin-tight t-shirts.

Dr. Gill had just finished sealing up a cavity when Jackie came in with a dreadful look on her face.

"Dr. Gill..." she said, her voice noticeably trembling.

"What is it Jackie?" asked Dr. Gill.

"C- can you come to the back office for a minute?" she asked.

Dr. Gill got up and followed Jackie to the back office. He shut the door and they both sat down. "So what is it dear?" asked Dr. Gill.

"Well..." Jackie started, but paused.

"Come on now Jackie, you know it's the month of May. We're burning precious daylight here- what is it?"

Jackie swallowed with a loud 'gulp'. "Well Mrs. Bigglebun just called... she said... she said she needs to cancel the twins' appointment this afternoon."

Always the consummate professional, Dr. Gill didn't show one iota of the disappointment that swept over him, but simply asked, "Well did she say why?"

Jackie grabbed a tissue from the box on the desk and dabbed at the sweat now dripping from her forehead. She took a big, deep breath. "So she said... she said she found another dentist."

Dr. Gill sat silently, but shifted his gaze straight ahead to a blank spot on the wall. "Who?" he asked in complete monotone.

"She said... she said... oh God she said Dr. Gill Marvin! I'm so sorry Dr. Gill!!!" exclaimed Jackie.

Dr. Gill sat silent, motionless for about 3 seconds. "It's fine, dear," he said, again in monotone, his gaze was burning a hole into the wall, "Nothing to worry about."

Robotically, he raised himself out of his chair and walked out of the office. "I'll be taking my lunch now," he said without turning his head. He continued walking, slowly and smoothly, staring straight forward. Without blinking, he walked right out the front door of the office without another word.

...

Exactly 1 hour later Dr. Gill returned to the office. He entered unceremoniously through the front doors and walked right through, again without saying a word. He continued on with the day's appointments. Neither Jackie nor the receptionists said another word about the Bigglebun twins.

...

Dr. Gill Marvin had impeccable fashion. He wore a platinum Rolex that kept perfect time. He had 20 different color variations of the same Ralph Lauren long-sleeve button-down shirt in his rotation, as well as 19 different styles / colors of Ralph Lauren khaki pants. This ensured he would never wear the same outfit twice in the same year. He had slick black hair and a flawless mustache that was so black that, when asked about it, most would say they would never go back .

He always kept the 1994 album "The Very Best of Kenny G" on repeat in his office. While some patients found this music selection bothersome, they were happy to put up with it because Dr. Marvin was such a damn good dentist and snappy dresser. Other than the dead animals mounted throughout the office, Dr. Marvin's office decor could be described as "abstract psychedelic jazz". Think those paper cups from the 1990's with the teal and purple design on them.

It was May 8th and Dr. Marvin had just finished up his last appointment of the day. Despite his marital status ("married"), he usually spent about 10 minutes flirting with his receptionist prior to leaving the office. Although Dr. Marvin was not her type, his receptionist, Val, didn't mind the impropriety. It was a good paying job, and he was a good boss otherwise, so if she only had to put up with 10 minutes a day of mildly inappropriate chit-chat, that was ok with her.

"You shoulda seen the mouth on this gal!" Dr. Marvin was saying to her, "Chompers yellow as corn! Nothin' like your pearly whites," he added with a wink. "Ok sweet cheeks," he continued, "You make sure and get your beauty rest tonight!" He quickly swiveled around and, with his usual swagger, sauntered out the front door. He walked out to his parking space and stopped dead in his tracks. He dropped his briefcase and yelled, "WHAT THE SHIT!?!"

His recently detailed 2009 BMW 5-series had, at some point during the day, been viciously assaulted by the business end of someone's car key. On the driver's side of the vehicle they had inscribed the phrase "MARVIN EATS DICK." in large, capital letters, and with impeccable handwriting most closely resembling Helvetica.

Huffing and puffing, Dr. Marvin glared around the parking lot searching for any clue the culprit may have left behind. Alas, nothing. "GOD DAMN IT!" he exclaimed, as he got into the car, slammed the door and peeled out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.

...

It was May 24th, one week left in the fillings competition, and Dr. Gill was getting desperate. He had no idea how many fillings the competition had chalked up, but knew that he had been getting more cancellations than he was comfortable with. He decided it was time to change up his strategy... but how?

He was racking his brain on his way to work when he noticed all the billboards he was passing by. "That's it!" he though. "A billboard! Marvin you're a god damn genius!"

As soon as he arrived at the office he immediately told Jackie to pull out the Yellow Pages and find a billboard vendor. Jackie, being younger than 62, opened up the internet and found a phone number.

"Great work!" said Dr. Gill, as he excitedly snatched up the post-it note that Jackie had written the number on and power-walked back to his office. He picked up his desk phone and dialed the number.

A yolky, high-pitched man answered, "Hamp's Billboard's n' Such! Chester Hamp speaking!"

"Hello, I need to rent a billboard for a week," said Dr. Gill.

"Fantastic!" egged Chester Hamp, "Any particular location?"

"Wherever the most cars will see it! In North Mankato, of course," replied Dr. Gill.

"You got it. I know just the one!" said Hamp, "When do you need it ready?"

"Yesterday!" replied Dr. Gill. "We're in the middle of a dental competition, you see, and I need cavities to fill!"

"I get it- ASAP! I can have up by tomorrow! So what's your name, sir?" asked Hamp.

" Dr. Marvin Gill, DDS," said Dr. Gill, "And I want the billboard to say 'Dr. Marvin Gill- Best Dentist In Town!'"

"You got it!" squealed Hamp. "Now I suppose we should discuss our rate?"

"I don't care- just keep it under 5 grand," barked Dr. Gill. All of a sudden he had a thought. "And I want you to put a picture of my stuffed lion on there as well! His name is Vaughn. I'll have my receptionist fax over a photograph post-haste!" said Dr. Gill.

"Sure thing Marvin!" said Hamp, "And you can just have her email it, if you'd like."

"JACKIE!" yelled Dr. Gill, covering up the phone's mouthpiece, "I need you to email a picture of Vaughn to Chester Hamp!"

"Ok!" Jackie called back, "What's his email?"

"CHESTER HAMP!" Dr. Gill yelled back. "Send it to CHESTER HAMP!"

"That's not an email- I think that's just his name!" said Jackie.

Eventually they figured it out, but not before Dr. Gill got frustrated and transferred the call over to Jackie.

...

On his way to work the next day, Dr. Gill arrived at a heavily-trafficked stoplight about 2 miles from his office. While waiting for the light to change, he slowly lifted his gaze to a prominent 10' x 25' billboard at the opposite corner of the intersection. He felt his body temperature rise about 10 degrees, and his teeth nearly shattered from the involuntary clench in his jaw. On the billboard was a beautiful picture of Vaughn right next to the phrase:

Dr. Gill Marvin- Best Dentist In Town!

...

Dr. Marvin Gill blasted through the front doors of the dental practice, nearly knocking over a stuffed raccoon. "JACKIE!" he yelled, "GET THAT SON OF A BITCH CHESTER HAMP ON THE LINE!"

He stormed back to his office. His phone intercom rang and he picked it up. "Chester Hamp on line 1," said Jackie. Dr. Gill clicked over to line 1.

"HAMP! YOU IMBECILE!" screamed Dr. Gill.

"Mr. Gill- is something wrong with your billboard?" he asked, frightened.

"It's DR. Gill to you! And you're God Damn right something's wrong!" Dr. Gill replied, "You put that bastard Gill Marvin's name up there by mistake!"

"Oh my goodness... I am so sorry!" replied Chester. "Oh dear oh dear... it'll take a week to get that fixed!"

"I DON'T HAVE A WEEK, DAMNIT!" yelled Dr. Gill. "Your incompetence has buried me!"

"So... so sorry... let me see... uhhh... oh my... we'll have it taken down right-" Chester Hamp was cut off by Dr. Gill forcefully hanging up the phone on its receiver.

While this was clearly and solely the fault of Chester Hamp, Marvin Gill's rage was instinctively directed 100% at Dr. Gill Marvin. He began to experience what is commonly referred to in the psychological community as "tunnel-vision," and at the other end of that tunnel was Dr. Marvin's greasy head on a platter. He couldn't focus on work. He couldn't focus on Hamp. All he could do was clench his jaw, ball up his fists on his desk, glare at his mallard duck paperweight, and hyperventilate.

It took ten minutes for Dr. Gill to chill the F out, but the rage was still there- smoldering with consistent heat, just beneath the thin layer of ash that was his arrant professionalism. At this point he couldn't even determine if he was more concerned with winning the competition, or simply wiping Dr. Gill Marvin off the face of the planet.

"No," he thought. "That would be too easy... You're better than that." And with that he resolved he would win the competition, no questions asked. He didn't care if he had to grab homeless people off the street and drag them in for fillings, free of charge. If it meant beating that rat-bastard, he would do it...

And that's just what he did.

...

By May 26th word had gotten around through the homeless community that some crazy dentist was giving away free dental work. When Dr. Gill arrived at his shop that day there was a line out the door and around the corner of smelly bums, hobos, vagrants and vagabonds, smiling and greeting Dr. Gill as he walked by downing his gigantic cup of black coffee.

"Not taking any calls today Jackie!" he said with a wave, as he quickly passed through the waiting room and into the prep area. He popped on a couple rubber gloves, sat down in exam room one and gave Karol a quick hand gesture, letting her know to start sending them in.

Between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm (as he would now be staying open late AND on weekends), Dr. Gill spent every minute that day and the next 5 days doling out fillings to the homeless. He was racking up so many fillings now that his mechanical counter had broken and he had to use a whiteboard to write down the running total. In fact, he was so busy that he asked his wife Mary to come in just to keep the board updated!

Despite the fact that he was hemorrhaging money, and that his office smelled like urine and garbage, Dr. Gill couldn't have been happier. "There's no WAY I can lose this thing! These homeless peoples' teeth are like black gold!!!" He was treating close to 25 patients a day, sending each and every one of them on their way with a smile and a bag containing floss, a toothbrush, and a miniature tube of Crest toothpaste.

Eventually the local news caught wind of what was going on at Dr. Gill's dental practice, and they ate it up. The headline in the paper read "LOCAL DENTIST GIVES HOMELESS A MOUTHFUL OF HOPE". The 10 o'clock news did an interview with several of the people who had been treated, each of them calling Dr. Gill a saint, a hero, a great man. The PR couldn't have been any better!

And then came May 31st.

...

It was the home stretch. The final countdown. The whole shebang. All the marbles. Everything on the line. It all comes down to this. No holds barred.

Marvin Gill had been racking up so many fillings over the last week that his hands were now covered in calluses. It was 4:55 pm, and the "Which Dentist Can Perform the Most Fillings Contest" had a strict deadline of 5:00 pm on May 31st. Dr. Gill finished up 2 last minute fillings just as the clock struck 5. He walked over to the white board and asked, "Mary, may I do the honors?"

"Of course dear!" she replied, smiling and handing him the black dry-erase marker. He took it from her, erased the last digit of the running count, and inked the new grand total of 5,308. He stepped back and admired his handy work. It was one of the finest "8"s he had ever written. "You've outdone yourself this time," Thought Dr. Gill, "You magnificent son of a bitch."

"Well," said Dr. Gill, "Better get everything in to the NMCCB." Jackie gathered up the months' dental records- a stack of paper nearly a foot tall- and followed Dr. Gill out to the parking lot. They both got into Dr. Gill's 3-series and headed to the Official NMCCB Contest Headquarters.

The North Mankato Contests and Competitions Board Contest Headquarters was far-and-away the most impressive building in North Mankato. Designed using the principles of early 1960's brutalist architecture, the looming 7-story concrete structure looked like a giant upside-down trapezoid. There were maybe 100 dark rectangular windows glaring out over the much-larger-than-necessary parking lot. At the very bottom of the trapezoid, dead-center was a single automatic sliding glass door, in front of which now stood Dr. Marvin Gill and his receptionist, just out of range of the sensor.

"Well Jackie, here goes nothing!" said Dr. Gill excitedly, but just as he turned from Jackie toward the door he heard a voice yelling at him from across the parking lot.

"Marvin Gill! Hey Marvin how ya doin' bud?! Thought I'd see you here!" yelled Dr. Gill Marvin as he jogged over toward Dr. Marvin Gill. Two of his gals were running behind him trying to keep up, arms full of paperwork. A small bead of sweat dripped down the side of Dr. Gill's forehead, and the left corner of his mustache twitched ever-so-slightly.

"Dr. Marvin. How are you?" said Dr. Gill, showing every ounce of restraint.

"Stack's lookin' a little thin there, ey' Gilly Boy?" smirked Dr. Marvin.

Dr. Gill clenched his jaw and replied, "You and I both know it's not the size of the stack, Gill. Hell, I've got a patient record in there showing 12 fillings in one visit."

"Sure ya' do, bud," scoffed Dr. Marvin. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know a good auto detailer, would'ya'? Some A-hole did a real number my Beamer the other day. Scratched the hell outta the thing!"

Dr. Gill forced back a smirk. "Nope, sorry."

"Jeez... Oh well, I better get in there so they can start countin' all my records! Somethin' tells me it'll take'em a while. C'mon ladies- move those sweet petutes!" And with that Dr. Marvin walked through the automatic door and into the Contest HQ, gals-in-tow.

"Good God I hate that man," muttered Dr. Gill.

Jackie turned to Dr. Gill and stated, simply, "You're 10 times the dentist he is, Doc."

Dr. Gill smiled and looked at Jackie. "You're alright kid," he said. "You're alright." After a brief pause, he turned and looked at the doorway, "Ok then. Let's do this." And with that, they walked in.

...

It had been 3 days since the NMCCB had received it's submissions for the "Which Dentist Can Perform the Most Fillings Contest" (all 2 of them), and the results had still not been announced. Dr. Gill had been having Jackie call the NMCCB Hotline every hour on the hour since June 1 to see if they had determined a winner. The NMCCB utilized an automated answering system, which took approximately 30 minutes to get through, so poor Jackie had to spend half of her working day dealing with it.

Finally, at 1 pm on June the 4th, there was a breakthrough. "We have the results," said the NMCCB official on the other end, "The announcement and awards ceremony will be held tonight at 7 pm. So Sayeth The Board." Jackie didn't even have time to respond before the line disconnected from the other end.

Jackie rushed back to the exam room to let Dr. Gill know. "Excellent," remarked Dr. Gill. "Please call Mary and let her know I'll need my tuxedo dry cleaned and ironed ASAP." He continued on with his current appointment showing absolutely no sign of concern or apprehension. That being said, he was all butterflies on the inside.

...

Now if there was one thing the NMCCB was known for, it was throwing awards galas. The NMCCB Banquet Hall was lavishly adorned with elegant table settings, glittering chandeliers, intricate floral arrangements, and an all-you-can-eat buffet spread that would make Wolfgang Puck cum in his pants. There were about 350 guests in attendance, which would seem odd considering the particular nature of the competition and the fact that there were only 2 entrants, but was in fact not odd because all North Mankaton's were well aware of the caliber of an NMCCB awards gala, and the trouser-jizzing quality of the free buffet that was always offered.

Dr. Gill and Mary were seated at one of the tables nearest the stage, Mary in her finest evening gown and Dr. Gill in his clean-and-pressed tuxedo. They were both enjoying some lobster thermador with a heaping side of caviar and Fiji Water, when an older-looking gentleman (also dressed in a tuxedo) walked up on stage and approached the announcement podium.

"Ehem," he began. The room fell silent. He continued, "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the NMCCB 'Which Dentist Can Perform the Most Fillings Contest' Awards Ceremony!" There was a generous round of applause.

"I am Kurt Prune, chairman of the NMCCB, and will be your host for the evening. Now, before we announce the winner- HEY! YOU BIGGLEBUN TWINS PUT THAT DOWN!" Mr. Prune exclaimed as he pointed toward the buffet, where two fat little boys were attempting to carry away a giant tray of desserts. The entire room turned their heads to look. The Bigglebuns dropped the tray with a loud clang and scurried out the back door, farting and giggling all the way.

"GOD DAMN IT!" yelled Kurt Prune, "EVERY FUCKING TIME!"

The room stayed quiet while Mr. Prune collected himself. "I'm sorry about that," he said, "As I was saying... before we announce the winner, I would like to thank all of our contestants for their participation in yet another fantastic NMCCB Competition!" A generous round of applause followed.

"Thank you, thank you," he continued. "So, without further ado. The records have been counted- and I must say this was one of the closest competitions we've ever seen- Only 10 fillings separated the winner and the runner-up!"

Quite murmurs spread throughout the audience. "Oh my!" "Ten fillings!" "Such suspense!"

"Yes, yes it is very exciting," he continued. "So, as I was saying- the winner, by 10 fillings, of the NMCCB Which Dentist Can Perform the Most Fillings Contest is....... Dr. Gill Marvin!!!"

The room burst into applause. Gill Marvin stood up with a huge shit-eating grin on his face. Smiling and waving to the crowd, he headed up to the stage.

Dr. Marvin Gill felt his heart drop down through his guts and fall out of his ass.

Dr. Marvin had just stepped up on to the stage, when right at that moment a loud THUD was heard throughout the banquet hall. The entire room turned their heads to the back door, where someone had just burst in.

"Just wait one god damn minute!!" squealed a voice from the back of the banquet hall. Though Dr. Gill had never seen this man before, he immediately recognized the voice belonging to none other than Chester Hamp of Hamp's Billboards 'n' Such. He was a short, portly man who wore a black visor, white shorts, flip flops, and a flowing Tommy Bahama shirt that had a decorative pattern of fish hooks and wooden steering wheels.

Hamp sprinted as fast as his legs would carry him up to the announcement podium and he pushed Kurt Prune aside. There was a collective gasp throughout the banquet hall. Hamp was completely out of breath, and needed to lean on the podium for about 20 seconds, breathing heavily before he collected himself. He sniffed his armpits, and began-

"My name is Chester Hamp. As you may know, I run North Mankato's premier billboard rental service: Hamp's Billboards 'n' Such. However, what you may not know is that I am also a licensed private investigator! Actually, that is what the "Such" in "Billboards 'n' Such" stands for- private investigations."

Hamp continued, "Now, recently Dr. Marvin Gill contacted me about renting a billboard to advertise his dental practice. I gleefully accepted his request, but made a major error in printing the signage! Instead of placing Dr. Marvin Gill's name on the billboard, I printed the name 'Dr. Gill Marvin' by mistake! Now, Chester Hamp may be a lot of things, but he always does right by his customers! When I learned about my mistake, I couldn't just sit idly by and allow my blunder to devastate Dr. Gill's ambitions. Knowing that there was a dental competition underway, I visited the NMCCB's website to learn more about it. Low-and-behold, I found that Dr. Gill Marvin was in fact the only other entrant!

Well, at this point I felt like a REAL LOUSE! So, I decided I would do some digging into Dr. Marvin's practice. Well guess what! DR. Marvin isn't a DOCTOR at all!"

Yet another collective gasp from the crowd.

"That's right! As it turns out, he was expelled from dental school during his first year for SEXUAL HARASSMENT, and never received his MD! I did some more digging and found out that he fraudulently opened up his dental practice only 1 year later. Now, here's the best part!"

The entire banquet hall was now brimming with a mixture of excitement and confusion.

"I decided to see just how 'Dr. Marvin' was able to perform so many fillings, so I booked an appointment myself. After receiving what I thought were 3 fillings, I arrived home to find that he had simply smeared white paint over all my teeth- No fillings at all!!!"

Dr. Marvin shoved Chester Hamp off of the microphone. "This is ridiculous!" exclaimed Dr. Marvin. "I deny every claim this guy just made! It ain't true I tell ya!"

Just then a voice yelled from somewhere in the middle of the room, "Mr. Hamp is right!" it was Mrs. Bigglebun now standing up at her table. "I took my precious little angels to have their cavities filled by Dr. Marvin, but all he did was paint their teeth!"

Another gasp.

Dr. Marvin now looked incredibly uncomfortable. Loosening his bow tie he tried to explain, "Wuh- well- you know what- this guy- jeez-it's all a buncha-aaheehaaAAHHHH!!!" He totally lost it and pulled out a handgun, aiming it point blank at Chester Hamp's head.

Another BIG gasp.

"NOW look whach'ya made me do! You just HAAAD to go diggin' around didn'cha!?! DIDN'CHA?!?" yelled Dr. Marvin, "Well THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YA MESS WITH OL' GILL MARVIN!!!"

Just then a loud BANG rang out. The room gasped so f-ing loud that it almost blew out the windows. Gill Marvin dropped to his knees, then flopped on his side, blood running out the side of his head.

Dr. Marvin Gill was standing up at his table, his normally concealed weapon now brandished in his outstretched arm, smoke flowing out from the muzzle.

The banquet hall erupted in applause. Kurt Prune walked up to the microphone and exclaimed, "Ladies and Gentlemen- I present the TRUE winner of the NMCCB's 'Which Dentist Can Perform the Most Fillings Contest'- Dr. Marvin Gill!!!"

...

It had been a month since Dr. Gill had won the contest, and things were now getting back to normal. His dental practice now benefited from a huge uptick in appointments and new patients, and best of all was the new trophy that Dr. Gill proudly put on display on the reception counter.

In addition to the "Most Fillings Contest" 1st place trophy, Dr. Gill had recently mounted a new prize in his office, right over the reception counter. It may not have given him as much pride as the NMCCB trophy, but it certainly brought him great personal pleasure. Directly above the reception desk on the wall was Gill Marvin's head, stuffed, with a placard that read "Gill Marvin- WORST Dentist in Town".

THE END

submitted by /u/SuperChavela [link] [comments] via Blogger http://bit.ly/2HaWTlv

[oldguardaudio]

Frontline - "Sheriff Clarke: The Thin Blue Line" Discusses Black Lives Matter Movement

Frontline - "Sheriff Clarke: The Thin Blue Line" Discusses Black Lives Matter Movement

Listen to Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr tell Lt. Col. Oliver North why black lives matter is a “dangerous, hateful, destructive ideology.

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between the guardians of our society and those they serve seems wider now than

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it's been in my lifetime but no one can doubt being a law enforcement officer is

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becoming increasingly dangerous Ferguson Baltimore baton rouge Dallas no walking

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just a few of the many places in our country where violent protests have been

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blamed on members of the thin blue line certain members of the so-called

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mainstream media some political leaders and those who profit from discord have

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all but put targets on the backs of those who were a badge Milwaukee Sheriff

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David Clarke has spent his entire 38 year career in the cause of justice by

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any measure

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he's an American hero and he tells it like it is when you look back at the

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time that I was growing up

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milwaukee was a middle-class city lot of Industry a lot of jobs a lot of

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well-paying family-supporting jobs and then when the industrial economy started

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to leave replaced by the tech age of the information age all that industry went

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away

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milwaukee became a Rust Belt city so you're losing all of these of this

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that's the middle class that's the foundation of a strong community a

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strong society you know it's been replaced

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especially in the black community by the single-parent household and and all of

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the things that have fallen off from that have been devastating for Milwaukee

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so what that meant was we were putting more on the backs of the police you know

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when i started in policing compared to today

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hi was easy and you didn't see is easy back then but it was because you had a

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more stable community you know the police were seen as you know guardians

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and and protectors the officers knew the people in their squad area there beach

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area they walk to be even it

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in a patrol car so there was a connection there was a familiarity you

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didn't have the single parent racial that we have today seventy percent of

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black kids born into a single-family home

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seventy percent when I grew up with Kid first of all you know my first authority

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figure was my dad and my dad demanded discipline demanded and ask for demanded

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he taught me how to respect authority so when I left the house during the day I

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went to school in grade school

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it became the authority figure a teacher they were an authority figure and so

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when I looked I saw my dad I said that's the authority feet these young kids

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don't respect your parents don't respect teachers at school don't respect respect

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other adults in their lives as authority figures now they run up against the

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ultimate authority figure the cop and when that meets that undisciplined young

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kid with no respect for authority meets that authority figure in the form of a

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uniform and a badge the uniforms gotta win I'll tell you why because we are on

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the front lines of water Liberty we have to force along we can't back down

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teachers back down up and get seasick

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this is tee shot you know though don't curse the teacher out in the classroom

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alright will do the same thing on the street so we have to win we have to win

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because ordered Liberty is at stake the cops make millions of stops here across

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the country traffic stops field interview stops they go to calls for

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service millions rarely do they have to source

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very rarely it is an aberration and use deadly force

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this is a rare occurrence has been heightened magnified by the media

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this is a breakdown of the underclass society that's that's the heavy lifting

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it's easier to just slam the police are on the front lines with the most visible

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symbol of government in the community it's not the elected official they're

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rarely seen right consider every day except the deal with some unpleasant

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things for people who are an easy target

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this is a political construct that has nothing to do with black lives

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it's an ideology it's a dangerous hateful destructive ideology in isn't

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very auntie police ideology

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he's a purveyor of hate for the American police officer take it out back ya know

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love ya got about this is not being presented as the symbol of the new civil

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rights struggle compassion for criminals we've gone from Rosa Parks was an icon

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of the civil rights struggle Emmett Till dr. Martin Luther King and others we've

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gone from that to Mike Brown to eric garner to Freddie greatest Sandra bland

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those are icons in a civil rights show no those are criminals engage in

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behavior that contributed toward what happened to them at the end that's what

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bothers me more is it wait a minute wait a minute now we've come a long way in

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the civil rights struggle there was a time in it and it wasn't that long ago

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it's difficult for blacks to volt there's an ugly chapter in this country

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don't have that anymore

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what can we do to keep this going and civil rights struggle as a political

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constructs its so now you gotta resort to criminals and I say Amen

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how do we fall this fight is fast you know for most part to my ground

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the only way you know about this movement or what they claim is happens

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to the media the media knows better

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this stuff has all been debunked that we kill more young black males and police

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interactions any other race it's not even close

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it's not even call if we were close i'd say well you know it's coin flip by a

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two-to-one margin more white males are killed in police interactions and

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blackmails 21 it's not even close

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the media's role really should be responsible reporting look at the data

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look at the research

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and say hey they're making his claim but it's all emotion we understand

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understands the emotion out of these things

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what is what the research shows they won't print that they won't tell that

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side

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I need a supporter or someone who doesn't support them i simply report on

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black labs do you condemn the ante police rhetoric coming from this hateful

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ideology as a journalist sitting here on television I don't have to condemn

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anyone that anything that is something like this

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well either people around the country and energy jobs two conditions like I

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contend that beautiful ideology other groups like the KKK alright i condemn it

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this has fuel and fan the flames of this anger toward the American police officer

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there's only one group in America one time that truly cares about the lives of

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black people in these urban ghettos and it's the American police officer who

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goes down there on a daily basis

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what's their life on the line to protect who black people and I've been all

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across this country talking to cops

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I say cop some old-school I'm a cop I'm a career college that tell people my

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career cop other beleaguered right now we didn't get into this to die but we

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volunteer more willing to make that sacrifice by called the ultimate

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sacrifice we want to do that to make our community safer

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however we gotta know it's worth these men and women leaving behind spouses

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children

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siblings parents and I want to know hey this was worth so when I see what's

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going on today and I go to the law enforcement officers memorial wall

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washington DC i stand in the middle of that plastic and I say to myself what

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must they be think 20,000 names of law enforcement officers killed in line to

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do any idea what must they be thinking with all this stuff going on this

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constant slamming the police defaming us mischaracterizing slandering us if you

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lost sibling of you lots of spots you lost a son or daughter killed in the

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line of duty as a cop

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what would you be thinking the sacrifice was in vain

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Dino cops cops are good people we perfect not really stretch the

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imagination

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our law enforcement agencies perfect not even close to being imperfect as part of

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the human condition you don't expect for my people i sent them on every day they

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know it

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excellence not perfection excellence and from law enforcement officers all across

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this country we get excellence

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hopefully our next president will be the kind of leader who sets an example of

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respect for those who protect and serve in uniform and who admires them as much

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as i do for front lines on NRA news

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i'm oliver north

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