Spencer's
Chronicles

Written by Taboo MacFru

Chapter 1


    Joe Dawson wiped off the bar and looked around his establishment, assuring himself everything was ready for opening. He appeared to be in his early 40's. He had dark hair liberally sprinkled w/ silver,which accentuated his incredibly clear blue eyes;  a quick and easy smile completed the package. An astute observer would notice the calusses on his fingertips. Joe was the principal reason his bar was packed on nights he played blues guitar.   His voice was deep and textured, flowing over his audience like a black velvet fog.
    Satisfied that everything was in order for customers, he poured himself a cup of coffee and settled on his stool at the end of the bar.  Since he had about 1/2 an hour before opening, he turned the Seacouver Times to the editorial page.
    Hearing the front door open, Joe turned his head to tell whoever that he was not open yet. "Sorry, we're not....."
    "Mr. Dawson?" inquired a softly drawling female voice, almost as deep as his own. Seeing Joe nod, she rushed on, "Oh, I'm not here for a drink, Mr Dawson. " She crossed the distance between them with a rapid, long stride  of impossibly long legs. Extending her hand, "I'm Spencer Forbes, and I'd like a few moments of your time and, hopefully, your cooperation"
    Joe gave his full attention to this forceful, but polite woman. Shaking her outstretched hand he made a quick assessment of his visitor. What he saw was physically impressive, red hair shot through with silver, flashing green eyes with golden starbursts around the pupils, a friendly smile showing almost perfectly straight teeth, and a lusciously large figure. While her handshake was firm, her skin was soft and smooth, consistent with the exposed skin Joe could see. She was pale, but not unattractively so.  "Well, Ms. Forbes, my time you can have, my cooperation will depend on what you want. And make it Joe."
    "Joe, please call me Spencer.  And what I want is your support for an outreach program for the street kids....."
    "Ms. Forbes,  while I am the owner, this place is not all that profitable. I could afford a small donation......."
    Pulling a badge case from her trenchcoat pocket, she gave him a sardonic smile, " Joe, please, let me explain. " She showed him her badge and I.D. from the Center for Disease Control. " I work in the Sexually Transmitted Disease branch of the Epidemiological Investigations division of the CDC. It's OK, I washed my hands before I came in, " she continued with a wry grin. Seeing Joe's beginning blush, she put her hand on his arm and reassured him" I've been in STD's long enough, peoples' nervousness seems common to me now. Everybody does it, draws back a little from me, I mean. "
    They both chuckled softly at that.  "Please Spence, go on."
    "Ok, but one thing, it's Spencer. Spence is a guy's nickname. " Joe nodded, her smile when making her name preference clear taking any possible sting out of her words. Continuing, "I have been sent up here to help a consortium of community based service organizations and the Seacouver Health Dept. implement  a grant for street outreach to teens and young adults. Our main goal is to prevent new STD and HIV infection among homeless young people. We will also try to identify those people already infected and refer them to clinics in the area and other service providers as well. "
    As she paused to take a breath, Joe broke in, "Sounds like a great plan, but what can I do?  And can I get you something to drink? You sound a little hoarse. And, no offense, but you do talk alot."
    Spencer laughed and replied, " Yeah, I am hoarse, I do talk alot and I've got more to say.  How about a club soda?"
    "Coming up," Joe said as he reached for his cane and made his way behind the bar. He grabbed a large glass, put in some ice and filled it with club soda and set it on a bar napkin in front of his talkative guest.
    "Well, since I'm getting comfy, and this is a bar, and the smoking fascists haven't hit  Seacouver yet......." she paused and sheepishly  withdrew a cigarette pack from her purse, looking @ Joe w/ raised eyebrows.

  •     Joe grinned and said, " Only if you let me....."he finished the sentence by striking a match. Spencer stuck a cigarette in her mouth and leaned over slighty to take the light Joe offered. Again she lighty touched him as she steadied his hand and inhaled deeply .  Joe thought to himself, I could watch this woman inhale for a long time before it got boring.  Shaking out the match and dropping it in an ashtray, he slid the ashtray into within Spencer's reach.

    •     As he went back to his stool and sat down, Spencer exhaled and continued with her explanation of how Joe could help. "Unlike other government agencies, in the Public Health  Service, we learn from our mistakes.  The major problem we've encountered in reaching out to these kids in the past has been their fear of authority figures." Picking up her cigarette, she continued smoking and explained, "Most of these kids are runaways, some are throwaways, and almost all of them have had 'unpleasant' experiences with the police or Child Protective Services. They come from abusive homes, sexually, physically, emotionally, they've all been abused. Then we come along, another government agency, another authority figure. And we want them to trust us, tell us their history and most intimate sexual behaviors. 'Yeah, right' was the most common response we used to get. Now we approach them on the street, give them free condoms and rig cleaning kits, and flyers advertising free food and soft drinks.  The catch is they have to sit through safer sex lectures first, then we feed them. This has been pretty effective, but the testing sites are all still at clinics, hospitals, offices away from where they congregate. And this is where you come in. " She stopped and gave Joe a dazzling smile. Then continued,"This is not a threatening environment, this is not 'the man's' place.  Joe's is a friendly bar, and you're a friendly guy. I even hear tell that you give out odd jobs from time to time to some of these kids." Again she paused , this time giving Joe another raised eyebrow look.
        "When I have a job that doesn't require a lot of skill, yeah, I check the alley, see if any kids are hanging out. Sometimes I pay them in food, sometimes in cash. It depends if I think they're gonna spend it on food or drugs. I do what I'm able to do." Joe answered the unasked question.
        "You're a good-hearted man, Joe Dawson."  Before Spencer could say anymore, the door opened.

    Part 2 will be available in 2 weeks :) Remember, feedback is welcome...
    Email the MacChat's and the writer's at MacChat_Web@hotmail.com

    The Lovely purple (the writer of this piece's favorite color)
    came from

    Please remember, Do Not Steal Graphics....
    Be sure to link back to the artist of any
    graphic work you use.  They work
    very hard on these and are happy to share!