Part 3:
Things were tense at the Creative Healing Emporium for Feet.
“I'm no drug dealer," Dr. Gurz argued, staring loving at a rack of socks.
“Have they been tested? What's in them?" I said.
“There is no law or statue that socks need FDA approval."
“But Randy. Don't you think this is illegal?"
“It's not NOT legal," he answered. "It's a gray area."
“Is it addictive?"
“Not at all. I don't think so. It's unclear."
“Seriously?"
“Most of my patients are elderly. Their feet hurt. I'm helping."
“Totally disagree."
“I beg to differ."
“You're barking up the wrong the tree."
“I'm no drug dealer," Dr. Gurz argued, staring loving at a rack of socks.
“Have they been tested? What's in them?" I said.
“There is no law or statue that socks need FDA approval."
“But Randy. Don't you think this is illegal?"
“It's not NOT legal," he answered. "It's a gray area."
“Is it addictive?"
“Not at all. I don't think so. It's unclear."
“Seriously?"
“Most of my patients are elderly. Their feet hurt. I'm helping."
“Totally disagree."
“I beg to differ."
“You're barking up the wrong the tree."
“This is my profession, and I won't apologize for it. I'm a healer."
“Healer?" Gen repeated in astonishment.
"Definitely."
“No, you aren't. I can't go along with this."
“What are you saying?"
“I'm not normally an ultimatum kind of girl. But this time? It's me or the socks."
Dr. Randal Gurz looked genuinely pained.
“Really?"
“This is bad. It's wrong."
“It's my business. My life."
“Just lose the socks."
“I'm sorry. I can't"
Genevieve spun on her heel and walked straight out of CHEF.
We quickly followed in her footsteps.
“Healer?" Gen repeated in astonishment.
"Definitely."
“No, you aren't. I can't go along with this."
“What are you saying?"
“I'm not normally an ultimatum kind of girl. But this time? It's me or the socks."
Dr. Randal Gurz looked genuinely pained.
“Really?"
“This is bad. It's wrong."
“It's my business. My life."
“Just lose the socks."
“I'm sorry. I can't"
Genevieve spun on her heel and walked straight out of CHEF.
We quickly followed in her footsteps.
Later that night, back at Rick's, we sat in the living room with nachos and fish tacos.
Still reeling from the day's events.
“That emporium should be reported. To someone. But I'm not sure to whom," I wondered.
“You think you've seen it all. But nope," Gen said. “A man can fail you in a whole new way."
“It seems," Dale offered, “I guess I was right? An emporium is like an opium den."
“Really?" Genevieve laughed.
“Does the phrase 'podiatrist-splash-illegal drug dealer' sound familiar?"
“Too soon," I whispered.
“What's the right word? Prescient? Puissant? Perceptive?"
“Stupid?"
“Take it easy on her," I said. “She never guessed that dating could sink lower than my brother."
Rick cocked his head and smiled.
“Me? I'm just high on life."
The remains of a fish taco went soaring past his head.
Still reeling from the day's events.
“That emporium should be reported. To someone. But I'm not sure to whom," I wondered.
“You think you've seen it all. But nope," Gen said. “A man can fail you in a whole new way."
“It seems," Dale offered, “I guess I was right? An emporium is like an opium den."
“Really?" Genevieve laughed.
“Does the phrase 'podiatrist-splash-illegal drug dealer' sound familiar?"
“Too soon," I whispered.
“What's the right word? Prescient? Puissant? Perceptive?"
“Stupid?"
“Take it easy on her," I said. “She never guessed that dating could sink lower than my brother."
Rick cocked his head and smiled.
“Me? I'm just high on life."
The remains of a fish taco went soaring past his head.
CHEF continued doing a healthy business as the days and months went by.
Although healthy may not be the best word to use.
Perhaps ... robust?
You could honestly say business was sky high.
All until one day.
When we saw a curious item in the news.
“Local podiatrist questioned by DEA agents."
Gen swears she had nothing to do with it.
I believe her.
Although.
She ... rarely wears socks anymore.
For any reason.
Even in winter.
Love is a tough game, no matter how you play it.
A few get to soar to the heights of happiness.
Some suffer, but try again to find joy.
And the rest?
They merely avoid a close proximity to defeat.
Although healthy may not be the best word to use.
Perhaps ... robust?
You could honestly say business was sky high.
All until one day.
When we saw a curious item in the news.
“Local podiatrist questioned by DEA agents."
Gen swears she had nothing to do with it.
I believe her.
Although.
She ... rarely wears socks anymore.
For any reason.
Even in winter.
Love is a tough game, no matter how you play it.
A few get to soar to the heights of happiness.
Some suffer, but try again to find joy.
And the rest?
They merely avoid a close proximity to defeat.