Speak, Memory

All seemed well when I first arrived at Roqueforte University in the spring of 2001. I had interviewed for the job in January but didn’t get it. A man I’ll call Ned Couth had been let go. I was never exactly sure why but heard so many different stories about him it sounded like death by a thousand cuts. He had to go. I interviewed for his job but lost out to a young, married mother of two I’ll call Kris Ryan. Later, though, a man named Brian Quist, PhD SOPH, decided to retire, and I was hired, although not necessarily as his replacement. It was complicated.

The RSO at the time was Paul Antonin Karma, MS SOPH. Of the four RSOs he is The Indifferent. Paul didn’t like to go by his fist name, but by his middle name, Antonin. He said his father’s name was Paul and for whatever Freudian reason he may have had he just didn’t want to be called by the same name. He wanted to be Antonin. He and I had served on the same submarine in the Navy, and after virtually bumping into him through a sub reunion website, I applied to Roqueforte U and eventually got hired.

“I’d like you to get to know the job by spending a week with Kris, a week with Perry, and a week with Bob,” said Antonin. Only later did I wonder why not a week with Antonin, but whatevs. I went to see Kris Ryan.

“Bob and Perry wanted your job.” Kris told me.

“Are they qualified?” I asked her.

“No!” she said. “They’re not. Bob used to work in a furniture warehouse, and Perry worked in asbestos abatement.”

“Well, I’m not going to make waves at first, I’ll just get a feel for things and see if I think we need any improvements.”

“Sounds practical” Kris agreed. “I’m going to go do a light check on an X-Ray film reader. Want to come along? You probably won’t ever be tasked with it, but if Tony wants you to shadow me, that’s what I’m doing today.”

Just then Bob Francois stuck his head in Kris’ office.

“Kris, I’m covering a Brachy patient tomorrow, can Justin come with me, and I’ll show him what to do?”

“Well, he’s with me this week. You can ask Antonin what he wants, though.”

“OK” and Bob left.

“He gets a little insubordinate at times,” Kris said “but he’s ok. Not as tough as he pretends. And actually, I don’t mind if you do go with him to learn Brachy Therapy tomorrow. It’s pretty graphic. I’d just as soon not have to bring you down there.”

We went to a darkroom and checked on a few light meters, and she was right; I never used them again. When we got back to the office an hour or so later Penny said Antonin was looking for me. Just as I got to his office he was coming out, looking official, holding a clipboard and wearing a lab coat.

“Hey, good, you’re back. Thank you, Kris. How did he do? Justin, come with me, we’ve got a meeting.” And off we went.