Capricorn Christmas

Tunnel Vision

The University of Saskatchewan has series of connecting tunnels and walkways so that if you mapped your route out the time spent outside on my crutches could be vastly reduced. Mind you it was quicker to walk outside, if you had the luxury of two functional legs, but it was the the last week of November which meant end of November weather.

In an uncharacteristic move I asked my roommates for help. They agreed so easily. With Amy behind the wheel of my car and Amanda in the passenger side I was able to keep my leg stretched out across back the back street. I felt grateful and helpless and guilty. It was a weird mixture of emotions and I was afraid that it was coming across as anger.

"Whoops, sorry Jen," Amy was checking on me in the rear view mirror as we hit a pothole and the whole car jerked. "Don't worry about it." I managed to smile so she would take her eyes off me and get them back on the road. By the time we hit 108th street I was relaxed enough to put my head back and close my eyes. "Thanks for driving me." I could sense that Amanda had turned around in her seat to respond, "For the tenth time ... no problem. Besides you have the best parking spot out of all of us."

Amy pulled into Z Lot by 8:10 and found a parking spot as close to the crosswalk as she could. Amanda had an 8:30 and needed to be across campus. Before she even got out of the car, she turned to say, "Good luck today. I gotta jet." She was off and speed walking disappearing into the throngs of students crossing College Drive onto campus.

Amanda, bless her, walked as slowly as possible to the point of standing still every few steps.  It wasn't like I was complete inept on crutches but it was snowy and icy.  Each time I put the rubber ends of my crutches down I had to test the ground to make sure it wasn't ice.  "Amanda, you can go.  I'll be fine," I reassured her.  She bit her lip hesitating.  It was cold as balls out here and our pace only made it feel worse.  "You're not even dressed for this," I kept trying to convince her to leave me.  "You've already done me a solid by driving." At this she I could see she was seriously consider it. 

"It's not Mount Everest.  I'll survive." And with this she seemed reassured enough to make her move.  "You sure Jen?" She didn't want to look like a jerk.  "Ya I'm sure," and used my head to gesture that she should go on ahead.  She might have looked back more than the one time I spotted her as the gap between us widened but I was too busy trying not to slip again and break another bone.

Place Riel was a hub at the University.  City buses, students who lived in residences connected by their own tunnels and the drivers pouring in from the parking lots cut through this building.  I had to sit and take a break.  "Jen! Holy shit what happened to you," a familiar toque was walking towards me. I slipped outside The Pat on my way to get chicken on a stick from 7/11."  Jared laughed, "I was at The Pat! I saw you there."  "Well it was Paturday night." I had to admit I was kind of enjoying the celebrity that comes with a fresh cast. 

"Where are you trying to get to this morning? Are you already late?" His concern was endearing.
"Thorv," I said, "I'm not late.  I actually really early. My roommates have 8:30 classes and they drove me."
"Well I'm going that way up until the arts building.  I'll walk with you."
"I don't want to make you late for anything," I insisted finally standing up and making our way to the escalators down into Lower Place.

The tunnels were warm, but they were an absolute mess.  "The snow and sand off peoples boots made for interesting crutching terrain.  Jared walked side by side as swarms of students flowed around us in the same direction.  Typically if you walked too slowly in the tunnels you could expect a few comments, but fortunately people seemed to be impatiently understanding as people kept their grumbling mostly to themselves if they got trapped behind me for a minute or two. 

As we approached the escalators heading back up into the arts building I was sad that our walk, or should I say hobble, was over.  I was so focused at the task at hand that I hadn't realized until just now how much I had enjoyed Jared's company. It went by too quickly, even though it took us a really long time to walk the length tunnel.  "Hey thanks for keeping me company.  It was nice to have a private escort today." "Anytime," he said, "Actually how about tomorrow. Same time, same place." "My schedule's a bit different on Tuesday. None of us have class until noon."  "Cool cool," he said and we parted ways at the top of the escalator. 

I now had two choices head outside and face the elements for the last few meters or go up a floor to the connecting skywalk and quadruple my distance.  The chaffing under my arms, made the decision for me, and as I heading outside the biting winter wind lashed at my face.  The air inside Thorvaldson was warm and dry.  It smelled like old books and and wet jackets.  As I slid into my spot in my class I felt victorious and a bit warm and fuzzy from my time spent with Jared in the tunnels.  "Oh my god," I whispered to myself. I just realized he was asking to hang out again and I had totally blown him off.