The Periwinkle Affair

TPA 11: I Quit

Another busy week had passed. She wasn't able to be at the firehouse because of so many patients at urgent care. All of them are out patients but still.

Luisa spoke to Big Mike when he visited her at the care. Big Mike saw her there. They talked of what had happened, why Luisa wasn't able to show up for their lunch date and why Miane called on a day that they needed a complete set of hands at post.

They both explained what happened and why she wasn't able to show up. Big Miike understood and made a very good excuse for her for not being at the firehouse; only a few, like Mike, Allan, Bernie and Philip, knew what her other job was. Well, Cisco and Leon now knew, too.

"One of these days you will need to let everyone know that side of Maine Mendoza. They may start getting an idea that I am covering up for you." Big Mike utter in all honesty. "My Dad can pull ranks over anybody, but not me. Soon they start asking questions and they will need an answer." Maine understood what he was saying. She needed just a little time to let other people in her life for her to be comfortable enough to open up.

Allan and Bernie found out that she's a nurse when Bernie brought his nephew for an urgent check and Allan happens to be around to drive him there.

Philip knew because they brought in a kid who got his arm cut by a broken wooden bat playing baseball at school. They were both surprised to see each other there.

It's firehouse duty for her today. She got there on her bike fast. She parked her motorcycle behind Nene's house.

"Nay Linda, how are you?" She asked the lady who was cutting up assorted vegetables.

"Oh, it's you, Maine. I'm fine." Aling Linda replied with a sweet motherly smile to her. It warmed her heart instantly.

"How do you feel?" She asked. Aling Linda has been sick for a while. Nene is always worried for her mother.

They were the only two in life so Nene is always afraid that her mother would get sick severly and she'd be left behind since they don't have the money for hospitalization. Luckily Maine met Nene at one of the late nights that she goes home. Nene was out and about selling stuff like potholders, dashboard wipes, towels, just to make a little money for their food and her mother's medicine.

Maine was driving towards home when she saw two guys picking on a girl. But it was not the teasing kind, it was more like harassing her to the point of forcing her. At least, that's how she sees it.

Maine focuses her bright headlight on them and blows her horn loud and long. It startled the guys and rattled them a bit. One ran to the left and the other to the opposite direction. When she lowered her beam, she saw a young girl crying.

Maine went to check on her. And saw that half of her blouse was torn and she had a scratch on her shoulder and hand mark on her right cheek. She took the girl to a convenience store, where there is a second-hand clothing store next to it. She bought her a replacement for her top and some ice to lower the inflammation on the girl's cheek.

She found out the girl lives close by the firehouse. She took her home and introduced herself to Nene's mother. She stayed for dinner and dined with them. It was one of Maine's simple happiness.

Ever since then, Maine gave Nene and Aling Linda some money to start up something close to home. That's where Aling Linda's cheap lunch was born and Nene doesn't have to stay late in the street to sell stuff so they can buy food and some medicine for her mother. She also brought Aing Linda and Nene to the urgent care the following day for check up and Luisa sent them home some free medications and supplements.

"Hey, you're too early. Welcome back by the way." Conrad greeted her. "How are you feeling now?" She furrowed her brows, she's not getting what he was talking about.