Part 2:
The Creative Healing Emporium for Feet was a two-story building in an office park.
The word C.H.E.F. sat up at the left corner in block letters.
“Randy? These are my friends. Rick, Josie and Dale."
He flashed a smile of possible sincerity.
“Hi there. Gen's told me all about you. This dog ... is a therapy animal, correct."
“Something like that," Rick replied, shaking Randy's hand.
“Then he is most welcome. As of all are you."
The head CHEF wore blue coveralls and a bright green Ralph Lauren shirt.
“Follow me, please," he said with a bow.
We were led past the front desk into the heart of the facility.
Patients smiled and waved hello.
Workers in medical scrubs gave their boss a nod.
A busy, buzzing medical facility, all in the service of feet.
The word C.H.E.F. sat up at the left corner in block letters.
“Randy? These are my friends. Rick, Josie and Dale."
He flashed a smile of possible sincerity.
“Hi there. Gen's told me all about you. This dog ... is a therapy animal, correct."
“Something like that," Rick replied, shaking Randy's hand.
“Then he is most welcome. As of all are you."
The head CHEF wore blue coveralls and a bright green Ralph Lauren shirt.
“Follow me, please," he said with a bow.
We were led past the front desk into the heart of the facility.
Patients smiled and waved hello.
Workers in medical scrubs gave their boss a nod.
A busy, buzzing medical facility, all in the service of feet.
An older woman with brown hair walked towards the exit.
“Have a nice day, Mrs. Tralner."
“These socks of yours are magical," she replied, hiking up a pant leg to show us purple wool.
“Wonderful."
“I got a pair for my sister, she loves them too."
Dr. Gurz extended an arm and escorted Mrs. Tralner to the door.
“He's got class," I said. “Must be nice to date a gentleman for a change."
Genevieve laughed loudly.
“Guess there's a first time for everything."
“Need I remind you: he's wearing overalls," Rick replied.
Gen gave a wicked pinch the back of Rick's arm.
“What? It's true."
“They're coveralls. It's a doctor thing.'
“Not very classy."
“Classy? Didn't you once try to make a shirt out of lobster bibs?"
“There were extenuating circumstances."
“Like what?"
“Like I was out of ... clean laundry."
Genevieve's cheeks grew red.
She started to look a little steamed.
“Have a nice day, Mrs. Tralner."
“These socks of yours are magical," she replied, hiking up a pant leg to show us purple wool.
“Wonderful."
“I got a pair for my sister, she loves them too."
Dr. Gurz extended an arm and escorted Mrs. Tralner to the door.
“He's got class," I said. “Must be nice to date a gentleman for a change."
Genevieve laughed loudly.
“Guess there's a first time for everything."
“Need I remind you: he's wearing overalls," Rick replied.
Gen gave a wicked pinch the back of Rick's arm.
“What? It's true."
“They're coveralls. It's a doctor thing.'
“Not very classy."
“Classy? Didn't you once try to make a shirt out of lobster bibs?"
“There were extenuating circumstances."
“Like what?"
“Like I was out of ... clean laundry."
Genevieve's cheeks grew red.
She started to look a little steamed.
Dr. Gurz returned and continued our emporium tour.
“People really like your socks," I said. “Are they therapeutic? Or just really soft."
“They're made with a secret fabric from the South Pacific. We have a patent pending."
“Really? Can you tell us more?"
“It's proprietary info; I really shouldn't. But ... we're all friends here," he said, beaming at Gen. “I can share a little."
Dale's eyebrows went up in surprise.
“There is a supplier in the South Pacific. They make a hemp-like fiber out of nuts found on a little island. Yuba Oba."
“Is that the island or the nut"
“Both, actually."
“Why don't the people just sell the nuts?" I wondered. “Instead of making a fiber."
“Yuba Oba nuts have an opium compound to them. Eat a handful and you're on the floor."
“Wait, what?" Genevieve said.
“And so they found alternate uses. Rope. Nets. We weave the fiber with cotton blends to make socks."
“No wonder the patients feel so good," Rick concluded.
I nodded my head in agreement.
“Their feet are high!"
“People really like your socks," I said. “Are they therapeutic? Or just really soft."
“They're made with a secret fabric from the South Pacific. We have a patent pending."
“Really? Can you tell us more?"
“It's proprietary info; I really shouldn't. But ... we're all friends here," he said, beaming at Gen. “I can share a little."
Dale's eyebrows went up in surprise.
“There is a supplier in the South Pacific. They make a hemp-like fiber out of nuts found on a little island. Yuba Oba."
“Is that the island or the nut"
“Both, actually."
“Why don't the people just sell the nuts?" I wondered. “Instead of making a fiber."
“Yuba Oba nuts have an opium compound to them. Eat a handful and you're on the floor."
“Wait, what?" Genevieve said.
“And so they found alternate uses. Rope. Nets. We weave the fiber with cotton blends to make socks."
“No wonder the patients feel so good," Rick concluded.
I nodded my head in agreement.
“Their feet are high!"
“What? My podiatry skills are the root of their care. Socks are merely a tool."
“Of course, sure," Rick said.
“Gen, honey, you're so quiet. Aren't you going to chime in? Defend me?"
“There's opium in your socks?"
“Opium FIBER. There's a difference."
“Are you crazy?" she exploded. “You're pushing drugs."
“Technically, I'm pushing footwear."
“Narcotic footwear!"
“Why are you so angry?"
“Why? Because I'm dating Walter White."
“I don't know that person."
“Breaking Bad? It's a TV show."
“Never seen it."
“Well, now you're living it."
“Easy, Gen," Rick said.
She let out a maniacal laugh.
“My boyfriend ... the biggest drug dealer in all of Town Worth."
“Of course, sure," Rick said.
“Gen, honey, you're so quiet. Aren't you going to chime in? Defend me?"
“There's opium in your socks?"
“Opium FIBER. There's a difference."
“Are you crazy?" she exploded. “You're pushing drugs."
“Technically, I'm pushing footwear."
“Narcotic footwear!"
“Why are you so angry?"
“Why? Because I'm dating Walter White."
“I don't know that person."
“Breaking Bad? It's a TV show."
“Never seen it."
“Well, now you're living it."
“Easy, Gen," Rick said.
She let out a maniacal laugh.
“My boyfriend ... the biggest drug dealer in all of Town Worth."
