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ds_flashfictionTitle: Selected entries from the Journals of Robert Fraser
Rated: PG
A/N: Same AU universe as Parade Rest.
Word count: 1, 474
February 14, 1983
Found John Peters early this morning. He’d broken his leg in two places falling off a snowmobile. He’s claiming a Caribou charged him causing him to lose control.
I don’t think his wife will buy the story either, since she’s been telling anyone that will listen that he’d break his leg in no time.
Passed by June’s house on the way into town and she invited me back for supper.
July 23, 1983
I brought John Peters back into town with a twist ankle after falling from his ATV. It’s starting to sound like a wise thing would be to ban him from all motorized vehicles.
His wife suggested a horse but I felt it was my duty to inform her that Peters fell off a horse back in ’75 and broke his arm.
I called on June while I was in town. I’d hope to find her well since she’s been suffering from the flu.
As it happens, I found her pregnant. After inquiring after the father of the child, June laughed and said. ‘Bob Fraser, if you can’t figure that for yourself, you should find a new career.’
I fled with my tail between my legs. After I’d had tea, of course.
Men older than I have faced this prospect, so better to make the best of it.
Tomorrow I’ll ask her to marry me. Caroline would understand, and I am fond of June. Marriage to her would not be a hardship.
July 24, 1983
I tracked two hunters today that the Inuit elders have been complaining about for the last few days. It seems hunting a protected population of wolves isn’t enough for them, as they’d started taking shots at Inuit children and youths.
Tracked them forty kilometers before one gave up. The other soon surrender after a bullet to his leg helped him make up his mind.
They told their names easily, Jordon Harris and Brandon Reed Two American boys barely out of the nest. They aren’t much younger than Benton. They’d come up to the Yukon to prove to their fathers that they were men and not afraid of anything.
Harris bawled like an infant when I took him in. Reed seemed quite sure his father was going to kill him
My Ben’s nothing like that. He’s already a credit to the Mounties. I’d say he was a credit to me, but my mother would come back from the grave to haunt me for that.
Saw June this evening.
The answer was no. (The last part was crossed out and re-written several times)
December 15, 1983
The missing snowmobiles and goods for the store were found late yesterday. Three local boys thought it would be fun to play at being bandits. I’d suspected the lads, and finally convinced the youngest boy to confess all and turn in his cohorts.
The owners of the snow mobiles have decided not to press charges. As for the stolen goods, the boys will be working off there debit to Jim Morris, who runs the store.
When I returned to post, Gerard gave me the news.
June gave birth to a baby girl on the 10th. Black hair, blue eyes, and all her fingers and toes.
At last report, both mother and child were doing well. When the weather clears, I’ll go to see them.
I was on patrol when Benton was born, too.
Gerard keeps passing around Cigars and whiskey.
December 17, 1983
These damn American hunters couldn’t tell a Caribou from the broad side of a barn. Seems the group became drunk and one mistook his friend, responding to the call of nature behind a tree, for a Caribou or a Moose. The man wasn’t sure of which.
The American was injured, but he did give the town quite a show running about screaming that the animals were shooting back.
A telegram came in from Ben as I left the post. He’ll not be coming for Christmas.
(There are some unreadable scratched out words.)
Maybe next year.
December 20, 1983
Peters fell of his roof this time. He was unhurt, and the only one in any distress was his wife.
Mary-Jane Peters was laughing so hard she was crying.
Went to see June and the baby.
She is beautiful.
Her mother has named her Rohan Citlali. I’d hoped she’d decided on a different name, but June is quite fond of Tolkien.
We’ve agreed on her having the last name of Fraser.
I’ll make sure to send Benton a sketch of her in my next letter to him, along with the Polaroid.
May 13, 1984
James Maxwell isn’t the brightest bank robber to come this way. It shows either great confidence or stupidity to rob a bank then go back to your lodging next door.
My bet is on stupidity.
He seemed rather surprised when we came for him. Unfortunately, the young constable we’d stationed outside could not apprehend Maxwell when he jumped out the window and fled.
As I said, my bet is on stupidity, and the fact he left the money--(A blob of ink is left as if the pen were left there.)
June 3, 1984
Rohan’s crying again.
My mind should be on the Maxwell case. I cannot let this interfere with my duty.
June died three weeks ago.
She’d been sick.
I didn’t even know she’d been sick. It had been how long since I’d been out to see Rohan and June? Too long, it seems.
June’s family isn’t going to fight me over custody of Rohan. I almost wish they would.
The cabin will need to be expanded. Rohan needs a nursery and a bedroom when she gets older.
Gerard pointed out I should finally run electricity out to the cabin and that I need a furnace.
Maxwell’s last known whereabouts is bar in town, I should check there. He must have a young lady in town since the velvet sized seven dress we found in his room would hardly fit him.
Why can’t I get her to stop crying?
June 10, 1984
(There are several spots of dry liquid on this entry)
Gerald Minford could barely walk out of the bar under his own power. Seems when he came back from one of his long trips, his wife had changed the locks. He was crying in his beer that she wouldn’t let him see his little girl.
Seems this last trip lasted about ten months, so one can hardly blame the young woman.
It a wonder Caroline didn’t shoot me for leaving her alone so much when Ben was a baby.
June 17, 1984
Jim Morgan finally made a mistake we could nail him down on. He’s been trapping over the limit for years now and we’ve never been able to prove it.
The mistake?
Not paying child support. His ex-wife decided if he wasn’t going to pay one way that he’d pay another.
Morgan made the mistake of underestimating an angry, vengeful woman.
One should nev- (the remainder is smudged by tiny finger prints, then at the bottom is added:)
Never leave ink pens around small children.
July 5, 1984
Peters and his wife are packing up and moving to Vancouver. Seem Mary-Jane as some family there and have offered Peters a job.
Never seen a man so happy before, when I asked him why he told me ‘A man can’t fall out of a car.’
I’m sure Peters will find a way.
Mary-Jane’s promised to keep watching Rohan until the leave next month. I need to start inquiring around town, though it wouldn’t be too much of a hardship to have her with me on paperwork days.
Rohan called me da-da when she I picked her up from the Peters’.
August 12, 1984
Constable Thatcher’s transfer was made final today. I had my doubts at first about a female in the RCMP but she’s proved a capable officer.
It’ll be a shame to see her go.
Before she left, the Constable presented Rohan with a toy stuffed seal.
Rohan squealed and hasn’t let go of the damn thing yet.
December 26, 1989
Benton left early this morning. He’s still angry with me, but let him be.
I still cannot rightly believe he suggested what he did. I can understand it, in part, but I cannot believe he would say it to my face.
As long as I’m time around, Rohan will stay with me. Not to her mother’s relatives that hardly know her, and barely understand her mother. Not that I understood June much myself while she was still alive.
Benton doesn’t seem to think I can handle my own child. I’m too old and it’ll interfere with my duties too much.
Rohan will be asking after him. She looks forward to seeing him at Christmas all year.
As do I.
Rated: PG
A/N: Same AU universe as Parade Rest.
Word count: 1, 474
February 14, 1983
Found John Peters early this morning. He’d broken his leg in two places falling off a snowmobile. He’s claiming a Caribou charged him causing him to lose control.
I don’t think his wife will buy the story either, since she’s been telling anyone that will listen that he’d break his leg in no time.
Passed by June’s house on the way into town and she invited me back for supper.
July 23, 1983
I brought John Peters back into town with a twist ankle after falling from his ATV. It’s starting to sound like a wise thing would be to ban him from all motorized vehicles.
His wife suggested a horse but I felt it was my duty to inform her that Peters fell off a horse back in ’75 and broke his arm.
I called on June while I was in town. I’d hope to find her well since she’s been suffering from the flu.
As it happens, I found her pregnant. After inquiring after the father of the child, June laughed and said. ‘Bob Fraser, if you can’t figure that for yourself, you should find a new career.’
I fled with my tail between my legs. After I’d had tea, of course.
Men older than I have faced this prospect, so better to make the best of it.
Tomorrow I’ll ask her to marry me. Caroline would understand, and I am fond of June. Marriage to her would not be a hardship.
July 24, 1983
I tracked two hunters today that the Inuit elders have been complaining about for the last few days. It seems hunting a protected population of wolves isn’t enough for them, as they’d started taking shots at Inuit children and youths.
Tracked them forty kilometers before one gave up. The other soon surrender after a bullet to his leg helped him make up his mind.
They told their names easily, Jordon Harris and Brandon Reed Two American boys barely out of the nest. They aren’t much younger than Benton. They’d come up to the Yukon to prove to their fathers that they were men and not afraid of anything.
Harris bawled like an infant when I took him in. Reed seemed quite sure his father was going to kill him
My Ben’s nothing like that. He’s already a credit to the Mounties. I’d say he was a credit to me, but my mother would come back from the grave to haunt me for that.
Saw June this evening.
The answer was no. (The last part was crossed out and re-written several times)
December 15, 1983
The missing snowmobiles and goods for the store were found late yesterday. Three local boys thought it would be fun to play at being bandits. I’d suspected the lads, and finally convinced the youngest boy to confess all and turn in his cohorts.
The owners of the snow mobiles have decided not to press charges. As for the stolen goods, the boys will be working off there debit to Jim Morris, who runs the store.
When I returned to post, Gerard gave me the news.
June gave birth to a baby girl on the 10th. Black hair, blue eyes, and all her fingers and toes.
At last report, both mother and child were doing well. When the weather clears, I’ll go to see them.
I was on patrol when Benton was born, too.
Gerard keeps passing around Cigars and whiskey.
December 17, 1983
These damn American hunters couldn’t tell a Caribou from the broad side of a barn. Seems the group became drunk and one mistook his friend, responding to the call of nature behind a tree, for a Caribou or a Moose. The man wasn’t sure of which.
The American was injured, but he did give the town quite a show running about screaming that the animals were shooting back.
A telegram came in from Ben as I left the post. He’ll not be coming for Christmas.
(There are some unreadable scratched out words.)
Maybe next year.
December 20, 1983
Peters fell of his roof this time. He was unhurt, and the only one in any distress was his wife.
Mary-Jane Peters was laughing so hard she was crying.
Went to see June and the baby.
She is beautiful.
Her mother has named her Rohan Citlali. I’d hoped she’d decided on a different name, but June is quite fond of Tolkien.
We’ve agreed on her having the last name of Fraser.
I’ll make sure to send Benton a sketch of her in my next letter to him, along with the Polaroid.
May 13, 1984
James Maxwell isn’t the brightest bank robber to come this way. It shows either great confidence or stupidity to rob a bank then go back to your lodging next door.
My bet is on stupidity.
He seemed rather surprised when we came for him. Unfortunately, the young constable we’d stationed outside could not apprehend Maxwell when he jumped out the window and fled.
As I said, my bet is on stupidity, and the fact he left the money--(A blob of ink is left as if the pen were left there.)
June 3, 1984
Rohan’s crying again.
My mind should be on the Maxwell case. I cannot let this interfere with my duty.
June died three weeks ago.
She’d been sick.
I didn’t even know she’d been sick. It had been how long since I’d been out to see Rohan and June? Too long, it seems.
June’s family isn’t going to fight me over custody of Rohan. I almost wish they would.
The cabin will need to be expanded. Rohan needs a nursery and a bedroom when she gets older.
Gerard pointed out I should finally run electricity out to the cabin and that I need a furnace.
Maxwell’s last known whereabouts is bar in town, I should check there. He must have a young lady in town since the velvet sized seven dress we found in his room would hardly fit him.
Why can’t I get her to stop crying?
June 10, 1984
(There are several spots of dry liquid on this entry)
Gerald Minford could barely walk out of the bar under his own power. Seems when he came back from one of his long trips, his wife had changed the locks. He was crying in his beer that she wouldn’t let him see his little girl.
Seems this last trip lasted about ten months, so one can hardly blame the young woman.
It a wonder Caroline didn’t shoot me for leaving her alone so much when Ben was a baby.
June 17, 1984
Jim Morgan finally made a mistake we could nail him down on. He’s been trapping over the limit for years now and we’ve never been able to prove it.
The mistake?
Not paying child support. His ex-wife decided if he wasn’t going to pay one way that he’d pay another.
Morgan made the mistake of underestimating an angry, vengeful woman.
One should nev- (the remainder is smudged by tiny finger prints, then at the bottom is added:)
Never leave ink pens around small children.
July 5, 1984
Peters and his wife are packing up and moving to Vancouver. Seem Mary-Jane as some family there and have offered Peters a job.
Never seen a man so happy before, when I asked him why he told me ‘A man can’t fall out of a car.’
I’m sure Peters will find a way.
Mary-Jane’s promised to keep watching Rohan until the leave next month. I need to start inquiring around town, though it wouldn’t be too much of a hardship to have her with me on paperwork days.
Rohan called me da-da when she I picked her up from the Peters’.
August 12, 1984
Constable Thatcher’s transfer was made final today. I had my doubts at first about a female in the RCMP but she’s proved a capable officer.
It’ll be a shame to see her go.
Before she left, the Constable presented Rohan with a toy stuffed seal.
Rohan squealed and hasn’t let go of the damn thing yet.
December 26, 1989
Benton left early this morning. He’s still angry with me, but let him be.
I still cannot rightly believe he suggested what he did. I can understand it, in part, but I cannot believe he would say it to my face.
As long as I’m time around, Rohan will stay with me. Not to her mother’s relatives that hardly know her, and barely understand her mother. Not that I understood June much myself while she was still alive.
Benton doesn’t seem to think I can handle my own child. I’m too old and it’ll interfere with my duties too much.
Rohan will be asking after him. She looks forward to seeing him at Christmas all year.
As do I.
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no subject
Date: 2005-10-03 05:16 am (UTC)I get really annoyed with him for leaving Ben? And then he comes along and makes me feel SO GUILTY for hating him. And you have replicated the guilt wonderfully.
I was making a list of line I like, except then I realized I was selecting every last line of each entry. Which is exactly as it should be.
Go you!
no subject
Date: 2005-10-03 07:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-03 12:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-03 06:57 pm (UTC)As do I.
Oh Bob. *sobs*
This was GOOD!
Date: 2005-10-03 07:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 12:20 pm (UTC)Just plain wonderful.
Only Bentons request to give her away was a little shocking. Is he envious that his father is willing to stay with his daughter but wasn't willing to do so with him as he was little?