29 chapter 28 : People don't change, they adapt
The next day, Calvin was standing in the corner with a joint while watching Rachid and the others practice with Lee for the boys and Molly for the girls as he had just accompanied Christina to the hospital where she had reunion with Lise.
When the kids' training was over, they all wanted to go with Rashid to see the dog but Calvin told Duane and Sophia that he wanted to talk to them.
He took them to a stand on the street where there was a rabbit skewer stand for them to eat.
Duane: Did you want to talk to us about something?
Sophia:…
Cal: (sighs) You two have been through so much that for kids and I know you have a certain level of maturity. I know you can handle and understand some things, that's why I'm not going to beat around the bush. We discovered another community where Rick's group is currently…
Listening to this, they stopped eating to look at Calvin with some shock in their eyes, he wasted no time and continued.
Cal: Your parents are there too, they thought you were dead and it changed something in them, you'll understand when you see them again.
Sophia: My...my mom...is she over there?
Duane:…
Cal: Yes, Doctor Simmons who you know well is here at the hospital for treatment, she'll be with us from now on. You'll be able to see her again soon and I plan to take you back to your parents after her operation.
Duane: I refuse, they abandoned us...
Sophia: Duane…
Duane: (to Sophia) YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE. We were alone for months in the cold, eating insects and almost dying because they left us.
Cal: That's enough Duane, you'll have this discussion with your father but I'm not going to deprive parents of their children.
Duane: (stands up) So that's it ? Are you going to make us leave Lincoln? Are you going to abandon us too?
Sophia: Calvin ?
Cal: (to Duane) Nigga, you're gonna put your little black ass in that chair first before I send you back to our brothers in Africa with a slap.
Calvin's tone was cold and it was enough to scare Duane as Cal sighed deeply.
Cal: Listen, separating from you is one of the last things I would want 'cause you' re like my little brothers and I have plans for you. The choice to follow me will always be yours, but you'll make this decision in front of your parents. Even if you reconcile, you can come back here whenever you want.
Duane:…
Cal: You still have your father, it's a privilege for which i could sacrifice many things and especially in times like this. This country is huge and they could have gone in any direction, you can't imagine how lucky you are. Clementine who's younger than you saw both of her parents among the walkers, you have a chance that she doesn't have. Lee adopted her and she seems to be happy but when she's alone she certainly suffers.
Sophia: Promise you won't abandon us.
Cal: You have my word. Plus, Christina and I are having a baby so I'll need you to watch over him later.
" A BABY !!? " Sophia screamed and Cal asked her to shut up, he told them about it and asked them not to tell Rachid because he and Reyes were going to break the news to him as parents.
They continued eating when a girl barely older than Sophia walked by with her mother, first greeting Calvin respectfully and giving Duane a cute smile before greeting him and leaving.
Sophia's face became angry after Duane started smiling upon seeing the girl, it was Tisha, a cute African American girl who had a crush on Duane and Sophia was jealous as she started sulking at Duane.
Cal: Uh oh oh, see these kids growing up so fast. It's true that you're in your early teens now, Duane, you seem to be having success with girls.
Sophia: He's just a brag.
Duane: But I didn't do anything !
Sophia: Why did you smile at her?
Duane: I don't see what's wrong with that! She gave me a smile, do you want me to ignore her?
Sophia: Maybe...
"Ah I'm so looking forward to teaching Rachid and the little one how to deal with women when i see you…" Calvin said with an evil smile but Sophia immediately ruined his prospects.
Sophia: What if it's a girl?
" A girl… "
" A girl… "
" A girl… "
The echo of the end of this question resounded in the mind of Calvin whose gaze was petrified for several seconds, he had never considered having a daughter.
He didn't want a daughter and the idea even having a daughter began to haunt him.
…
Several days passed and as Calvin promised, Lise had an operation on her hip. There had been some problems because the most competent surgeon, Doctor David, was Jewish and while examining Lise, one of the nurses saw her tattoos and told the doctor about them.
Calvin himself had to intervene and tell how Lise had taken care of him at the start of the apocalypse despite the fact that they were a black man and a criminal to boot, he sincerely guaranteed David that even if he himself didn't believe in the change of a white supremacist, Lise has very good ethics and he owes a debt to her.
David accepted in exchange for an upcoming favor and Calvin was relieved, apart from the obligatory training and outings, Calvin didn't force anyone to do anything and he was respected for the respect he himself showed to those who were doing their part.
Lise slept for several hours after the operation and when she woke up, Calvin was in her room by the window and he listened to Lise wake up grunting in pain.
"It seems like our roles are reversed…" He said, turning around with a smile.
Lise: I'm in pain, I feel really heavy.
Cal: It's true that doctors don't know the taste of their own medicines. The effects of the anesthesia have worn off so it's normal, the operation was a success.
Lise: This doctor...thank you for convincing him. If he had refused until the end I would have understood it.
Cal: Now I owe a Jew a favor and honestly I'm scared but it's worth it if I don't see you walking like a duck. Everything will be fine for you now...
Lise: What should I do now? You said I am one of your men so what role can I play in your community?
Cal: Easy, I'm not your mustachioed Austrian to whom you want to prove your usefulness. First, you rest and that is non-negotiable. After that, you'll join the exploration & raid section to train members in outdoor emergency medicine.
Lise: Outside?
Cal: You and Rick have been outside for a long time so you know the precise medical procedures to take in the event of an injury, bites on a limb or an infection. You'll also be trained in our procedures depending on the situation, with this, your combat skills will be assessed and supplemented if necessary.
Lise: I know how to fight…
Cal: I know, but I don't care how much you know. You or others' lives are precious so I want you to learn what you can when you can to survive. Do you know why your European ancestors contributed so much to global human civilization in terms of innovations?
Lisa:…
Cal: Because they never knew enough, Dr. Simmons. They advanced quickly because they were killing each other too much, had to discover new techniques, technologies and tricks that the motherfuckers from the neighboring kingdom, country or clan didn't know about in order to have the advantage economically or militarily. Europe is the continent that has seen the most war and rivalry, which is why your dear ancestors were so advanced.
Lise: And your ancestors?
Calvin: My ancestors, like the natives of the country where we live, lived with traditions that did not advocate communal sharing and understanding of the nature that surrounds us, there were practically no such fierce conflictual relationships between the tribes of my people. Competition has helped you advance, your wars have created strong men in hard times, strong men led by evil and selfish m'en. Be like your ancestors and always thirst for knowledge...
Lise: You speak as if you had witnessed all of this.
Calvin: You don't have to be a fucking scientist to understand that, recent wars have proven it. You Nazis demonstrated great innovation during WW2 to the point where the sons of bitches who ran this country hired many of your scientists after the war.
Lise: I'm not a Nazi! How do you know all this?!
Cal: (smiles) Ah I've missed you. Being a drug dealer isn't everything in life, I went to school and I had to know some things about a government that did nothing but crush my community. A nigga with knowledge is a nigga who lives long.
*Groooooowlrrrr*
Lise's stomach started growling and she looked embarrassed.
"I'm a little...hungry, sorry..." She said looking away when Paul entered the room with women from the medical group and when she saw him, Lise's look was surprised and incredulous for a few seconds but it didn't escape Calvin's attention especially since Paul was also surprised to see Lise Simmons there.
Paul: President, the export and raiding units have returned with new ones. They are in the camp outside Lincoln waiting to be assessed.
Cal: How many are there?
Paul: The 7 units brought back 93 new survivors, I came to report this to you but Lee has already left with a few men to carry out the two weeks of observations in addition to the members of the units who brought them back. Oh and Doctor Reyes is looking for you.
Cal: Women! She wants us to discuss this group of feminists we left behind in Greenville. They said they regretted their actions and had their reasons for becoming like that but I don't care. They attacked my men and that's all that matters.
Paul: People can change, President...
Cal: People don't change, they adapt...they adapted to the fact that we were much too strong for them and that I took care of each of my men for better survival. I don't believe in change among ideologists.
Paul :…
Lise :…
"(to the nurses) Please bring your patient something to eat, she's hungry. (to Lise) We'll talk another time. For now, take your time to rest and if you are hungry then ask, we have plenty of food thanks to our agricultural techniques and different livestock farms." He left after his words while Paul followed him after a last exchange of glances with Lise who looked at him coldly.
Calvin discreetly asked two nurses to observe and report to him everything strange that was happening before leaving.
