Sixteen
“I can’t believe the turnout tonight.”
Victoria stands at the front of the large conference room, a pleased look on her face.
The screen behind her shows the last slide of the presentation for that evening’s Doughnuts and Dildos talk.
One of Victoria’s colleagues from labor and delivery at the hospital joined for the first half to discuss navigating dating with genital herpes.
She has a modest social media following and a mission to destigmatize the diagnosis.
The Wild Rue’s weekly event usually draws ten to fifteen attendees.
That night’s event had almost thirty with standing room only.
Charlie exchanges an amused look with Carolyn, who clicks out of the presentation on her laptop.
“And I can’t believe you’re surprised people came here not thinking they might glimpse Theo Fox,” Carolyn muses. She flips her black braids over her shoulders before plucking a leftover doughnut from the box, breaking it in half, and offering a piece to Charlie.
“You really think they did?” Victoria slides into one of the chairs.
“I think you underestimate the effect you had by dressing down Theo on his own podcast,” Charlie replies.
Not only did Vibes Come First pitch Victoria on hosting a video series, but many of the comments on the episode praised the chemistry between the host and his guest. Lots of people requested that Victoria appear on the podcast again—even before Vibes suggested it as part of their sponsorship deal with Theo—and some even inquired whether she would answer sex questions in her DMs or on a later episode.
“You really should have a social media presence.” Carolyn flings herself into another chair. Charlie has enjoyed working with the older girl on events; they share a love of to-do lists and both take satisfaction in planning.
“A bunch of medical professionals are becoming influencers. Social media provides them a wider reach so they can educate people beyond their own clinics,” she adds.
“I don’t need to tell you that these days people trust Instagram doctors more than the government entities regulating health guidelines. ”
Victoria nods, contemplative. She has no social media presence, preferring to keep her private life private. Carolyn runs The Wild Rue’s page. “We’ll see,” she says. “I’m not sure I have much to add to the discussion.”
Carolyn groans. “V! You underestimate yourself, seriously.”
Charlie grins, and Victoria rolls her eyes.
Most importantly, the spotlight that Victoria’s appearance on Male Perspective cast on The Wild Rue has meant an uptick in donations both locally and nationally.
It isn’t enough yet to completely eradicate the looming threat of the sale to Heartbeat Care, but Victoria has reassured Charlie that it gives them a little room to breathe.
Furthermore, the clinic is booked solid for the next month, and a few local news outlets have already contacted Victoria about doing news segments highlighting The Wild Rue and how it benefits the community.
Charlie is thrilled, feeling energized and motivated all week, but she also knows they can do more.
She plucks a Jolly Rancher from the bowl of candy in the middle of the table, unrolls the wrapper, and pops it in her mouth.
“These events have always been one of my favorite things about this place,” Victoria says.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing patients and everything else we do here, but educating people and making it fun reminds me why I love medicine so much.
It’s so important to teach patients how to take control of their own health and make informed decisions. ”
After the podcast aired, Carolyn featured a slew of clips from the episode on the clinic’s page. Victoria’s enthusiasm was evident in every word she spoke.
“That’s why I love the sex ed pilot program you’re creating.” She smiles at Charlie. “It’s actually been a dream of mine for a while to host something on a larger scale.”
“What do you mean?” Charlie asks.
Victoria waves a hand through the air. “You know, like an annual event for the clinic. Not the holiday party, but, like…” She taps a finger against her lips.
“Like Pride, but with a sex education twist. Like a festival where people attend workshops and sex talks, and maybe there would be a band or STI testing or…” She trails off, smiling ruefully.
“Or whatever. It would be a way to raise money for the clinic, but the point would be to raise awareness of the importance of sexual health and education. And it would be fun, you know?”
Charlie stares at her with surprise. When she glances at Carolyn, she finds that she’s watching Victoria with the same expression, a slow smile forming on her lips.
“That’s a great idea,” Charlie says.
Victoria shrugs. “Yeah, it is. But I’m always too busy to plan something that big, and now I really have no idea where I would find the time.”
“V,” Carolyn blurts, “you’re kidding, right?”
“This is why you hired me.” Charlie leans forward in her seat.
Maybe it’s lingering excitement from the podcast, the feeling of success that comes from taking a risk and having it pay off, but a surge of adrenaline pulses through her.
Maybe it’s just the feeling of knowing a good idea when she hears one. “Let’s plan it.”
She’s always wanted to plan a Safe Sex Fair for Archwood, sponsored by the Peer Health Advocacy Group. What if that were possible, but it were here at the clinic instead? What if it became an annual event that raised enough money to keep The Wild Rue open for years to come?
Victoria shakes her head. “Charlie, no. You’ve done so much already. It’s because of you that I feel like maybe we’ll be okay. It’s because of you that I feel I’m standing on solid ground for the first time in months.”
“But we need it to last, right? We can plan this fundraiser and make it an annual event.” Charlie glances at Carolyn, who’s already standing at the whiteboard, jotting down ideas. “Do you think Vibes would be willing to do a workshop? Or set up a booth to sell their products?”
“I haven’t even talked to them yet about what they want to do for the video series,” Victoria says, frowning as she watches Carolyn’s list grow longer. “Would people even come?”
“You saw the crowd tonight,” Charlie says. “If you do even one more episode with Theo, people will come.”
“We could have your friend do another panel about STIs,” Charlie adds, and Carolyn writes it down.
Her list includes words like testing, birth control, vibrators, prizes.
“There’s a whole slew of topics we could have panels about—how to choose a form of birth control that works for you, how to navigate sticky sexual situations and consent, when to get tested, if PrEP is right for you…
” Charlie grins at Victoria, who still looks uncertain.
“People want to know this stuff, but they don’t know where to go for accurate information.
They want to know how to stay safe and healthy while enjoying active sex lives. ”
“We could get a drag queen to emcee!” Carolyn exclaims. “And have a raffle!”
Charlie laughs, pointing a finger at her. “Exactly.” Charlie loves working with Carolyn. Her enthusiasm for event planning makes even the most boring tasks exciting.
Victoria looks between Carolyn and Charlie’s eager faces, her expression more bemused than uncertain. “If we were to do it,” she says slowly, “when would we have it?”
“Before the deadline in May,” Charlie says.
“Mid-April at the latest,” Carolyn agrees.
Victoria frowns. “That doesn’t give us a lot of time for an event this big.”
“Leave that to us, V,” Carolyn says with a wink.
Charlie shoots her boss what she hopes is a reassuring smile, adrenaline from the excitement of planning an event like this blooming through her entire body. “Need I remind you again that you took a chance on me? Let me do this for you so The Wild Rue can keep doing good in the world.”
Victoria’s features soften. “What should we call it?”
“Come Fest!” Carolyn whoops.
Victoria laughs, raspy and full-bodied. “We can’t make it sound like a sex party!” She holds up her hands. “Not that I judge people who like those.”
“The Pride and Pleasure Fair?” Charlie suggests.
“That’s not bad.” Victoria drums her fingers on the table as Carolyn writes it on the board. “What about…the Great Sexpectations Expo?”
All three women fall silent.
“I like it.” Charlie grins.
Carolyn writes it down. “Love a good nerdy literary pun.”
“We can always workshop other ideas,” Victoria adds.
Charlie shakes her head, her mind already swirling with possibilities. “I’ll have Diana get started on a logo and a T-shirt design.”
“I don’t want this affecting your classwork,” Victoria says, frowning again. “Either of you. And you have the pilot program, too—”
“Don’t worry.” Carolyn, who’s not shy about doling out affection, presses her hands to Victoria’s shoulders.
“Charlie is a master organizer, and with Diana’s design skills and my marketing acumen, we have everything under control.
” She emphasizes her words by taking Victoria’s face in her hands like a mother reassuring her child. “It’s going to be great.”
With optimism glimmering inside her, Charlie desperately hopes she’s right.