Avenue of Champions by Conor Kerr

Author:Conor Kerr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, novel, Métis, lateral violence, intergenerational trauma, systemic racism, Edmonton, oral history
ISBN: 9780889714199
Publisher: Nightwood Editions
Published: 2021-10-23T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

The next Friday, Cheryl picked up Daniel and they drove down to the End of the World to watch the sunset. The End of the World was an abandoned support area for an old bridge that crossed the North Saskatchewan River and went up to the west side. Everything was long gone except an old concrete platform jutting out of the riverbank. It made a great viewpoint for watching sunsets. And as soon as the lighting got to a certain point, it would look like the platform dropped off into eternity. There were usually a couple groups of kids smoking weed and drinking at the spot, but they tended to keep to themselves. Daniel brought a six-pack of beer in his backpack. Once he and Cheryl sat down, he reached in and offered her one.

“No thanks. I don’t drink,” Cheryl said.

“Really? You work in a pub,” Daniel said.

“Don’t matter, I don’t drink. Never really have.”

“Why not?”

“Just not that into it. Too many people I know get sucked up in it and my kohkom told me you’re not supposed to dance if you’re drinking,” Cheryl said.

“Makes sense.” Daniel put the beer back in his bag. “Sorry.”

“I don’t care. Just not my thing. I’m not into drunks.”

“Do you smoke weed?”

“Every once in a while. But I’m more into edibles than anything. I don’t really like the way smoke feels in my lungs,” Cheryl responded.

“Oh, Granny will like that,” Daniel said. Then he laughed. “She’s the edible queen.”

“Granny? Like the one I serve in the pub all the time?”

“Yeah, she keeps that whole building supplied.”

“That’s funny, I’ve heard other seniors from the building mention that they were getting into weed brownies. I didn’t know it was your granny though.”

“Yeah, she’s had it going on for a couple months now.”

“So Granny’s a dope dealer. Technically?” Cheryl asked.

“I guess so. But just as much as I’m a dealer. So not really.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean she just sells to people in her building to make money. I just sell to my friends to make enough to pay for her baking supply.”

“That’s dealing.”

“But is it? I mean it’s going to be legal I think.”

“I’m not into hanging out if you’re dealing. Too much shit comes with that.”

“Fuck it then, I’m done,” Daniel said.

“Really?”

“Only if we can hang out again.”

“Pass,” Cheryl said. She laughed and put her hand on Daniel’s. He moved closer to her so their legs were touching as they hung over the ledge.

“Okay, if I tell you a joke and you laugh then can we hang out again?” Daniel asked.

“Maybe.”

“Why do us Natives hate snow?” Daniel asked.

“Because it’s white and on our land,” Cheryl said.

“What, you heard that one before?”

“My mushum told me that one.”

“Oh,” Daniel said.

“But we can hang out still.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.