Moose Meat & Wild Rice by Basil Johnston

Author:Basil Johnston [Johnston, Basil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781551995922
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Published: 2011-01-28T05:00:00+00:00

The Wedding

Forever was happy. He had just asked Bezhinee (Virginia) to marry him, and she had said, “If you wish.”

Forever was glad that in these modern times parents no longer selected mates for their children, and that the groom did not have to demonstrate his prowess as a hunter, and his ability to provide for the bride’s family as he would have had to do in the old days. Forever had fallen in love, and he was going to marry for love, just like the white people. It was better and happier that way.

Confident that Bezhinee would accept his proposal, Forever had purchased a diamond ring of 1/4 carat proportions, which he now slipped on her finger, moments after she had said, “If you wish.” Bezhinee allowed herself the luxury of gazing briefly at the sparkling diamond on her finger before shoving her hand in the pocket of her cardigan. Her fingers constantly explored the unaccustomed outline and hardness of the first ring she had ever owned. She blushed and hung her head down.

That’s the way Bezhinee was, bashful.

Forever was different. He was outgoing, cheerful and educated, having spent some seven years in residential school, and thereafter by working in lumber camps. He was a good worker. Moreover he knew what to do at times like this, knowledge wrung from many nights spent at the movies.

“We’ll go see the priest on Sunday, after Mass,” Forever told Bezhinee, who blushed again.

After Mass on the very next Sunday, Forever led Bezhinee by the hand to the church rectory to see Father Curser, the visiting missionary. Bezhinee trembled. Her hands were cold and damp. Still she went.

Forever knocked on the rectory door.

“Come in,” came the muted invitation.

Forever and Bezhinee walked in, closed the door, and stood awkwardly together.

“Come to see you about somepin”‘ Forever announced, shifting his feet and flashing a subdued smile.

“About what?” asked Father Curser, interrupting the removal of his vestments and looking at Forever suspiciously.

“Me and Bezhineee gotta get married,” Forever blurted out. This time his smile was uninhibited.

“Gotta get married!” said Father Curser his eyes narrowing, his visage darkening.

“Yeah,” replied Forever. Unaware of the priest’s reaction, he was smiling even more broadly.

Father Curser expelled the breath he had been holding and allowed his indignation to bubble over.

“In trouble, eh?” he intoned sarcastically. “You get in trouble and you ask the church to get you out. You’re all the same. Get married? You have sinned. You’ve gone and got this poor girl in trouble. You, Forever. I never expected that from you! Why can’t you young people wait and marry for love?” Father had run out of breath.

Forever broke in, “That’s right Fauder. We’re in love so we gotta get married. Bezhinee here, she don’t got no trouble. She’s happy her.” Father’s diatribe had not made much sense to him.

Bezhinee, hearing her name mentioned, hung her head and blushed a deeper hue than before.

“Oh. Oh … Well. I’m sorry,” Father Curser apologized. “It’s just that I never thought … that is to say … I’m glad, …” he trailed off in dismay.

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