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THE NEXT MORNING IS clear, with the sun shining bright through the curtains. The leaves on the trees are still, with no sign of a breeze. It’s the perfect day for the powwow.
Powwows are by far my favorite event to attend. Every year, the entire village congregates to the arena, our largest building on the rez. Late that afternoon, my mother hangs onto my arm until we reach the door of the arena, but the second the door is open she spots a group of her friends and quickly leaves my side. She’s wearing her nicest Indian sweater, handmade by one of the elders when I was just a boy. It looks new because she only wears it on special occasions.
I spot the chief over by one of the food and drink tables and am just making my way over to him when I feel a tug on the back of my jacket. It’s Dakota.
She grins at me. “Hey, handsome. Come here often?”
“Hi, beautiful. I was hoping I’d see you.”
She’s wearing a form-fitted sweater overtop body-hugging leggings with tall mukluks. Even though there’s not a hint of skin showing, she looks sexy as hell.
She reaches up and wraps her arms around my neck. I’m just about to hug her back when I see Butch walking though the door.
Our eyes meet, and he stops in his tracks.
His cousin Billy walks up behind him, slaps him on the back, then leads him over to a group of people.
I wish like hell he wasn’t here tonight, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Butch never misses a get-together. Undoubtedly he’s been drinking, and likely raring for a confrontation with someone. I just hope it’s not me.
Dakota puts a hand on my arm. “Don’t worry, Ray. We’ll just keep off his radar and we’ll be okay.”
I shrug. “I’m not the least bit worried about him,” I lie.
I take her by the hand and lead her over to the chief to say hi, putting as much distance as I can between Butch and me.
Harlan, the chief, looks happy as he shakes our hands, and thanks us for coming. He’s definitely the best chief we’ve ever had. His father was chief until I was a teenager, but he made more enemies than friends. He had an arrogant personality and some said a penchant for booze once he was behind closed doors. I knew him to be intolerable of anyone who dared oppose his views or ideas. Thankfully, his son is nothing like him.
“I heard about your upcoming opportunity in Toronto,” Harlan says. “You have a lot of people rooting for you.”
“Well, I’ll do my very best. I’m sure they have access to a lot better talent than me, but what the hell, hey? It’s worth the shot.”
“Don’t think of it that way. When you walk into that studio, you’ve got to feel like you are their only choice. Think number one and you’ll be number one.”
Just then, the powwow dancers walk into the arena and all eyes are on them. I’ve always been so blown away by the incredibly colourful and detailed outfits. The work that goes into the outfits can take upwards of a year to make. The feathers and pelts of every kind of local animal are beaded and sewn to make gauntlets, and other pieces create the most spectacular traditional creations.
The feathered headpieces and fur-lined moccasins are made by Mabel and her art circle. My mother used to sit in with the craft circle and help until she started getting arthritis in her hands. Now, she supports the dancers in a different way—by being the loudest cheer section she can be. It’s why I always move a few feet away from her once the festivities start. I don’t want to be associated to her once she starts hollering and jumping around. She’s so over the top loud that I’ve actually had people come up to me afterward and ask if she’s been drinking. She never drinks, but once she gets carried away, you’d swear she’s loaded.
“Look at the outfits,” Dakota says. “Have you ever been a dancer before?”
“Hell no!”
She laughs. “Why not?”
“I keep rhythm on my drums, not with my feet. If I were to dance, I’d get sued for injuring people. Seriously.”
“So what you’re saying is that there’s no slow dancing in our future?”
“As long as you’re feeling brave and wearing steel-toed boots, I’ll give it a try. Just don’t sue me if things go sideways.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “I’ll even sign a waver if you like.”
A hard slap on my shoulder causes me to gasp and hold my breath. I turn to see Joe standing behind me. “How’s it going?”
“Fine.” I force air into my lungs. For a second I thought it was Butch.
“Where’s your costume?” He laughs.
I look up and down at him. “The same place yours is.”
“Did you see Butch? That prick pulled into the lot and just about hit a group of people. What an idiot.”
“Yeah. I noticed him. I don’t think he’s going to cause any shit. At least not with me. If he was still pissed at us, he would’ve already done something.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. If I were you, I’d keep my eyes on him. The guy is a loose cannon.” Joe walks away.
As soon as the drumming and singing starts, the dancers begin. I always wonder how they can remember all the steps and keep up the high energy as they dance in a large circle in the arena. Even though our tribal songs move me, there’s no way I would ever have the stamina to dance as hard and as long as they do.
When the first song ends, the everyone claps except for my mother, who is hollering and cheering from the other side of the massive room. Dakota points to my mother, then looks at me. “Maybe she should be in a band. She’d make one hell of a lead singer.”
“Everyone around her would go deaf.”
As the next song starts, I scan the room for Butch. Joe was right. It’s a smart idea to keep eyes on him. That way he can’t sneak up on you.
Dakota tells me that she’s dying for a drink, so I grab onto her hand and maneuver us to the back of the arena, where there are coolers of drinks. I grab us a couple cans of pop, and then motion to the exit door. “Should we go outside and get some air?”
She nods and smiles.
Once we’re outdoors with the arena door closed, there are only muffled sounds coming from inside, and we’re able to hear each other. Dakota puts her drink down on a log beside the door, then wraps her arms around my waist. “I’m so happy that you’re going to audition in Toronto. I only hope that once you’re big and famous, you don’t forget about me.” She laughs.
I snicker. “Yeah, right. First of all, I could never forget about you. And secondly, I highly doubt I’ll get the job.”
“Are you kidding? Of course you’ll get the job. You can’t think like that. Remember what the chief said. You have to walk into that studio like you own the place. There’s no room for self doubt.”
“I know. I know. I just hope they’re okay with Indians. If either of them has bought into the bullshit stigma about our people and how worthless society has made us out to be, I’ll be defeated before I start to play.”
“Didn’t you tell me that they saw a video of you playing?”
I nod.
“Well. Then they already know you’re Indigenous. I think it’s your talent that they’re interested in, not your skin colour. Besides, have you seen what they look like yet?”
I shake my head. “Nope. But I doubt they’re Indian.”
“Why is that?”
“Because they’ve been a successful band. How many A-room Indigenous bands do you know of that play all across Canada? Even if Indian bands are super talented, most don’t get taken seriously due to type-casting.”
She shrugs. “I guess you’re right. That is so unfair.”
“True. But that’s the way it is. And, until something changes, it’s the way it will stay.”
Dakota sighs, then shrugs off the heaviness of our conversation. “Let’s not focus on all that now. I want to have a fun night with you and create lots of gossip on the rez.”
I laugh. “I’m in!”
She smiles sweetly, then presses her lips against mine. As soon as her warm breath touches my face, everything around me disappears. We kiss, long and passionately, as the once icy wind twists around us, creating a private shield.
Our passion is quickly interrupted when the arena door flies open and a group of five walk out. The three men and two women walk to the corner of the building and light up a joint. Dakota giggles and looks at me. “I don’t think we need an audience.”
I ask if she wants to go back inside, and she nods. The wind is starting to feel cold again.
I grab the door handle and just as I’m pulling it open, Butch walks out. Billy and a few other known shit-disturbers trail behind him.
“Well. Look who we have here.” Butch breathes the stench of booze all over us. “A snake and a weasel.”
I try to maneuver around him, but he moves in our way, holding the door closed. “Where ya going so fast?”
“Come on, Butch. Leave us be. We just want to go back inside. Okay?”
He laughs. “Why? Is your bitch getting cold?”
I shake my head slowly. “You don’t have to be like this. Just let us through. We aren’t looking for trouble.”
“Well, looking for it or not, you found it, Ray. Don’t you hate it when Karma walks through a door when you least expect it?”
“Is that right, Butch? You’re my Karma?” I scoff. “Fine. You’re my Karma. Whatever. Just move out of the way.”
Butch pushes his shoulders back, then rams me with his chest. “No way, man. It’s time you paid for what you took from me.”
I push against him. “What did I take from you?”
“Well, my career for one, and my bitch for another.”
“Excuse me?” Dakota shrieks. “I have never been your bitch. You stalked me. I have always thought you were a creep, and you’re proving that right now.”
Suddenly, Butch shoots his hand out and wraps it around Dakota’s throat. “You wanted me, that’s why you were playing hard to get. You loved the thrill of the chase.”
I grab his arm and try to loosen his grasp on Dakota.
Billy walks up to us. “Come on, Butch. Let her go.”
Butch turns and looks at his cousin. “Back the fuck up, or you’ll be next.”
Dakota is grunting as she tries to pry his hands off her throat. I’m trying to help her by reefing on his arm, but he’s too strong, and nothing I’m doing is working.
People inside the arena, waiting to get out, are starting to push against the door. It’s the only thing beginning to weaken Butch. Slowly the door gap gets bigger, and I see Joe pushing to get outside.
I yell to him that Butch is bracing the door, and to push harder. Joe sees the panic in my eyes and hollers to the people around him to push harder. Moments later, Butch’s feet start to skid, causing him to lose his grip on Dakota. I yank her away just as a half dozen people file through the door to the outside.
Dakota bends over, grasping her throat. I hold onto her as she coughs and strains to take a deep breath.
“What the hell is going on out here?” Joe exclaims.
I point to Butch, who is smiling devilishly. “That asshole choked her.”
Joe glares at Butch. “What the hell is the matter with you?”
Butch laughs. “I was just joking around. She’s faking being hurt. Besides, what business is it of yours?”
“They are my friends. You have no right to put your hands on her, or anyone for that matter. You’re an animal.”
Butch laughs again. “Oh yeah? Maybe I’m a bear, and if you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll rip you apart.”
A young woman walks through the door and sees Dakota. I ask the woman to take Dakota inside, and to tell the chief to come out here. The woman obliges, leading Dakota into the arena.
As soon as the door closes, Butch grabs the front of Joe’s jacket and slams him against the wall. “You wanna start something with me?” Butch says through gritted teeth.
Joe stares up at him, the bravery he had a few moments ago draining from his face.
Knowing that Joe’s actions are what freed Dakota, I feel compelled to return the favour, or at least try. I take in a huge breath, then grab Butch’s shoulder. “Let him go, Butch. Your problem is with me, not him.”
In a flash, Butch jabs me in the ribs with his elbow, causing me to let go of his shoulder. Then he hauls off and punches Joe square in the face. Joes head falls forward and his body slithers down the wall, landing in a heap in front of me.
I’m just about to lean down to help him up when Butch latches onto my hair and pulls my head back. My eyes quickly catch glimpse of the ten or so people standing at a distance, too afraid to intervene. A second later, I feel the first blow from Butch’s iron fist as it makes contact with the bridge of my nose. Immediately a wave of sharp pain rushes through my head, followed by the taste of blood. All I can hear besides the buzzing in my ears is Billy’s voice as he tries to reason with Butch.
Slowly, the sound of the crowd becomes clearer. Then, I hear Butch laugh. “Let’s see if I can knock him out with one punch, like I did to Joe.”
He tugs at my jacket, then pushes me up against the side of the building and raises a fist. “Are you ready to go to sleep, Ray?”
“You’re a psycho,” I manage to say. “You get off on hurting people. Something is really wrong with your head.”
“Maybe you’re what’s wrong with me. Maybe the next time you go to screw over a friend, you’ll remember this day. I told you the day you fired me from the band that I will have my revenge.”
“It’s no one’s fault but your own that you got kicked out. You drank all the time and raised hell at every gig we had. It’s on you, Butch, not me.”
He laughs maniacally. “I don’t give a shit what you say. As long as you’re still performing, I’ll be somewhere in the shadows, waiting to fuck with you.”
“The band is over, Butch. So, your revenge is futile.”
“Yeah, I heard that, but I also heard that you’re headed to Toronto to try out for a new band. If I were you, I’d hope you don’t get the job. If you do, I’ll make sure you don’t have it for long. And Dakota wanting to be with you and not me? She’s going to regret that as well. She’s got to learn that if she messes with the bull, she’ll get the horns.”
My eyes feel tight, like they’re starting to swell. I strain to open them as wide as I can, then focus on Butch’s crazy eyes. “Mess with me if you want to, but stay the hell away from her, or I swear I’ll—”
“You’ll what?”
Suddenly, the arena door flings open, and the chief walks out followed by two men. “Let go of him, Butch,” he orders.
Slowly, Butch lowers his fist and releases his grip on my jacket.
The chief walks up to him. They are similar in size, both height and girth. I’ve heard of situations where the chief had to get in between fights before and has never walked away with a scratch. That being said, Butch is piss-drunk and wouldn’t feel much if it came to blows.
“What did I tell you,” the chief says slowly, “about showing up at events drunk?”
Butch looks around at the crowd and tries to save face by being cocky. “You told me that I should share with you?”
“I’m sick of your bad behaviour, Butch. Until further notice, you’re banned from attending any events on the rez.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I just did. And if I hear about you terrorizing anyone anymore, you’ll be looking for a new place to live.”
Butch shifts his attention to me. His eyes are squinting and look almost red. “You fucked me over again, hey? I’m not gonna forget this.”
Butch turns and slowly walks away. A few people from the crowd follow him up the road as I bend down to help Joe, who is now half-awake.
The chief asks me if Joe and I are all right, then turns to the remaining onlookers. “Did anyone here see what happened?”
Everyone looks at their feet, or at each other.
“None of you saw anything, hey? That’s what I thought.” The chief shakes his head. “You boys go inside and get cleaned up. I’ll talk with you both tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Chief,” I say, helping Joe to balance as we maneuver our way through the door.
As soon as we’re inside the lit room, my eyes scan the crowd for Dakota. I spot a side table and am just moving Joe toward it so I can sit him down when my mother appears in my peripheral vision. I just get Joe seated when she reaches me. “Oh, my God. What in the hell happened to you two?” She’s yelling, causing others to turn in horror.
“Mom. It’s nothing. Stop yelling. Everyone is looking at us.”
“I don’t give a damn. Tell me what happened right now.”
“Just watch Joe. He’s not quite steady yet. I’ve got to go to the bathroom and clean myself up.”
My mother sits next to Joe. “Hurry up, then. When you get back, I want you to tell me exactly what happened.”
I can still taste fresh blood, so whatever damage Butch did is probably significant. I just hope to hell that he didn’t break my nose. Thankfully Joe isn’t bleeding very much, so hopefully he’ll be all right.
People look at me with shock as I pass by on my way to the bathroom. Thankfully, the sound of drums ring out, which means the dancers are back on and most eyes will be on them again.
In the bathroom, I take a deep breath to prepare myself before looking in the mirror. It doesn’t help. I gasp in horror at the hugely swollen black protrusion on the bridge of my nose. I get closer to the mirror and see that the blackness on my nose is travelling under both of my eyes. That son of a bitch. I look like Frankenstein.
I quickly grab paper towel from the dispenser and wet it in the sink before gently dabbing the blood from my nose and cheeks. When I’ve done all I can to clean up, which isn’t much, I grab more paper towel for Joe, then head back to where he and my mother are sitting.
With my head down, I find my way back to the table. I give my mom the paper towel, then scan the room once more for any sign of Dakota.
“She’s not here,” my mother yells over the loud drumming.
“What?”
“Dakota. She’s not here. Her aunt took her home.”
I lean in close. “She’s gone? Was she okay?”
“She said she had a sore throat, but she looked okay. Why? Did something happen to her too?”
Just then Joe’s brother Slim arrives at our table. He says something in Joe’s ear, then walks over beside me and speaks loudly in mine. “I just heard what happened. That bastard is going to pay for what he’s done.” Slim looks pissed off, but he’s built like a teenager. Although he’s upset about what happened to his big brother, there’s nothing he could ever do about it. Butch is built like a freight train and if he even sneezed in Slim’s direction, he’d probably pass out from fear.
Slim gestures to his brother. “Help me get Joe into my car, would you?”
I nod and tell Mom I’ll be right back as I grab onto one of Joe’s arms. I lead him back outside, and Slim goes to get his car, leaving Joe and me alone.
Joe looks up at my face and smiles. “Please tell me I don’t look as bad as you do right now.”
I chuckle. “No. I don’t think that’s possible.”
“We can’t let Butch get away with this, Ray. Enough is enough. This village has been terrorized by him since he was a teenager. I’m surprised that someone hasn’t taken him out yet.”
“I don’t know, man. I like to hope that one day, he’ll get what’s coming to him.”
“Maybe we should hurry that process along?” There’s no joke in his expression. He looks serious.
“You’re just angry, and rightfully so. Don’t think about revenge. It never works out the way it’s planned. One day, he’ll pick on his equal, and then he’ll learn his lesson.”
Joe shakes his head. “And in the meantime, everyone has to walk around in fear of the maniac?”
Slim pulls up, and I walk Joe to the passenger side and open the door. u
Joe clambers gingerly into the car. “The chief said he wants to meet with us tomorrow. I guess I’ll see you then.”
I bend down and put my hand on his shoulder. “Thanks for what you did to help Dakota, even though you got hurt for doing it.”
“I can say the same to you. If you hadn’t tried to stop Butch from pummelling me, your face wouldn’t look like it does.”
“You mean handsome?”
“Yeah. That’s it!”
The car pulls away. As I turn to walk back into the arena, my mother comes through the door. “I asked Mabel if she would take us to the hospital in Wakeville, and she said she would. She’ll be right out.”
“Mom. I am not going to the hospital. No way. I’m fine, it just looks bad.”
“Are you a doctor? How do you know that you’re okay? You don’t look okay.”
“We don’t need Mabel to drive us all the way to the hospital just to wait five hours to hear that, other than superficial wounds, I’m fine.”
“Your nose looks bad, Ray. You need to see if it’s broken.”
“It’s not broken. I can breathe through it fine. Plus, nothing is moving around. Just leave it. If it’s still swollen tomorrow, I promise I’ll get seen by a doctor.”
She sighs. “Fine! But I’m holding you to that.”
THE WEATHER PUSHES against the door, making it hard to close. Mom kicks off her boots and heads to the bathroom. My eyes are watering, partly from walking in the swift wind, but mostly because of the swelling.
I go to my room and slide my phone out of my pocket to call Dakota. Just as I’m about to dial, my mother pokes her head into the room. “I’m making you some tea with Burdock Root and cedar. It will help the swelling.”
“Fine, Mom. I just have to make a quick call. I’ll come to the kitchen when I’m done.” I hope she gets the hint that I want some privacy.
As soon as my mother disappears down the hall, I shut my bedroom door, sit back down on the bed, and call Dakota.
“Hello.” Dakota’s voice is almost at a whisper.
“Dakota?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay?”
“I think Butch bruised the skin on my neck. But other than my throat being a little sore, I’m okay. How about you?”
“That son of a bitch. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him from choking you. I tried with everything I had, but he was hopped up on booze and had a crazy amount of strength.”
“Don’t be sorry. At least you tried. Besides, it’s not me I’m worried about. I heard from a couple of people that you took a bad beating. That your nose is broken and there are bones sticking out of your face.”
I laugh, and right away get a searing pain in my face. “What a crock of shit. The rez is full of drama queens and gossipers.”
“I figured as much. So the damage to your face isn’t bad, then?”
“Well, it’s not good. But I’m pretty sure once the swelling goes down, I’ll be fine.”
“Do you think your mom would mind if I came over and visited?”
“I think she’d be okay with that, but I’d better ask first. She’s been flipping out about my face since she saw the damage that Butch did.”
“What about Joe? Did he get it as bad as you?”
I tell her how Butch knocked him out cold, and how I tried to stop him. “The last I saw of Joe was after I helped him into his little brother’s car. I’ll know more about how he’s doing when I see him tomorrow. We have to talk to the chief together about what happened.”
Just then, my mother yells from the front room that my tea is ready. I tell Dakota that I’ll call her later, then head to the kitchen.
My mother pulls out a chair for me. “Sit down.”
I sit, and she tells me that the chief called while I was talking on the phone. “He wants you to meet him at the lodge tomorrow at noon. I hope to hell that he’s planning on calling the cops after he speaks with you. Butch has a criminal record longer than my body. He needs to be locked up for good before he hurts someone else.”
I nod and sip my tea. “What would you say if Dakota was to come over for a while this evening? I can really use the company.”
My mother sits down. “You’ve got me. You don’t need anyone else to keep you company. Maybe later we can watch a movie together or something.”
“No offence, Mom—I love spending time with you and all—but I’m getting quite close to Dakota, and considering what happened to us tonight, it would be good to see her.”
She sighs. “I guess that would be okay. Just don’t be doing anything stupid in your room.”
“What do you mean?”
She tilts her head sideways. “You know what I mean.”
I shake my head. “Honestly. You’ll have to enlighten me, Mom.”
“Fooling around. Getting naked and having sex. The last thing you need right now is to knock her up and get her pregnant.”
My eyes widen. “I can’t believe you just said that to me. How embarrassing.”
“Well, it’s true. If you think that Butch screwed up your band, have a baby. That will completely change the course of your career.”
“I beg you to stop talking about this.”
She laughs. “Well, it’s true.”
“So, how about it? Can she come over or what?”
Mom gets up from the table and grabs her cup. “Sure. Just make sure she brings a condom.”
“You’re not funny, not even a little bit.”
After I’ve drank my tea, I call Dakota and tell her to come over. I leave the part about the condom out.
SHE LOOKS STUNNING, even in a two-piece fleece tracksuit. Her dark hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail, exposing her beautiful features.
I hold open the door. “Come in.”
Dakota and I walk into the front room, where my mother is sitting and reading the paper. We say a quick hello, then head to my room. My mother calls after us, “Don’t forget what I said.”
I shake my head as I usher Dakota into my room, then shut the door.
Dakota gives me a curious look. “What did she mean by that?”
“Nothing. I think she’s getting dementia.”
Thankfully I have a TV in my room, albeit a small one. If I turn up the volume, Mom won’t be able to hear me and Dakota talking. I feel like I’m in junior high again, hiding in my room to get privacy from my mother.
Dakota and I lie down on the bed and I surf through the available channels—nothing is on. Dakota spends fifteen minutes making a big fuss over how bad my face looks. Then, she rants about Butch, and how he’s a monster that has to be stopped.
I gently turn her head and look at the thumb-sized bruises on her neck. “Does it hurt?”
“Not so much anymore.”
I gently kiss the marks, then her lips. Knowing that we can’t do anything risky while my mother is home, we stop ourselves before getting too hot and heavy.
For the next couple of hours, Dakota tells me how she’d love to live off-rez in a small apartment. Something affordable but clean, and far away from the snooping eyes of her aunt. “Do you think you’ll move off the rez again soon?
“I hope so. I love my mom, but there’s only so much of her meddling I can handle.”
“Maybe after you try out for that band in Toronto, you’ll have a better idea on what you’re doing. It would be great if we were both able to move at the same time. I think you’d make a fun roommate.”
Normally if a girl said those words to me, I’d instantly feel as though I’m suffocating. However, because it’s Dakota, I’m excited at the thought of sharing a place with her. “Yeah. Unfortunately, I won’t really know anything until I get back.”
She gently runs her fingers over my swollen face. “Are you worried about showing up in Toronto all bruised up?”
“Yeah. I can only imagine what Leroy and James will think once they lay eyes on me. They’ll probably think I’m a shit disturber who likes to get into fights. I can’t see them wanting someone like that in their band.”
“Try not to think like that. Practice like crazy for the next couple of days and just show up. You have no control over what they decide. That’s all you can do. If they don’t take you, it’s their loss.”
I snuggle up to her as we watch old Benny Hill reruns. When it hits midnight, Dakota says she’d better get home or her aunt will call my mother, especially after what happened at the powwow earlier.
I offer to drive her home, but she says she can use the walk, and that she only lives five minutes away. I’m hesitant to let her go into the night alone, despite the short walk, but she insists I rest so my swelling goes down faster. Reluctantly, I abide by her wishes and merely walk her to the front door.
With my mother sitting on the sofa close by, I refrain from kissing Dakota goodbye. Instead, I give her a quick hug and tell her to call me once she gets to her aunt’s.
After Dakota leaves, Mom makes me another cup of medicinal tea and we sit together and talk. After about ten minutes, Dakota calls to let me know that she made it home safely. Mom and I finish our drinks and head to bed. It’s been a long, painful evening, and I’m exhausted.
