by Dawn Dumont
“So Tabitha told you about the trial?” I asked.
“Nah, I saw a bunch of cars and got nosy. What kind of trial?’
“Oh you know, witchcraft.” My mom was already blasé about the experience. Her husband was an alcoholic, her youngest daughter was a witch, her second oldest was in law school and still useless; there was nothing that could upset her now.
The priest and elder sat next to each other and said nothing. They still held a romantic illusion that order would be restored and that the “investigation” would continue. They had not yet accepted that fear no longer had the hold over people that it used to have. With the Internet, computer games and HD TV fighting over their souls, people don’t have the time to worry about the devil and his shenanigans.
Mom and I drove to Janet’s house and discussed the day’s activities. My cousin had married onto the reserve about a decade before my sister. She felt no need to feign respect for the membership. She laughed at Mom’s impression of Edna.
Janet gave us the inside information: Edna’s kids were in and out of foster care because of her gambling addiction. Mom raised her hand to her heart, as if to say, “Oh, what a terrible woman.” Even though, of course, Mom would be in the casino that very evening.
I stood by my earlier decision to like the woman. Yes, she had accused my sister of a terrible crime, but it was the reserve that had chosen to take her seriously. They were just as guilty as she was. Besides, I admired her creativity — she could have accused my sister of anything — she chose witchcraft. That took imagination and balls.
Tabitha joined us at Janet’s. “What did they decide?” she asked with her usual clarity.
Mom and I scratched our heads. There had been no outcome as far as we knew. Other than the devil being identified as a real being, no other conclusive statements had been made, I explained.
“Is Pam banned or what?” Tabitha asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied lamely.
We called the band office the next day. Councillor Bear informed us that Pam was indeed banned. Forever.
Then forever was lowered to a month and now she lives there.
As for the Love 69 tattoo, Mom paid to have it changed to a blue orchid that wound its way down her shoulder. It still looks trashy but doesn’t have the same demonic connotations in her mind.
I graduated from law school but never practiced. And despite what my mom thinks, I came to this decision of my own free will, and was not influenced by Edna’s “evil eye,” “bad medicine,” or “ancient Indian curse”, although, I would like to speak to her about a recurring rash of warts.