Provider's Son

by Lee Stringer

  “That hooker havent heard the last of me,” Levi said through clenched teeth.

  “Fuck it, man, fuck it. Theres nothing you can do now.”

  The Ford veered to one side and Levi grabbed for the wheel, correcting the vehicle.

  “Jesus by, keep your eyes on the road. Im coming back tomorrow night, and if I sees her Ill strangle her. If I dont get the wallet back Im calling the cops.”

  “You wont be going back there in this vehicle.”

  “Is that so?”

  “It is so.” Jon chuckled. “Shit man, I can still smell it on you. It must be in your hair or something.”

  Levi didn’t respond and tried to cast his thoughts away from his embarrassment. He drifted into a trance as he stared up at the moon, a habit of his when he was very drunk in the night.

  “I hope I can get a hold of me credit card company before she gets a chance to rack it up.” The truth was that there wasn’t much left to rack up on it. Jon didn’t respond, however, and when Levi looked over at him he was asleep, and the van was veering again to the other side of the road.

  Levi saw the hitchhiker as a phantom in the headlights. He sloppily reached for the wheel and managed to clear the hitchhiker, so close that he could not understand how he didn’t hear at least a small thud of the body against the door.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” Jon said, waking up and taking over as if nothing had happened.

  “You barely missed that hitchhiker! Let me drive for Jesus sake.”

  “What hitchhiker? You think I cant drive?”

  “By youre a better man than me if you can drive asleep.”

  “I wasnt asleep.”

  “Goddamn it, Im not going to argue with you. Pull over or Ill shove her up in neutral.”

  “Fuck you, cracker.”

  “Youll be hauling that gear shift out of your ass if I got to say it again.”

  “Try it.”

  Levi grabbed the shifter and rammed the transmission into neutral. The Ford revved over to Jon’s cursing as he put it back in drive, and once again Levi rammed it in neutral. They did this two more times until Jon slammed on the breaks in the middle of the road, and Levi’s face thumped against the windshield.

  Levi leaned back and held the side of his face.

  “Do you think Id let a crazy, drunk fucking Indian like you marry my beautiful daughter?” Levi said.

  “Youre the drunk, buddy, not me. You think I havent seen the flask you hide in your pocket?”

  With this Levi opened the door of the Ford and jumped out. Jon sped off with the passenger door still swinging. At about a half mile away the brake lights flashed for an instant, and then he was gone.

  Levi walked.

  Few cars passed him, and when they did he didn’t bother to hitchhike. Who was going to pick up a shirtless middle aged man? His hope was that eventually Jon would come to his senses and turn around. He reached into his pocket to call Sinead on his cell phone, but it was gone, along with his cigarettes, which angered him more than the phone. It was in the middle of May, and although it was cold, the alcohol was numbing him. But as he continued to walk and began to shiver, he forgot about any kind of plan to get back to camp. Instead his focus became one thing. Putting one foot in front of the other.

  Eventually he came to a bridge that he couldn’t remember passing on the way in. It was too dark to tell how far down it was to the water, but he could hear it roaring beneath. Still very drunk he decided to sit down and rest against the rail. He closed his eyes.

  “Taking a nap?” said a voice.

  Levi could barely make him out in the darkness, but the shape of a young man stood before him in a red hoodie. Across the front was written, HARVARD.

  “Resting me eyes,” Levi mumbled. His head was fuzzy, and he was now shivering uncontrollably.

  “Your friend must have been resting his eyes too when he nearly ran me over back there.”

  “Said he didnt see you.”

  “Or was it an impaired reaction time?”

  “How long…you been walking behind me?” Levi said, and was amused at how difficult it was to form words.

  “Im walking ahead of you. I came back to give you a hand.”

  “Head of me?”

  “Im hitchhiking all over North America. Now I need to see the oil sands.”

  “How you ahead?”

  “Ahead, behind, what difference does it make? How far is it to the Erbacor Energy project?”

  “Hour. Security gate though.”

  “Ill worry about the security. Wheres your shirt?”

  “Hooker. Pissed on me.”

  “How much did you have to pay for that?”

  “Go to hell,” Levi said, and nodded towards the young man’s shirt. “Harvard? That supposed to be best university?”

  “Youre damn right it is. Fuck Cambridge.”

  “Whats a scholar like you doing on the road?”

  “No better way to see it old sport. Something to keep in my heart before it gets dirtied up with politics. North America is the promised land, brother. The rest of the world is archaic. Weve got everything we need right here. Praise Jesus!”

  “Politics?”

  “That’s right. Im going to be a great leader someday.”

  “Yes by. Good for you.”

  “You think Im crazy.”

  “No. Thinks youre a young fella. Talking to me. In the dark.”

  “Oh I see. You think Im dangerous.”

  “Never said that.”

  “But you think it.”

  “Should I?”

  “Well, theres a gun under my shirt, but you dont have anything to worry about.”

  “Hope not. What part of U.S you from?”

  “Oh, all over.”

  Levi nodded and closed his eyes.

  “Your friend is parked on the side of the road, by the way, not much further ahead.”

  Levi looked up and searched the darkness of the young man’s hood for a face, but could make out only a faint outline. “How you know that?”

  “Relax, Levi. Your native friend is fine.”

  “How you know my name? Who the fuck is you?”

  “Dont be paranoid. You were mumbling in your sleep.”

  “Didnt know I was. Asleep.”

  Levi squinted up at the young man that shimmered and swayed out of focus. Why couldnt he see his face? Was it so dark?

  “You real?” Levi said, but he wasnt sure if he said it in his mind or out loud. Either way the young man responded.

  “I wish I wasnt. Then my legs wouldnt ache like they do. Scooch over. I need a rest too.”

  The young man sat down next to Levi and groaned in relief as he leaned against the rail.

  “Is the blood because of your friend?” asked the young man.

  “I forgot I had blood on me,” said Levi.

  “Sir?” said a voice.

  Levi opened his eyes to see a native police officer staring at him out of the passenger side window of his idling cruiser on the other side of the bridge.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Best kind,” Levi said.

  “You dont look best kind. Why arent you wearing a shirt?”

  “Its in me friends car. I got out to take a leak and he took off without me.”

  “Sounds like a good friend. Why is there blood on you? Youre shaking like a leaf.”

  “I must have fell down somewhere,” Levi said, and tried to smile. He was doing his best to hold together some semblance of dignity, but it was hard without a shirt, a gashed head, stinking with urine, and so hung over that he felt he might pass out. He could see the police officer sizing him up, gauging the truth in his words. He was asked what kind of vehicle his friend was driving and he responded, a Toyota Matrix.

  The officer turned on his emergency lights and stepped out of the vehicle, with his right hand close to his unbuttoned holster. He didnt look nervous, just careful as a matter of routine.

  “Have you been drinking
, sir?”

  “I had a few.”

  “How many is a few?”

  “Seven or eight.”

  “You have a gash on the left side of your head.”

  “Im alright,” Levi said, touching it delicately with his fingers, “its not bleeding anymore.”

  “You might need stiches.”

  “Im fine.”

  “You really should get it stitched. And you look to have the symptoms of mild hypothermia. If it had rained you could have easily died out here.”

  “Im not going to no hospital to get me head stitched. Itll grow over.”

  “So youre refusing medical aid?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. You still have to come with me though.”

  “Why? Am I under arrest?”

  “The last time I checked, public drunkenness was against the law, so I can formally arrest you if you want.”

  Once they were in the car the police officer turned around.

  “How about your friend, the one who left you here?”

  “Uh...he might have had one or two.”

  “One or two.”

  “Actually, no, I dont think he did. He was the D.D.”

  “So he didnt have one or two?”

  “No, I dont think.”

  As much as Levi hated being in the police car it was good to feel warm again. Even if the warm air seemed to intensify his headache. He rested his head on the cool glass to compensate.

  “Is you Cree?” Levi said.

  “Im asking the questions, but no, Im not.”

  In less than ten minutes Levi saw what appeared to be Jon’s vehicle parked half onto the shoulder of the road. Although, it was more stopped than parked. Levi stared it as they passed and saw Jon’s head slumped against the driver side window. The policeman saw it as well, because he turned around and went back. Levi prayed Jon had only passed out and nothing worse.

  “This wouldnt happen to be your friend would it?” said the officer, his emotionless dark eyes staring at Levi in the rear view mirror.

  “It could be.”

  “That dont look like a Toyota Matrix to me.”

  “Sorry by, I was thinking we went in the other rig.”

  “See now that I know youre lying to me its going to make things more difficult for you. And him.”

  The policeman spoke into his radio and got out of the car. Jon’s black hair was smeared up against the glass as the officer rapped his knuckles on the window. There was no response first and Levi’s stomach knotted in worry. The policeman rapped on the window again, much harder, and this time Jon sprang away like a marionette. He then rolled down his window and he and the police officer had a conversation.

  Jon failed the breathalyser, with five times over the legal limit.

  “Beautiful morning,” Levi said, when Jon got in the back of the car with him.

  “So what happens now?” Jon said to the police officer.

  “What happens is I take you to the station and you lose your license for a while. Unless you want to contest it in court.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  “Thats your right.”

  “Look at you, brother. A civil servant for white people. Night in shining armour for the ruling class.”

  Dark eyes in the rear view mirror again, but no response.

  “You could have at least been a res cop.”

  “You could have least been sober. While driving.”

  “I wasnt driving. I was stopped. You cant nail me for that.”

  “The keys were in the ignition. You were in care and control of that vehicle. Im sure you didnt push it there.”

  “I guess the court will decide.”

  The officer shrugged.

  “With a white judge of course,” Jon said. “And divided we fall...”

  No response. Levi was getting a kick out of the conversation.

  I cant place you,” Jon said to the policeman. “You grow up in the city or on a reserve?”

  “Reserve.”

  “Any chance of you telling me where?”

  “Conne River.”

  “What?” Levi said. “Youre a Newfie?”

  “Born and raised.”

  “You dont sound like it.”

  “Ive been here fifteen years.”

  At the police station Jon was formally charged with impaired driving, and his fingerprints were taken. From there they were both taken to the “drunk tank.” Levi was surprised by the quiet. There was no shouting and mockery as he was used to seeing in the movies. Occasionally he noticed a tired set of eyes watching him walk by, but that was all. There was only one holding cell left, so they were both placed in that one.

  “How long do we have to stay here?” Jon said.

  “Until you sober up,” the policeman answered.

  “Sure wer not drunk anymore,” Levi said.

  “We get a phone call,” Jon said.

  “You watch too much television, buddy,” he said, and walked away.

  “Jesus…I just remembered I was talking to some hitchhiker last night,” Levi said. “I think I was…” He stared at the wall, trying to remember the conversation, if it had happened, but his head was pounding.

  Jon buried his head in his hands.

  “I didnt mean that shit I said last night,” Levi said.

  Jon didn’t respond.

  Shirtless, and still stinking of urine, Levi got in the back of Jon’s father’s SUV. Jon climbed in the passenger seat. Bill Smith was at least a foot shorter than his son, and with his black leather jacket and unassuming manner, Levi still found it hard to believe that he held the position he did.

  “Looks like you boys had quite the night,” were Bill’s first words. He stuck out his plump hand at Levi’s and pumped it like a military man. “Ive heard a lot about you, but no one told me you liked being shirtless in September. Boy, you Newfoundlanders are tough as Clydesdales! You smell like one too.”

  “Dad,” Jon said.

  “Im just kidding my friend,” Bill said.

  As they drove back to Camp Wisti it was obvious Jon didn’t want to talk but Bill prodded him so much that it seemed Jon gave in if only to shut the man up. In the voice of a man racked with illness he began telling him everything that happened, but leaving out key parts about Levi, who was glad he did. But midway through his story he stopped and told his father to pull over.

  “Why?” Bill said, grinning.

  “Pull over!”

  Taking his time Bill applied the brakes and eased to the side of the road. Before he came to a complete stop, however, Jon was out of the vehicle and running out through the bushes. Bill laughed at him.

  “How much did the boy drink?” Bill said, turning around in his seat. He was still smiling, but his eyes penetrated Levi, who could now see that behind that good humour lurked a sharp intellect like Jon’s, but with more wisdom to carry it.

  “Way too much,” Levi said, staring out the window at where Jon had gone. “I cant remember.”

  “You would think a grown man and experienced boozer like yourself would have watched out for him.”

  Levi was confused by the sudden accusation, not quite sure if Bill was joking. “Hes a grown man,” he said.

  “You are correct, my friend,” Bill said, turning around. “Theres parts of that story he left out though. What are they?”

  “Parts about me.”

  “Oh boy, what are they?” Bill said, as if he fully expected Levi to tell him everything. And even though Levi felt it was none of the man’s business he found himself doing exactly that. Bill seemed entertained. And his laughing put Levi at ease.

  “I havent been that drunk in a long time,” Levi said. “Things got out of hand.”

  “Even more drunk than you were when you dumped a bucket of rods on top of a safety rep?”

  The smile fell from Levi’s face.

  “If my son hadnt saved your ass by calling me that day you wouldnt have even been drinking in Fort McMurray last night,”
Bill continued. “You would have been drinking in Newfoundland.”

  Levi tried to straighten up in the seat, but his bare back was stuck to the leather so that he was literally squirming.

  “If you got me aboard this rig to put me down I can get out right here and call a cab in the next gas station. Its not my goddamn fault your son cant handle his booze.”

  “Youre the one with no shirt on my friend.”

  “Id rather have no shirt than no license.”

  Bill looked out through the window at where Jon had run off. “Where is that boy gone?” he said, as casually as if Levi and him were chatting over coffee. In fact, with every word Bill spoke there was no sign of anger or confrontation, only humour and straightforwardness.

  Levi stared at him. “Buddy, Im starting to think youre half cracked.”

  “Dont worry,” Bill said. “The law wont let us fire alcoholics. We would have to put you in a program.”

  “Im not an alcoholic.”

  “Oh boy I think you are. Ive known one or two.”

  “I bet you have,” Levi said.

  “Aha! Now wer getting somewhere.”

  “So whats the problem here? Is you jealous or something? I cant help if you got no relationship with the boy.”

  Levi’s words had struck a nerve. He was staring at the side of Bill’s face, and for the first time saw the mirth disappear, if only for an instant.

  “Jon is intelligent, but he hasnt grown up yet,” Bill said, after a moment. “He acts like hes too smart to be influenced by anyone. But hes full of shit. The truth is my son is easily influenced by certain people. And youre one of them. In you he sees a man’s man. Youre a fisherman, youre good with your hands, youre tough. Thats what Im told anyway. My son believes he missed all that. He feels guilty that he was privileged, that he didnt suffer.”

  “Sure didnt he used to be hunting all the time with his grandfather?”

  “Like I said, hes full of shit. His grandfather on his mothers side died before he was born, and my father did trap when he was younger, but for the last twenty years hes had arthritis so bad he can barely go past his back yard. I think he took Jon along once or twice when Jon was too young to hold a gun anyway.”

  “Why is you telling me this?” Levi said.

  “I guess this is the oldest one in the book, but I think youre a bad influence. Ive hardly ever seen my son drinking, let alone getting as drunk as both of you apparently were last night.”