beside a lunchbox lined with breadcrumbs . . .
Acknowledgments
This book, like every book ever written, is fictional. That said, everything in it is either based on real people, real stories, or real history. If there are any discrepancies of facts within (or my interpretation of them), the blame lies entirely with me, the teller of these stories, and not with the people who inspired, lived, or shared them.
In the chronological order of the chapters, I’d like to recognize and express my gratitude to the following people:
For the school-teacher chapter: Greg Ellis and the Galt Museum Archives in Lethbridge, the librarians at the Lethbridge Public Library; Angie Warkup; and Linda Nugent, who gave critical feedback and invaluable anecdotes for the proceeding four chapters as well.
For the Ukrainian chapter: Father Mark Bayrock, Jack Peak, Joe Lavorato, and Tekla Berkedale.
For the First Nations chapter: William Singer III for his patient storytelling, Kelly Tail Feathers for his studious fact-checking, Robbie Plaited-hair, Jeff Doherty, and inspiration from the brilliant writer that is Sherman Alexie.
For the hippie chapter: Lucy Carlson, and the library staff at Lethbridge College.
For the Greece and textile-mill chapter: an anonymous (and shockingly corrupt) landlady of my past, Stefan Fournier, Kenn Hale for useful legal information, and George Arnokouros for language and cultural accuracies.
For the inner-city youth chapter: immeasurable thanks to Deb Mallet for her life story, and to Anthony Suppa and Larisa Williams.
For the South African chapter: Michael Mercier for his legal advice, Rick Holden, Gail Leuzinger, Irving Hexham, Lee White, Brianna Sharpe, and an enormous thanks to Nicki Mosley.
For the Ottawa youth chapter: Jeff Lindberg, Brian Silcoff at the Ottawa Archives, Glenn Garwood, Ralph Getson with his inexhaustible Maritime fishing information, and the Archives of the Canadian War Museum.
For the musician chapter: Ellie Nimeroski and Mechtild Schnell.
For the physiotherapist in Montreal chapter: Andrew Kahlil for his story, Nadine Baladi, Joe Baladi for perspective on life under Nasser, and Sarah Thomas.
For the Melissa chapter: Brenda Fortier, the sea-kayaking guru John Dowd and his unfaithful dog, Lolita, Karen McMullen for all her teenaged details, Mike McKenzie, Mathieu Valade, and J.P. McCarthy for Canadian surfer information, and Silva Johansson, who helped with coastal wildlife questions.
And for the final doctor chapter: the people at the archives of the Haliburton Echo and the Minden Times, and again, Andrew Kahlil, for always pointing me in the right medical direction.
I would also like to express colossal thanks to Sandy McMullen, with her eager insights, recommendations, and fact-checking on all of the Toronto chapters; to my parents for sending me some direly needed grocery money on the very last leg of the journey; to Joyce Gilmour, who was a devout proofreader and friend throughout; to Lynn Coady, for her brilliant editorial eye; and finally to Ruth Linka, for taking a chance on me and this book.
Mark Lavorato is a musician, photographer, and professional nomad. His freelance work has been published in over twenty-five magazines including Ascent, Orange Room Review, and Poetry Canada. Mark is also the author of a collection of poetry called Wayworn Wooden Floors (2012), and his first novel, Veracity (2007) is available on his website at marklavorato.com. Mark currently resides in Montreal, but his wandering habits may soon take him elsewhere.
Copyright © 2011 Mark Lavorato
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (ACCESS Copyright). For a copyright licence, visit www.accesscopyright.ca.
LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION
Lavorato, Mark, 1975–
Believing Cedric [electronic resource] / Mark Lavorato.
Electronic monograph in HTML format.
Issued also in print format and another electronic format.
ISBN 978-1-926972-33-6
I. Title.
PS8623.A866B45 2011a C813'.6 C2011-904189-8
Editor: Lynn Coady
Proofreader: Heather Sangster, Strong Finish
Front cover design: Ruth Linka
Front cover: mammamaart, istockphoto.com
Brindle & Glass is pleased to acknowledge the financial support for its publishing program from the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Brindle & Glass Publishing Ltd.
www.brindleandglass.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedication
I
November 5, 1957
II
October 23, 1962
III
June 11, 1965
IV
April 18, 1969
V
March 7, 1981
VI
September 14, 1985
VII
January 30, 1991
VIII
July 19, 1996
IX
May 14, 2000
X
December 16, 2004
XI
October 21, 2007, 4:16 PM
XII
October 21, 2007, 4:29 PM
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
Believing Cedric Page 30