Fight for Justice

by Lori Saigeon

  “Couldn’t have been Justice here, Floyd. He lives in Monarch.”

  “Time was, kids respected the elders.” He looked straight at Justice. “Do you respect your elders?”

  Justice swallowed hard. “Yeah, I do,” he said.

  “Good thing, eh, Leon? He could be in trouble otherwise.”

  Justice squirmed where he stood, wishing Mr. Blackquill’s attention was elsewhere. Mushum seemed to feel his discomfort.

  “How about some coffee, Floyd?” Mushum said.

  “Coffee, eh? I might have some around here.” Mr. Blackquill shuffled over to the kitchen cupboards and pulled out a tin of coffee. Mushum went ahead and cleared himself a chair, placing the newspapers underneath it and a sock on top of the papers. He sat down comfortably, as though he did this all the time. Justice watched Mr. Blackquill measure out the coffee and set it to boil on the stove. He leaned against Mushum’s chair.

  Mushum settled back in his chair. “So how you been keeping?” he asked.

  “Hold on a minute, I’ll get there,” responded Mr. Blackquill gruffly. “I’m looking for mugs.” He rattled through several cupboards until he found two, eyeing them suspiciously. When the coffee boiled, he brought everything to the table and poured coffee for Mushum and himself. He seemed to have forgotten Justice.

  Mushum took a sip of his coffee. “That’s good,” he said.

  “Well, you asked how I’m doing, Leon,” began Mr. Blackquill. He pulled a piece of bannock out of the bread bag. “Last week I went to see that doctor in the city.” Mr. Blackquill waved his hand and shook his head as though he didn’t think much of the doctor. For my back, eh?” he added. “It’s giving me a lot of trouble. Ahhh, he doesn’t know what to do about it. Some days it’s hard just getting out of bed.”

  Mr. Blackquill took a sip of coffee. He bit into the bannock. “Say, that is good.” He took another bite. “But what does that doctor know about back pain, real pain? He’s young enough to be my grandson.”

  “I sure know how a bad back feels, Floyd,” Mushum said. I can’t get under my snowmobile any more if I have something big to fix. Good thing I have Justice here, because he sure helps me.” Mushum smiled at Justice. “When he’s around, anyway. Getting old’s not much fun, eh?” Mushum went on.

  Mr. Blackquill chewed on his bannock thoughtfully. “You got that right, Leon.” he replied. “Kokum Hawkfeather would have known which tea to brew that would have helped me,” Mr. Blackquill said, nodding to himself. “And we respected our elders!” he added.

  “Remember when we were young, Floyd? We used to raid old Kokum Hawkfeather’s garden.” Mushum chuckled. “She always wondered why that garden didn’t produce so well.”

  Justice was amazed to hear that his grandfather had ever done anything wrong, besides the fighting he’d told him about earlier. He knew Mushum would never do that now.

  “You know, I forgot we did that,” Mr. Blackquill replied, leaning back in his chair. “Do you remember the wake they had when she died? I think that’s the biggest one this reserve has ever seen.”

  “Yeah, everyone loved Kokum Hawkfeather,” agreed Mushum. “And all those kids of hers have moved away now,” he added, nodding his head, his eyes seeing events from the past.

  “Yeah. Ten, I think she had.” Mr. Blackquill seemed really interested in this story. “And not one of them on the reserve now.”

  “You know, I think some of them might live in Monarch City,” Mushum commented, turning to Jus-tice. “Jus, do you know any Hawkfeather kids?”

  Mr. Blackquill, still chewing bannock, swung towards Justice, listening for the answer. His gaze on Justice made Justice’s mouth go dry.

  “Uh, I don’t think so.” He racked his brain to remember if he had ever heard that last name before.

  “Ahhh, who knows where they live?” Mr. Blackquill waved his hand dismissively. “City’s so big, they could be anywhere. Me, I like to know my neighbours.”

  “It’s nice to see people you know at the store, too.” Mushum agreed. “Did you hear that the band council is taking over the gas station and making it into a store?”

  Mr. Blackquill had not heard this news and he and Mushum talked about it for quite a while as they sipped coffee. Justice couldn’t believe how they could chat away like old buddies when Mr. Blackquill had been so miserable when they’d first arrived.

  Finally Mushum stood up, offering his hand to Mr. Blackquill. “Well, Floyd, we better go. We still have work to do on that snowmobile and winter’s coming.”

  Mr. Blackquill shook Mushum’s hand. “I know it, Leon,” he replied. “My bones say so.”

  Mushum laughed. “I remember the days when my bones didn’t talk to me!” Mr. Blackquill laughed too, as Mushum and Justice headed out the door

  “See you next time, Floyd,” Mushum said, nudging Justice to shake Mr. Blackquill’s hand.

  “Yeah, bye. And Justice,” Mr. Blackquill put a finger up to give Justice directions, “tell your Kokum Pearl she still makes the best bannock around.” Mr. Blackquill shut the door after them.

  Mushum and Justice walked a little way in silence. Finally Justice burst out, “Mushum, why do you go visit him? He’s so grouchy.”

  “Oh that.” Mushum nodded his head. “That’s why I go.” Mushum smiled at Justice’s puzzled look. “I’ve known him a long, long time, Justice. Mr. Blackquill doesn’t have someone like Kokum to talk to every day like I do

  That’s true, thought Justice. Who would want to live there? That would be pretty lonely.

  “You see, his wife died a few years back,” Mushum went on, “and ever since then he just doesn’t like too many visitors. Unless I show up with Kokum’s bannock. And of course, who doesn’t like Kokum’s bannock?” Mushum laughed teasingly. They were almost home. “Maybe we should have some ourselves, eh?”

  Justice realized he was starving. “Yeah, let’s have some right now!”

  “Okay, but let’s not wake up the girls,” Mushum dropped his voice as they neared the house. “It’ll be just us.”

  Justice felt warm inside, despite the chill in the air.

  Chapter 14

  The rest of the weekend sped by and too soon Justice’s family was saying goodbye. They hugged all around, with promises to call when they got home. Mom made sure that Mushum and Kokum would have their car looked at for winter before it snowed. It seemed funny that she was their kid, but she worried about them almost the same way she worried about him and Charity.

  On the way home, Charity chatted about the friends she had seen while she was on the reserve. Every time they drove up, a group of girls seemed to materialize out of nowhere and Charity always had friends at the door. Just like at home, Justice thought. She spent a lot of time with Kokum, too. Justice was amazed at how she found cooking with their grandma fun. She seemed to think that everything Kokum did was great.

  “...and she made muffins without eggs!” Charity was saying. “She put in a banana and they turned out fine!” Justice guessed that was something pretty amazing.

  “Yeah, Kokum sure can make something out of almost nothing,” Mom agreed. “That’s what happens when you don’t have a store close by. You learn to ‘make do.’”

  “She sure does ‘make do,’” Charity agreed. “But she always has lots of flour on hand!” They all laughed. Kokum’s bannock was famous on the reserve. Almost everyone made bannock, but no one made bannock like Kokum.

  As they pulled into their driveway, Mom turned to the children. “How about tea and toast and then everyone gets to bed?” she suggested. “We’re all tired, and there’s school and work tomorrow.”

  Sure!” Justice and Charity chimed in together. Mom didn’t really need to ask; they always had tea and cinnamon toast when they got home from Kokum and Mushum’s house. It was their ritual.

  A few minutes later, the family was around the table in their cozy kitchen. Justice crunched into the buttered toast and savoured the hot tea. Even Charity was quiet as they enjoyed the
ir snack.

  “You brought home some bannock, right?” Justice asked his mom.

  “Of course, Jus.” Mom chuckled. “You can take it for lunch tomorrow.”

  “Oh, good,” he sighed with relief.

  “All right, you two, off to bed,” Mom said, stifling a yawn. “Dishes in the sink.”

  Justice was happy to climb into bed. He’d had a busy day after getting up early and he fell asleep quickly, thinking about Mushum’s kindness to Mr. Blackquill.

  •••

  Thin, wintry sunlight struggled through his window when Justice awoke the next morning. The cold had settled in for good now and he could only hope for the first big snowfall to come soon. Why is it harder to get up in winter? he wondered.

  Yawning and stretching, he thought again about Mushum’s words: Mr. Blackquill doesn’t have someone like Kokum to talk to every day like I do. Justice considered his own family as he pulled on his jeans. Yes, sometimes Charity chattered too much and his mom knew everything that went on. But if he needed someone to talk to, they were there for him.

  Justice pulled a sweater out of a drawer. What if he didn’t have anyone, like Mr. Blackquill? Would he be a bit grumpy, too? Justice couldn’t imagine life without the others around. It made him wonder about Trey’s family. What were they like? Justice knew he had a mom and some older brothers, but that was about all he knew.

  Charity stuck her head into his room. “Jus, remember we have to start presenting our Canadian places projects today!”

  Justice groaned. He didn’t like having to talk in front of the class. Charity, of course, loved it and she flounced around in anticipation, holding out something she’d drawn.

  “How do you like my picture of the CN Tower?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.

  “Looks good!” he exclaimed, and he meant it. Charity was artistic and she had obviously spent time perfecting her final drawing.

  Justice hoped his project was okay. He was proud of his model of the reserve, made out of small boxes and cans. He had spent a lot of time painting everything the right colours and had even made more bushes out of yarn and other materials Mr. Wilson had given him at school. But he wondered now if Charity was right – talking about the reserve might seem boring to some people. He shrugged inwardly. Too late now – the projects were done and due to be handed in today.

  Less than an hour later, Justice and Charity had locked up, left their house and were trudging to school. As Justice approached the schoolyard, he could see Vance whipping through the monkey bars. He grinned at a really daring move but his smile quickly vanished as he scanned the rest of the playground.

  Trey was already there. His dark head of hair stuck up above pretty much everyone else’s, and, as usual, he seemed to be in the middle of turmoil. Justice sighed. He didn’t really feel like meeting up with Trey again, especially if Trey was in the mood to cause problems. He was worried that something might happen to his project. Maybe he could just blend in unnoticed.

  No such luck. When Trey caught sight of Justice, he slipped out of the group and headed toward him. What does he want now? Justice thought.

  “Pretty Boy,” Trey spat out. “Haven’t seen you around lately. Guess you’ve been busy playing with your little toys here.”

  Justice shrugged and tried to move around Trey. Another of Trey’s “friends,” a blond boy, was right there.

  “Yeah, where’ve you been?” the blond-haired boy demanded.

  “I dunno,” Justice muttered and again tried to go around him.

  Trey stepped right in front of him. “We asked you Where. You. Been.” Trey punctuated each word with a shove on Justice’s shoulder.

  “I dunno, around, I guess.” Justice heard his voice get louder and harsher and his heart pounded.

  Surprisingly, Trey backed off a little. “Well, we all missed you,” he sneered.

  “Yeah, we missed you,” echoed his buddy. He yanked one of the houses from Justice’s model of the reserve. “This is what’s gonna happen to you,” he sneered as he crushed it in his hand.

  “See you after school, Justice,” Trey promised, his eyes narrowed and a menacing tone in his voice.

  Great, Justice thought, what does Trey have against me?

  Chapter 15

  Justice had a hard time keeping his mind on school work after Trey’s threat. Charity presented her project and the class ate it up. She was so enthusiastic you couldn’t help but be excited about Toronto just listening to her. And Justice was right; the other kids were impressed by her detailed drawing of the CN Tower. Justice was relieved to find out that his presentation would have to wait until the next day. But his joy over this news was quickly squashed by thoughts of Trey and his buddy, and the walk home after school. What did Trey mean, “See you after school?” Justice wondered. It certainly wasn’t going to be anything positive. He hoped he could keep his distance.

  “Justice, I asked you to hand out the newsletters,” Mr. Wilson was saying, a puzzled look on his face. Why didn’t I hear him before? Justice wondered as he took the papers from Mr. Wilson and began to pass them out.

  Mrs. Lipswitch’s voice crackled over the intercom. “Mr. Wilson, could you please send Trey to the office?”

  At Mr.Wilson’s nod, Trey got up and slouched nonchalantly to the door, as if it wasn’t a big deal to be called down to the office. Well, he’s been there enough times, maybe it isn’t a big deal, Justice thought. He was glad that Trey was gone, even if it was only for a little while.

  Too soon the school day was over and the children crowded out the classroom door and toward the stairs.

  “See ya, Jimmy,” Justice said, keeping an eye out for Trey. So far he hadn’t seen him. I can’t believe he can do this to me, he thought as he joined up with Charity, Vance and some other kids on their way out of the school.

  Suddenly Justice remembered some notes he needed to go over for his presentation. “Charity, wait, I gotta run back into the classroom for something.”

  “Justice!” Charity groaned. “Can’t you just leave it?”

  “No, I need my notes,” he replied, already pulling open the school door.

  Justice bounded up the steps two at a time and rounded the corner into the hallway. The caretaker waved to him from the other end, but other than Mrs. McDonald, the hallway was deserted. It felt cool and calm in the school, not chaotic like when the kids were all there. Justice always liked the way the silence felt.

  As Justice reached the classroom door, he heard adult voices inside. Mr. Wilson was talking to someone. Justice paused at the doorway, unsure whether or not to enter.

  Mr. Baker was speaking. “A worker from Social Services was here to talk to Trey today.”

  So that’s where Trey was this afternoon, thought Justice.

  “Were they asking about the partying at his house?” asked Mr. Wilson. “Like I told you, he’s been dead tired lately.”

  “I’m not sure about the details,” Mr. Baker replied. “I know something went on there last weekend that they wanted to ask him about, but that’s as much as I know.”

  “Well, I hope they keep an eye on things there,” Mr. Wilson said. “I don’t like what I’m seeing on this end. Trey can’t keep his mind on his school work and he’s getting to be a handful in the classroom.”

  How about on the street? Justice thought. Or try being on the playground with him.

  Another teacher walked by. “Justice? Can I help you?” she asked him.

  “Oh, yeah, no, I just need something from my classroom.” Justice realized he had been eavesdropping. He entered the classroom as though he had just arrived in the school, trying not to look as though he had been listening.

  “Justice? What brings you back? Missed me already?” Mr.Wilson teased.

  “No, I forgot my notes,” Justice mumbled. He usually liked to joke around with Mr.Wilson, but today he hastily grabbed what he needed and turned to leave. He couldn’t wait to get out of the room. Justice felt as though Mr. Wilson would be
able to tell by looking at him that he’d heard their conversation.

  “Okay, see you tomorrow, Justice,” Mr.Wilson said.

  “Bye, Justice,” Mr. Baker added.

  “Bye,” Justice called back over his shoulder. He relaxed again when he reached the hallway. He would have to think about what he had heard about Trey and his family. His home sure sounded different from Justice’s own.

  •••

  Justice kept his thoughts to himself as he rejoined Charity and the other kids outside. They were all teasing each other back and forth, and Charity was in the middle, as usual. Justice felt anger boil up inside him, knowing he couldn’t be as carefree as they were. There was no way he could relax and joke around. He glanced over his shoulder again. No sign of Trey...yet.

  As Justice and Charity left the schoolyard, Justice felt some of the tension seep away. Maybe Trey had been all talk today. He began to listen to Charity’s stream of chatter. “So then I forgot what I was saying about the CN Tower, right when I was showing my drawing! Did you notice?” She peered anxiously into Justice’s face. “Jus, could you tell?”

  “No, no – it was fine,” he said.

  She seemed not to notice Justice’s vague answer. “Well, that’s good! I mean, if Mr. Wilson hadn’t asked me some questions right then I would’ve been stuck.” Justice could see her reliving the presentation in her mind. “Yeah, it’s a good thing I kept going,” she concluded.