Free Liar by Joanna Gosse Page B

depended on it.

    The day after the Chief Black Eagle’s Thunder Ceremony, Bear came to talk to Sam. He didn’t stay for long. China entered the livingroom with the tea tray. She took one look at Sam’s face and knew something was dreadfully wrong.
    “Where’s Bear?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”
    Sam stared off into space and told her about the latest blow to his pride.
    “My dear grandmother and grandfather were at Black Eagle’s Thunder Ceremony. Granny put the blanket around Black Eagle’s shoulders. Those bastards! She probably didn’t know what she was doing. She’s half blind and deaf and totally confused. She probably thought that Black Eagle was me.”
    China stared at Sam and believed what he said. Sam and Black Eagle had a strong family resemblance. She sat down on the couch, horrified at what had happened to Sam and his family.
    “Oh no. Oh, Sam, I’m so sorry. Your Mother will be devastated.”
    “I’m going to the office. I’ll call her from there,” said Sam resolutely. “She probably knows already. I’m sure one of the village idiots called to tell her the good news.”

    ~ ~

    Two weeks later when China picked up the phone to call Jane she heard no dial tone. Shit, she thought, now what? Life on Grimshaw Island was getting far too grim for words. She hurried to Sam’s office to call the telephone company. He was sending a fax when she arrived.
    “Hi,” said Sam. “What’s up?”
    “There’s something wrong with the phone. I want to call the phone company.”
    “I’ll call them as soon as I’ve finished sending the fax.”
    “Okay,” said China. “Are you coming home soon?”
    “Yup. I’ll be done in a few minutes. Why don’t you go down to the beach and I’ll come get you when I’m ready?”
    China busied herself with picking up pieces of old coloured glass worn smooth by the sand and waited for Sam. Twenty minutes later she saw Sam waving to her and she met him at the car.
    “So? What did the phone company have to say?” asked China.
    “Well,” said Sam ruefully. “It seems that there wasn’t enough money in the account to cover my cheque.”
    “Oh, Sam!” wailed China. “How can you write a cheque when you know it’ll bounce?”
    “I thought I’d get a cheque from the Band Council in there before it had a chance to bounce.”
    “That trick used to work in the old days, before computers, not now! Will you please be more careful?”
    “I’ll pay the bill at the bank tomorrow. It should only be a couple of days before the phone is hooked up again.”
    “Right,” said China grumpily. “Now there’ll be a charge for the hook up.”

    Three days later there was still no service and China was in a state. It was bad enough that she lived on a reserve in the middle of nowhere, but her lifeline to her loved ones was cut off and it just wasn’t good enough. She hung up the useless phone and yelled out to Sam.
    “Sam, the phone still isn’t working. Did you pay the bill yesterday?”
    Sam came down the stairs pulling on a sweater.
    “Ahhh, no,” admitted Sam.
    “Why not?” asked China incredulously.
    “The Band Council didn’t give me the cheque yet.”
    “Jesus Christ! Sam, if you don’t get that cheque and pay the phone bill today, I’ll go to the Band Council myself and yell at them until they fork it over.”
    Don’t do that China, thought Sam angrily. They’re not going to pay me until I finish that proposal. I should get it done today.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll get the cheque today.”
    Sam left and China cleaned up the kitchen and then vacuumed, putting her angry energy to good use.

    ~ ~

    Two more days went by before the phone was re-installed. When it rang for the first time it sounded like music to China’s ears until she heard the grim news from Sam.
    “China, Granny’s dead,” said Sam in a shaky voice.
    “Oh no. What happened?” asked China.
    “A heart attack. Pop said she got up this morning and just fell down like a stone. I