Read Online 21 Days in October by Magali Favre - Free Book Online

tell me what you were thinking, not calling last night. I was worried to death. Your father’s still in prison, you know?”
    â€œWhy’s that? You were supposed to go pick him up yesterday morning.”
    â€œIf you’d a’come home last night, you’d know that the police decided to keep him a while longer. They wouldn’t even lemme see him, and I don’t know when he’ll get out.”
    Gaétan should have known that with his father, nothing would be simple. Feeling sheepish to have abandoned his mother at such a time, he tries to explain.
    â€œI went to see some friends and I fell asleep. When I woke up, it was too late to come by the house.”
    The boy is purposely vague. The plural allows him to avoid specifying—without lying—that he had slept in a girl’s room. If his mother knew, she would hit the roof.
    â€œGaétan, you’re the oldest and you know I count on you when your father isn’t around. Don’t ever do that again!”
    It hits him like a ton of bricks. He wants to hand over his wages to his mother to help make ends meet, but taking care of his brothers is a different story … yet he knows that when you come from the poor side of town, you can’t afford to spend the day in bed listening to music. Reality washes over him, and he realizes just how serious things are.
    â€œListen, I’m sorry about yesterday, but I had no way of knowing … I know someone who has some contacts with lawyers,” the boy continues, trying to calm his mother down. “I can talk to them.”
    â€œYou of all people know that we don’t have a penny to spare for things like that.”
    â€œI know, but they can do it for free when you’re in a tight spot like us.”
    â€œPromises are a dime a dozen! Eat your eggs, and until your father gets back, try to spend more time around the house.”

    That evening, Louise and Gaétan walk down the church steps to the basement of Saint-Louis-de-France. The room is full, and there is hardly a pause between speeches. Louise explains that this is the first meeting of the Prisoner Support Committee. She grabs Gaétan’s hand and they weave through the crowd to a table where they are asked to sign a petition demanding the release of the political prisoners.
    Gaétan recognizes the young man Louise had been so happy to see at the Cégep assembly.
    â€œThis is my brother, Mathieu. He studies law. Tell him about your dad, maybe he can do something.”
    Gaétan recounts the circumstances of his father’s arrest. He also describes his father’s stubborn and rebellious personality. He had probably hurled a volley of insults at the police during his arrest, which no doubt explains why they’ve kept him so long.
    â€œWrite down his name, address, and where he was arrested. Explain the circumstances of his arrest in a few sentences.”
    â€œI also have a buddy I haven’t heard from since October 16. He was arrested at his home at dawn. Could you do anything for him, too?”
    â€œName, address, and circumstances. Write all that down,” answers Mathieu, handing him a sheet of paper.
    Gaétan looks helplessly at Louise. She immediately recognizes his predicament and takes the paper from her brother.
    â€œGo ahead, tell me. I’ll write.”
    Gaétan gives her a warm smile. He’s always had to struggle to write more than three words without making a mistake. She’s getting him out of a tight spot.
    While Louise finishes taking down Gaétan’s information, the boy glances around at the assembly.
    He listens to the speaker, who is denouncing the harsh government measures. But his mind wanders, reminding him of his school days. As the teacher explained cross-multiplication, his head would be filled with thoughts about the upcoming hockey game. Back then, the blackboard would be covered in meaningless symbols. Today, the words are