Read Online Up Ghost River by Edmund Metatawabin - Free Book Online

creepy,” Amocheesh said.
    Our side scored a goal, and then it started to rain and Sister Wesley blew her whistle. I looked out beyond the gravel, where Mike was fiddling with his umbrella.
    After playtime, we went upstairs to the showers next to our dorm. We all stood in line. When we were at the top, we collected our special shower trunks to hide our privates. The nuns said that this is because men and boys should be “modest” and no one wants to see your “parts.” Sister Wesley left, so we began to talk.
    â€œFred. You kick like a girl,” Tony said.
    â€œYeah, well you kick like a sick frog,” he said.
    â€œThat doesn’t even make any sense. Frogs don’t kick balls.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo think of something better.”
    â€œYou think of something better!”
    â€œThink of something better to insult myself?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œYou’re dumb.”
    Tony turned toward me. “I know where they keep the food.”
    â€œWhat food?”
    â€œThe stuff that the nuns get.”
    I thought of what we saw them eating each mealtime: the roast beef, jams and chocolate cakes.
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œIn the basement.”
    â€œOh,” I said. We weren’t ever allowed to leave the group without permission and the store cupboard was three floors below.
    â€œWe could get some. At night.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” I said. I imagined getting caught and it scared me. I didn’t want to be whipped again.
    â€œDon’t be a baby.”
    â€œI’m not.”
    â€œYes you are.
    Let’s do it tonight,” he said.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œCrybaby.”
    â€œI don’t want to.”
    â€œDo you want to be my friend or not?”
    I shrugged.
    â€œWell that settles it then,” Tony said.
    After lunch, we didn’t have lessons because it was a Saturday. We just went outside to the yard. I didn’t feel like running around—I was still hungry as we didn’t get much food at lunch—so I stood and watched. Joe and Erick approached, whispering. They pushed past me.
    â€œHey,” I said. “Careful!”
    â€œSorry,” Joe said. He giggled.
    â€œWhy’re you laughing?” I asked.
    â€œNo reason,” Erick said.
    â€œWe got bread,” Joe said. He put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a chunk and shoved it in his mouth, chewed once and swallowed.
    â€œCan I have some?” I asked.
    â€œNo,” Joe said.
    â€œWhere’d you get it?” I said.
    â€œBrother Jutras,” Joe said. I had thought that Brother Jutras was some sort of doctor, but it turned out that he was the school’s baker.
    â€œHe gave that to you?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWhy?”
    Erick looked uncomfortable and then turned away.
    â€œWe didn’t have to do anything. Just stand there,” Joe said.
    â€œStand there and do what?”
    â€œNothing. It didn’t even hurt.”
    â€œWhat didn’t even hurt?”
    â€œWhen he touched us.”
    â€œOh,” I said. I remembered when he gave me the medical exam. It didn’t hurt, but it made me feel uncomfortable. Something about the way he smiled. I wondered whether it was worth the trade-off for bread. I was so hungry. I thought about having fresh bread in my mouth, the way it was warm against my tongue. My mouth watered.
    â€œWe’re going to go back and get more,” Joe said. “He said we could come back whenever we wanted. As long as we trade. Wanna come?”
    â€œMaybe,” I said. Was it riskier to go to the basement storeroom to steal, or to go with Joe and Erick to Brother Jutras? I wished there was someone I could ask. Someone who would know. I thought about my papa. He was so far away, and there was no way of speaking to him or hearing his voice.
    Maybe it would be better to let Brother Jutras touch me for a slice. After all, Joe said it didn’t even hurt. Then I