“Maybe next year, we’ll have a parade.”
*
July, 2005
Duck got up early, early enough that that were barely any cars on the road. He left Dan asleep in bed and drove into town to check on Jarvis Video. Everything was okay: there had been no graffiti overnight: there were no broken windows, not even a deflated balloon.
Everything was ready inside the store, too. The shelves were pushed back to make room for a crowd later, the pride display was out on the counter (Desert Hearts; Red River; Even Cowgirls Get The Blues; The Ballad of Little Jo).
As he’s leaving the video store, he notices movement across the road. Sandra’s in Iggy’s. He waves.
“Surprised to see you up this early,” he says, and she gives a little snort.
“I have three hundred croissants that need to come out of the freezer and go into the oven,” she says, "And the orange juice is being delivered at 8."
Sandra looks tired, but when she smiles at him, it’s genuine.
*
Rainbow Wilby Invites You To The Pride Picnic!
July 2nd
Music * Speakers * Events
Programme of Events
8.30 am: Pride Breakfast, hosted by Iggy's Diner
9.00 am: Assembly outside Jarvis Video
9.15 am: March begins towards Wilby Watch
10 am: Pride Picnic
Speakers
Dr Frank Donaldson, Mi'kmaq Elder
Rainbow Wilby Committee
Diana Burns, Rural Lesbian Equality Project
Pete "The Heat" Walshe, sports broadcaster & local
5pm: Afterparty & film screening in Jarvis Video
*