The Cast Stone by Harold Johnson Page A

game.
    â€œIn them days they used to play for muskrat pelts, I guess. In the spring when trapping was over they used to come down here to the Hudson’s Bay post from all over as soon as the ice was off the lake. This is way, way back — thirties, forties, maybe. My dad said they used to play anywhere. Someone would spread a tarp on the ground,” the unknown relative spread his hands to show Benji, “and a trapper could either win big or lose a whole winter worth of work. Anyway, this one game it was old Kooch Primeau, I barely remember him, he was old when I was a kid and that was a long time ago, and he was losing. He took out his false teeth and threw them out there. And they say old Duncan Bird, he was chief here after that, he took out his glass eye,” the unknown relative made a plucking motion, “and threw it on the pile and said ‘I see you.’”
    When the laughing died down, when the last person had repeated, “I see you,” Ben explained to Benji. “Old Duncan Bird was my mother’s grandfather, so your great-great grandfather.”
    â€œYou’re related to just about everyone here.” Rosie adjusted Rachel in her arms, tried to find some way to ease Benji’s tension.
    â€œBe careful who you try to snag.” Elsie liked Benji. He was a good-looking young man.
    â€œAs if. He knows better than to try to snag at a wake — if he wants a woman he’ll come back at pow-wow time.” Rosie was really reminding her daughter of propriety.
    â€œAm I related to — ?” Benji even had trouble remembering Elroy’s name. He indicated the casket in the centre of the gymnasium with a nod in its direction.
    â€œSort of, I guess. Leroy and Elroy were my dad’s cousins I think.” Ben was not sure.
    â€œNo, The Moosehunter family came here from the west side,” Rosie remembered. “Your family has been here since Treaty; they came later. Your dad and Elroy and Leroy used to go work together in the logging camps, but they weren’t related.”
    â€œSo I’m not related to him.” Benji wondered what he was doing at a wake for a stranger.
    â€œWell, sort of. Leroy married a Bird woman. She’s been dead now for so long I can’t remember her name, but she was your Granny’s cousin.” Rosie had a good memory for lineage.
    Benji guessed from the white casket with the red C logo blazoned on the open lid. “He was a Montreal Canadiens fan.”
    â€œNo, that’s Leroy getting his last lick at his brother. Elroy had to cheer for the Maple Leafs because Leroy cheered for Montreal. Everybody knew that.” Even Ben knew of the famous rivalry. “It was Leroy that got to pick the casket.”
    Rosie warned. “Leroy thinks he got the last laugh at his brother. But Elroy’s still around, Leroy better watch out. Tricks from the Otherside can be cruel sometimes.”

    Before the midnight meal was served, Ben was asked to go sit with the Elders.
    â€œHow come not you?” Elsie asked Rosie.
    â€œOh, that’s just Leroy, wants to talk politics with the men. He sees me here with my granddaughter. Knows I’m with family, and hey, he paid me a compliment. I’m not old enough to sit with them.” Rosie smiled at her daughter. There was no insult, none intended, none taken. Rosie lifted the little girl under the arms until she stood on Rosie’s lap looking at her, looked long into her granddaughter’s face, at the way she held up her head, felt the strength in the legs as the baby tried to stand against her thighs. “I can’t place you little one. You look like someone from long ago but I don’t remember who.”
    â€œShe looks like her father.”
    The silence that followed was broken by Benji. “Where is her father?”
    A longer silence was broken by Elsie. “He was with the Pats,”
    Benji offered a bewildered