Flag on my Backpack: The music is in me
Music is a big part of Flag on my Backpack. And yes, there’s inspiration from the Tragically Hip.
Blood of the Moon: Chapter 2.9
Chelsea shrugged off her weapons and set them beside a simple office chair before taking a seat. They’d come into Lewis’ office in the motorcycle shop, a much more private place to talk during the evening hours. Lewis closed the door and took a seat behind the slate steel desk, took a pile of papers and neatly set them to the side before closing up his laptop. He took out a cigar and lit it, a usual ritual for him in the shop, and his office the only place he’d smoke.
“So you gonna tell me why you were cryin’?” Lewis asked after a brief silence. Chelsea began to protest but Lewis cut her off quickly. “Girl, I changed yer diaper when you were a baby, so don’t go givin’ me shit that you ain’t been cryin’. Yer face is red an’ yer eyes tired, an’ it ain’t b’cause you been busy t’night. This shit you did t’night is nothin’ compared ta what you’ve done b’fore.”
Chelsea sighed and slumped back in the chair as she considered the question, and how to answer. “You ain’t gonna yell at me ‘r nuthin’?” Lewis shook his head as he took a pull off the cigar. “When I hit the middle ground b’tween the business district an’ the slums, the person bein’ mugged is somebody I know. I busted some heads an’ she recognized me right ‘way. She… we… “ Chelsea sighed as she leaned forward in her chair. “We slept t’gether.”
Lewis blinked twice as he looked at his sister. “Okay. Really didn’t need ta know that, but that’s cool. It’s all good.”
“You ain’t mad?”
“Why the fuck would I be mad just b’cause my sister wants a girlfriend instead o’ a boyfriend?” He shrugged as he looked over his sister. “That’s your choice, baby girl. I ain’t one ta dictate how you run your life, an’ who you d’cide ta have in it. I take it things didn’t ‘xactly go well.”
“She said… with me bein’ the Black Bowhuntress, she can’t see me that way anymore.” Chelsea slumped back in her chair as she let out a long breath. “I thought maybe I’d found someone ta, I don’t know, share some stuff with. Guess not.”
Lewis got up from his chair and moved in front of the desk as he looked to Chelsea and spoke in a calm and caring voice. “Chels, we all go through that at one point ‘r ‘nuther. Shit happens, what you gotta do is just roll with the punches, an’ keep goin’. You’ll find somebody ta share yer life with in time.”
Chelsea nodded as she considered Lewis’ words. He was right, of course. Life was never easy, and relationships only made things more complicated. “Yeah, I guess so. Weird thing, though. Acadia said the same thing Maximus said.”
“What’s that?”
“Somethin’s comin’,” Chelsea stated with a voice that held a little bit more confidence. “Somethin’ big. An’ we gotta be prepared for it. I ain’t got any idea what it is, but we gotta get ready when the shit hits the fan.”
