Kiss of the Fur Queen

Jeremiah’s play is now titled “Barcarolle Ulysses Thunderchild” and embraces the magical elements of Cree reality rather than shoehorning the latter into a Western-style concert. Gabriel listens to the play on his headphones while at a clinic for blood tests. After leaving the clinic, Gabriel is propositioned by a leather-clad man and has sex with him in exchange for money. The money is enough for him to get a costume for Jeremiah’s play.

Later, Gabriel meets Robin. Taken with each other, the two men visit a park, singing and dancing. Still later, Gabriel prepares for a performance, hiding the blemish on his neck with makeup. He tells Robin not to disclose the results of his blood tests to Jeremiah.

The first reviews come in for Jeremiah’s play. Amanda reads out a review that says that the play’s image of a Weetigo shedding his costume to reveal a priest’s cassock seems arbitrary. Jeremiah doesn’t understand the criticism until Gabriel gently explains, “You didn’t say it loud enough” (285). Gabriel’s comment forces Jeremiah to recall memories he has repressed. Back at school, a voice asks Champion-Jeremiah to get up from his bed. The boy sleepily follows the voice to a chair where