The years marched on as they do. Eddie left Copperdale for other provinces; Toby returned to San Myshuno to start a government job. The world of adulthood opened its doors to them both, never to let them turn around again.
He didn't realise it at the time, but graduation was the last time he'd speak to Eddie in person. If he'd known...maybe he would've cherished the moment more. But as he boarded the plane with Iain to visit his old friends, the Scooters, it was just an errant thought on Toby's mind.
generation 5: complete!
continue reading: generation 6
(this is just for people reading chronologically on the blog)
transcript:
Later that year
hi Toby it's Dexter Scooter
my moms are asking if you guys are at the airport yet
Graduation came that year, and it was the final, gasping end to a year that was unebelievably heavy with tension. Copperdale High, class of 20XX. Evan and Toby drifted apart after he quit the team, but he became closer to Jay. As did Shannon.
Evan and McKynsleigh would stay with each other up until they went to college. Evan left for British Columbia. McKynsleigh stayed in the area. She just couldn't bear to leave home.
And Konner...well, he didn't graduate that year, not even in absentia, thanks to his shit performance, and his impending trial, at which, he was to be tried as an adult. The stain he was leaving on the Prescott name was indelible.
transcript:
Richard L. Woodrow Auditorium - Copperdale High School
PRINCIPAL: ...congratulations, grads. We are so, so proud of you.
TOBY: (giggling) Congratulations, graaaad.
SHANNON: Oh no, congrats to you, graaaad!
EDDIE: (contented sigh) Hey guys...I'll go find my moms. See ya later.
It was funny, Toby thought, that Evan Caulfield's opinion once mattered to him. Now, he was just another kid who paid for a uniform and let it get to his head. And Toby had no reason to care about that at all.
transcript:
EDDIE: Ma, I'm okay…
HELEN: We've gotta leave Copperdale. We've gotta leave. I'm serious this time.
SHANIA: Dear, let's slow down before we decide anything major like that…
EVAN: (pant) Wait! Toby!
EVERYONE: Huh?
TOBY: Evan. What the fuck do you want?
EVAN: You left the team?! Toby, you can't! We're fucked!
TOBY: I can do whatever the fuck I want, actually.
EVAN: We just lost Konner, we can't lose you too!
TOBY: You can, and you should get used to it. Oh, you're gonna lose the game to Boundary? I don't care.
EVAN: Toby, you have a commitment to keep. And you already paid for this year's uniform! What
are you just gonna walk away because of something that had nothing to do with you?
TOBY: You can, and you should get used to it. Oh, you're gonna lose the game to Boundary? I don't care.
EVAN: Toby, you have a commitment to keep. And you already paid for this year's uniform! What, are you just gonna walk away because of something that had nothing to do with you?
TOBY: Actually, once someone fucks with my friend--my best friend I've had since I was a kid--it does involve me, Evan. And don't take it out on me because you can't keep your attack dog on a leash.
EVAN: (grunt)
TOBY: Fuck your game, fuck your team, and fuck you. I'm done. I hope Boundary tears you guys a new asshole at the end of the season.
IAIN: A fine choice of words back there, buddy.
TOBY: A waste of words, more like. (sigh) Let's just go, dad. Let's…get Burger King.
IAIN: Burger King it is.
Toby could feel himself free-falling into the abyss below, once afraid that uncertainty awaited him. But he realised now what lay beneath the mist: freedom. Freedom to be Toby Lucky, and not another Hare.
transcript:
COACH CALLER: A word with you, Mr. Lucky? Well, both of you.
IAIN: Shoot, Martin.
COACH CALLER: I've already spoken with the Whiteducks, but…I regret that this happened. Just so ashamed. That poor kid. Toby, you're a good friend for staying with him.
IAIN: I already know my son is a good kid. And I know that the Prescott kid is not. Now what are any of you teachers doing about it?
TOBY: Dad…
COACH CALLER: No, he's right, Toby. Mr. Lucky, be assured that there is absolutely no tolerance on my team for this sort of bullshit. Pardon my French.
COACH CALLER: The amount of parents that are already calling for punishment is overwhelming. Now as the phys ed department head, ain't much I can do besides take him off the team. I just have to hope that'll be enough.
IAIN: (smirks) I'm sure the Prescotts doing backflips at the sound of that.
COACH CALLER: Heh. Prescotts hate my Black ass anyway. (ahem) But that's…off the record.
COACH CALLER: Toby, you gonna stay on the team, son? I know we talked about it before, and now all of this…just wanted to know where you stood.
TOBY: …no, Coach. It wouldn't be right.
COACH CALLER: Mmh. I understand.
The following school day, the Whiteducks and Iain had words with Copperdale High's principal. Emotions ran hot and high. uncomfortable, sickening truths started to bubble to the surface.
transcript:
The following day
[SFX: Muffled yelling]
IAIN: …no--you tell me what the hell this school is gonna do about criminals like Konner Prescott! What you are gonna do about it!
SHANIA: (numbly) Iain, don't yell.
PRINCIPAL: Mr. Lucky--
HELEN: Mrs. Hawley, you have to understand that my son, an Indigenous boy, is now a statistic. Do you know how sickening that is? That boy needs to be expelled.
SHANIA: (shudders) Why did this have to happen to my boy…?
PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Whiteduck, Mr. Lucky. I promise you, we are cooperating closely with the police to figure out exactly why this happened. I understand your anger, I do. But I have to ask you to remain level-headed about all of this…
HELEN: Level-headed?! Let me tell you something, Mrs. Hawley…
TOBY: (quietly) I'm sorry I wasn't there, Ducko.
EDDIE: You were there, Toby, it's okay.
TOBY: It's not fucking okay, Eddie. I--I should've been there. I should've fucking been there.
EDDIE: …I just…why me? What the hell did I ever do to Konner, man…?
SHANNON: Oh, Eddie…
TOBY: I…I don't know. I don't know. But we can only hope he's going to be put away for awhile.
EDDIE: He won't be. He's from some rich white family, and I'm not.
TOBY/SHANNON: …
TOBY: Well, whatever happens, Eddie, trust me--trust me that I'm gonna be there. With you.
EDDIE: …
TOBY: Always. With you. Okay?
EDDIE: …yeah. Okay. Thanks…Toby…
Ava Harjo was not of the same clan, or even the same nation as the Whiteducks. Still, she stuck with them, because she knew very few people in this place had their backs. She hated that she was proven right again tonight.
transcript:
AVA HARJO: Hey, you little fuckasses! What do you think you're doing?! Get outta here!
AVA: …Is that… (gasp) Shania's boy…
GET AWAY FROM HIM! I'm calling the cops on you!
AVA: Oh my god, Eddie! Eddie, can you hear me…?
EDDIE: (groaning) (sobs)
AVA: Oh, Eddie…I--hang on, nephew, okay?! I'll call the cops…
TOBY: Yo! Ducko? You okay?
EDDIE, over the phone: …Konner!
TOBY: …Eddie?!
KONNER: Get up, you fairy. (pant) What kinda man are you? Huh?
EDDIE: (deep gasp)
KONNER: They didn't teach you to fight on the rez, huh? The shit that happens when you don't got a dad.
