Author's notes : This story "When Friendship Dies" came to me from one sentence that nagged me endlessly.
The sentence was "What would it take Mingo for you to break off our friendship".
I started to write in a notebook all kind of ideas. And "Telling of the Tale" was born but I had not acknowlege my sentence and most of my ideas.
A lot of the history of Quebec, Deschambeau, Sorel Islands, Fort Chambly, Plains of Abrahams, Les Ursulines, their hospitals, their schools, the port of Quebec, are factuals.
I created the characters Mathurin and Jean-Marie, based on legends and family histories. I am a descendant of the early colony. It's easy to think that my ancestors, fourth of fifth generations after their arrival by 1777, would have been working the docks, the stores, or working the land by then and have the created characters or Daniel or Mingo walked by them.
I put many hours in this story. Paula Davis spent many hours on this. She challenged me. Susie Coffman did too. There are changes in there that are them.
The plots are all mine, I would not want your sensitivities thinking they have anything to do with it. I know the prologue challenged people view on the tv show. I know a show that kills people on a weekly basic, even in comedy episode, should not be considered family oriented, least violence is what one think family ought to learn. I know I am very open about my view about violence. I dislike the double standard. Family oriented and violence (killing) should not go hand-in-hand.
I come from a slightly different culture, I speak a different language, I have a different upbringing for many different reasons. I don't object to violence in this show. But I object to having the situation I created as being challenging the values of a show , which I repeated, kills people on a weekly basic. It's a wrong standard in my book and I have been judged guilty of being "wrong" to the family values of the show. I have kept all that is good and that I like and enjoy about the show. I have up the stakes to what the time period 1777 was. I used my 2007, Quebec, free of mind, conscience to write this.
I poured my heart, my soul, my love of the show, my love of Mingo, my respect for Daniel and his family in this story.
Paula and Susie have been supporting and helpful. My English is not up to par. The task of writing this story was a learning experience. I have been burned. I also learned a great deal.
I could only dare to hope that the story could be read its in entirely. I don't think I am a good writer. I think I am a decent writer. And I enjoy the process and I like Mingo a lot.
I am still writing. And I will still write with a 2007 sensitivity to events happening in 1777.
Johanne Brière, 30 juin 2007.
Email : jojoannsympatico.ca.
Not hiding ever from my views and opinions.