First of several stories involving my canine characters Alain and Julie.
Presented in English and French (in the submission file), though the latter is a straight up Bing translation. I beg forgiveness for what is undoubtedly some degree of butchering of the French language. Any native speakers who wish to add advice are more than welcome!



March 18, 1995

It was a well-deserved Saturday night of relaxation for Alain St. Laurent. The husky had just finished a brutal period of exams, part and parcel of the chemistry program he was doing at l’Universite de Montreal. He was doing well, all things considered. It had been a bit of a shock, being away from home for the first time as a student. He grew up near the city and he went home on the weekends about once a month; he found he had too much work to go more often than that. What’s more, that Autumn, the NHL season had been on hiatus due to a lockout. The simple and familiar comfort of the hockey games had been ripped away from him, which did nothing to alleviate the stress of his new schoolwork. Once the lockout ended things improved, but it was still disappointing in a way because his beloved Canadiens, just two years removed from winning the Stanley Cup, had been seriously underperforming.

Nonetheless, it was always a joy to hang out with his friends from the Studio and watch the game. There was Moose (a moose), Ox (an ox) and Big Jacques (a ferret). They arrived in the television room just as the game was coming on with the familiar sign-on in English: “Hello Canada, and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland.” It was a recording from at least 50 years ago, when Terre-Neuve, which he knew little about, had been its own island nation. The match tonight was between the Canadiens and the red-hot Quebec Nordiques, which was always interesting here, because most of the students were Habs fans, but you’d always have few from over that way who would be for Quebec. So the Canadiens contingent formed a large sea of blue, white and red to the left of the television, occupying the biggest couch and many chairs. Alain preferred a chair to the couch because he could let his curly tail poke up out the back of it and not get squat behind him. On the smaller couch to the right sat the Nordiques fans, looking outnumbered but defiant, as well they should for how well their team was faring. Alain didn’t know any of them but there was lynx, a caribou, a fox and a blue-eyed she-wolf whom he thought was kind of cute, though the blue and white colours she wore did her no flattery. Her brown hair was tied back in a ponytail and contained a blue fleur-de-lis hairpin; she was clearly a serious fan.

The game started and much to Alain’s chagrin, the Habs were soon down 2-0, which was not entirely unexpected. They were all quite deflated, until Mike Keane cut the deficit to 2-1 with a minute left in the first period. This gave them some confidence and Alain commented, “As good as the Nordiques are doing, they will not win the Cup with Stephane Fiset in goal. Even with all the problems we’ve had, we still have Patrick Roy, so I would bet on us to win it before they ever do!”

His friends voiced their agreement but the she-wolf on the Quebec side said, “Sure, but when you win the Cup try not to burn down the city again, eh? I would like to be able to finish my degree here.” Everyone had a laugh at this.
Moose said, “At least we only riot when we actually win. Not like Vancouver…”

“Terrible, but that was a freak thing,” said Alain. “I don’t think it will happen there again.”

The second period came and went. Montreal tied the game, then went down again 3-2. Alain kept glancing at the she-wolf, who was staring maniacally at the television screen the whole time. He could appreciate her passion, even though he was on the other side. It made him a little sad, however, since it was very possible that the financially troubled Nordiques would leave Quebec after this season. As much as he disliked the team, he would not wish that on his worst enemy.

In the intermission, Alain felt more confident than the score or the relative strengths of the two teams should have allowed. He commented, “I still like our chances. You can’t blow a big lead like that and expect to win in Montreal.” His friends cheered and clapped him on the shoulder, but the Nordiques fans looked annoyed and amused.

The she-wolf looked right at him and sat back on the couch in a relaxed stance, her arms extended. She said to her fellows, “Guys… if the Canadiens win this game, I will… go out with this dog!” They laughed heartily at this. Alain smiled awkwardly and blushed beneath his fur, his ears becoming hot. He couldn’t tell if she was just mocking him or really thought him interesting enough to take such a chance.

The third period commenced and Montreal tied it, went down again, and then tied it again at 4-4. Then with about 6 minutes left Vincent Damphousse took a feed from Valeri Bure and put the Canadiens ahead 5-4. The Habs fans were overjoyed while the Nordiques fans started looking nervous for the first time. Alain looked over and caught the she-wolf looking at him; she quickly looked back to screen. After the usual tense finish, the score had not changed and the Canadiens claimed victory. It was a rare moment of joy in what had been a mostly frustrating season and they spared no energy in celebrating it and soon a chant of ‘Ole ole ole’ went up and filled the room.

Alain turned and found that the Nordiques fans had gone; all except one. The she-wolf came right up to him and put a piece of paper in his paw. “Looks like you won,” she said. “Give me a call.”

He shyly pocketed the number and said, “I’m Alain.” His tail wagged.

“Julie,” said the grey wolf with a slight smile, running her paw over the emblem on Alain’s Canadiens sweater, as if it was something she could brush off. “But you’re paying, husky-boy.” She smiled and he laughed softly as she walked out of the room.

Big Jacques came over and gave him an emotional hug. “Dating within the Division? You’re a brave dog, my friend.”

Alain laughed, “We’ll see.” It had been a good night.