Li’l Andy’s country singer anecdotes in the big city.

Faith fries

I hate to boast about my rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, but when I was a kid, my dad used to say grace before Sunday dinner. Still does. I took note to remember it last time I was at the homestead: “Gracious God, bless this food to our use, and us to Thy service, and keep us ever mindful of the needs of others. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen.”

I similarly hate to brag about my travels, but I often go down to the South Shore, to the lovely city of Longueuil. They’ve got a pretty perfect neighbourhood tavern in that part of town. In the metro. And I’m not talking in some mall connected to the metro: the subway doors open, you go up three steps and you’re at a brasserie. Everything you need in an old man bar―wooden chairs, “Bienvenue aux Dames” sign, absolutely no windows, no shame, no one you know.

One time, on one of my jaunts through the town, I made a pilgrimage to La Belle Province. Not the province du Québec, but Montréal’s very own patates frites avec sauce chain of restaurants. Like the metro brasserie, the place had it all: Naugahyde booths that look like they’re covered in that sparkly lip-gloss,
orange-tanned women behind the counter, and―like any good Québécois casse croute―lots of Americana on the walls.

Something happened that day. As I licked the sauce brun off my plate, I looked over to the next booth. A plump little granny in her 60s was sitting with her 4-year-oldish granddaughter, rattling some re-packaged Runts she had just bought her from a vending machine. Before their steamed hot dogs and fries, they joined hands across the table. Granny bowed her head, closed her eyes, and whispered. «Dieu, nous voici rassemblés autour de cette table pour partager le pain que nous donne ta main. Nous implorons sur nous ta bénédiction, au nom du Père, au nom du Fils, au nom du Saint Esprit. Amen.»

I looked back to the remains of my secular meal. "Why not ?" I thought to myself. I felt ungrateful for my
poutine with ketchup, now gone, unblessed. Happily, Granny and her little girl tucked in to their food.

Happy Passover, Joyeuses Pâques,
Li’l Andy

Promo for Jesus and Jehovah: Li’l Andy & Karaoke Cowboy, with Courtney Wing and Lake of Stew. La Sala
Rosa. $8. 9 pm. Friday, April 6th. Good Friday.