MY SATURDAY NIGHTS

By Rainbow Kester

NARRATOR 

Hello listener. Thank you for being with me. / It’s special that you are open to having a relationship with an audio walk. You can be critical, too; I was for my first few audio walks. But I hope that you can be curious as well. / Today I am going to give you directions to explore downtown Guelph with a friend. I hope you are able to join me and be open to exploring together. /

I invite you to close your eyes if it is safe to do so. /

Guelph is home to many First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples. Guelph resides on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. Colonization stole Indigenous people’s land, culture, and self-worth. / Colonization is still present today. How are you helping to decolonize? Are you listening to me right now? Is this important to you? / I hope it is important to you. I hope you hold yourself accountable for making individual changes that can create a more compassionate, understanding space for progress. Thank you.

The sound of footsteps approach from the right

(Beat)

NARRATOR 

You arrived here today with someone you know, your partner on today’s journey. Open your eyes and take a look at them now. Meet their gaze. / How often do you look someone in the eyes on the street? What do you do when someone talks to you? Together you and your partner are going to go for a walk. The leader will change, so please pay attention to one another and your surroundings. There is no rush, so make sure to watch for traffic any time you cross a street. / But for now, stay where you are and look away from your partner. Take a moment to notice your surroundings. There are many stories here.

Beat

This is the street that I walk to get to work. Right now, you are surrounded by many of Guelph’s fine drinking establishments – sometimes you can spot the owners or managers screaming at students to stop throwing up. At night time at least. / Can you see different bars from where you are standing? Look for their signs. Like The Palace, the Western and Frank & Steins.

Once you notice the bars around you, choose one that is a bit of a walk away. You are going to lead your partner there. Start walking now.

A beat. The sounds of the street.

Perhaps you’ve eaten in one of the bars or cafes on this street; do you remember what you ordered? Who were you with? One time I went to one of these places with my roommates and I ordered Garlic Parmesan wings. When the waiter brought out my order, they were dry. So, I asked if I could get some more sauce, and he said they’d run out. So, the chef had literally just sprinkled a few specks of parmesan cheese onto the wings and sent them out! So, I asked if I could have the Honey Garlic sauce instead. The waiter said ‘yes’, grabbed my plate of sauceless wings and threw them into the garbage on his way to the kitchen to put in a new order of wings. I hated seeing that. I felt like such a consumer–not satisfied with the fact that I was even able to go out that night and order hot food. Not satisfied that my chicken was just a little dry…

Beat

 I can’t think about that stuff too much.

Beat

Are you at your destination yet? Don’t worry if you aren’t. But if you are, take a look around. / It’s probably quiet right now, but imagine what it looks like at night. That’s where I am right now—about to start my shift at this bar. Usually, there’s only a line starting at around 10 pm. Right now, for me at least, it’s 8pm. Can you picture it? Picture this location at night. No one’s here yet. The streets are dark. We are downtown, but it’s surprisingly quiet. The students are just starting their nights off, getting ready.

Beat

God, I don’t want to be here. I think I’m getting sick- I can feel a sore throat coming on, and all I want is to be horizontal. I’ve been pushing myself too much this week. I know I should slow down, take a breath and get some rest. But I have to get groceries tomorrow, so I can’t call in sick unless I want to live on canned beans and stale chips for the next week… They better tip me good tonight…

You are going to continue walking now. It’s time to explore. Even if I have to stay here. / As you follow your partner’s path, notice how they walk. See if you can copy their gate as they move ahead of you.

Beat

How different does this feel for you? Have you ever walked like this before? What does it feel like to imagine walking in someone else’s shoes? /

Just focus on your partner for the moment. It will give me the time I need to change into my work outfit. Then I’ll be right back!

(Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat)

  Okay. Hi! What do you picture me wearing?

Beat for reflection

Ha, that’s funny. I don’t know if I should tell you. Did you picture a uniform? Or something that really shows off my personality? Or something that really shows off my body? What does your outfit tell the world about you today?

Well, it’s showtime. People are really starting to come in now, finding friends, getting lost – which reminds me  – make sure to keep an eye on that partner of yours – they seem to have itchy feet – follow them… closely, but not too close – give them space to explore – just keep an eye on them and make sure to stay near…

Drunken people noises and a europop song starts up…

…And of course the DJ is playing that ABBA knock-off again. Jesus Christ. I think people just pretend to like ABBA. A collective brainwashing. Who actually likes ABBA? No, you don’t. You’re lying to yourself. You probably like the feeling you get from seeing everyone else react to the song, which makes you react. I bet if you heard ABBA randomly, for the first time, and you were alone, you wouldn’t start singing and jumping around. But this is the millionth time I’ve heard this song, so I might be a little jaded. And if the drunk people are happy… That’s good for me- drunk guys tip more. I think some sort of void takes over them when they’re drunk, one that transforms them into some slick, wealthy, woman’s man, who has the capacity to tip 5$ on a 1$ beer. Normally, I really hate guys like that. But tonight, I’m praying for them. I need to get groceries tomorrow.

Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat, Beat

  Uhhhg. Okay, time to go home. It’s 3am now. Where are you right now? Are you at the bus station? Or on a back street somewhere? 

Come to a stand-still wherever you feel comfortable to do so. Make sure you haven’t lost your partner! There they are. Let’s take a moment to re-group.

 When it’s this late, time doesn’t really exist. It’s all encompassed by “late”, which people who work ordinary hours would call early. Kinda scary out here in the wasteland of “late”. Barely any cars on the roads. So quiet you can hear every footfall.

You’re going to start walking again. But this time there is no leader. You and your partner will continue listening separately but will also start to move. Together. There is no set destination. Just move through the streets and make sure not to lose one another.  

I need to get groceries tomorrow. I need to catch my bus. Can you walk a little faster? Walking this late always makes me so nervous. I don’t like to go too slow.

I’m so close to being horizontal, and getting rest. It was a lot, but I made it through. I always walk the same path after my shift. I don’t want to go down certain streets at night. I can feel the change in my backpack jingle. When it’s this quiet, they might as well be fireworks.

The sounds of disco and night life fade away to the ambients of the street  

Is your partner still close? How long have you known them? Where’s the furthest place you’ve been with them? Is this a normal day out for you both, or has this been a bit of adventure? /

Do you feel you can trust them? Can they trust you? /

Do you feel you could ask for help if you needed it? What do you think they’re response would be?

Once you’ve found somewhere on the sidewalk where you feel safe to stand, and not in anyone’s way, come to a standstill facing your partner. Make sure you look at your partner. Really look at them. Meet their gaze.

How often do you look at someone on the street? I mean actually look at someone.

Graduate

Erm… hi there…

Narrator B

Hi.. (internal voice – ‘oh god, am I being followed?)

Pause

Graduate

I’m not following you..

Narrator B

(internal ‘Way to put me at ease…’)

Graduate

I’m just wondering if you could, like, spare some change or something for food… I’m in a bit of a bind – I’ve been giving out resumes all day (the sound of rustling papers) and I’m waiting for an e-transfer from my mom and… it’s just like, I really need to eat something, if you know of someplace…

NARRATOR 

Hey- yeah, yeah, it’s ok, I… don’t have any spare change but umm…I’m sure you can find something. Maybe The SEED –  at the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. You can pay what you can…

Graduate

Uh, ok.. that’s just down..er..here? Right?

NARRATOR 

Yeh, it’s just past city hall, under the railway bridge, opposite Essex – you can’t miss it… Saturday mornings…

Graduate

That’s amazing, thank you – really, thank you (spoken while walking away).

Narrator 

No problem, you’re welcome.

A beat

It’s getting cold out here for me now. It won’t be light for another few hours. Not great for vitamin D absorption, I’m told, and that’s why this..

The sound of a backpack jingling with change

Is going toward some fresh fruit, amongst other essentials. (A beat)

Right. I guess it’s time to be off. Thank you, it’s been great to be able to spend time with you today out here. Where’s the rest of your day taking you? Chores? A bumble around the stores? Some window shopping? Groceries? Are you sticking around with your partner after this? Or have you spent enough time together for now?

Beat

Ha! I hear you; I have friends like that too.

Anyways, thank you – for listening, for being here. Maybe you can listen to some ABBA on your way home.