The tractor-trailer in front of me is driving very slowly on the highway. The car transporter is empty, it is not transporting any vehicles. A ray of sunlight enters my right eye as I drive. He doesn’t come out, he stays there. It hides between my ear and my cheek bone. I imagine myself accelerating dangerously straight at the semi-trailer. It’s so realistic in my head. The wheels of my car go up on the car carrier. My passenger compartment is a carousel at La Ronde, the motorist behind me honks his horn, he shouts at me not to do that. I don’t listen to anything: I have a ray of sunshine in my head. I weigh on the mushroom. My tank is driving at full speed and jump in front of the tow truck. For five seconds, I float in the air. I land right in front of the semi-truck. It makes a crazy noise. My tires are screeching, my vehicle is rocking from right to left, I’m holding on to the steering wheel, I succeed in taming the mechanical beast and not to lose control of my vehicle. I roll down my window and yell, “I have a Gemini trophy to go get, rednecks!” »
*
I find a space in the underground parking lot. I arrived way too early, I don’t want to be the first to show up there. I eat half of my egg sandwich in my car. I devour my meal in four bites. I promise to come back and eat the other half at the end of the Gemini awards gala. I don’t really understand what I’m doing here: for the moment, there is nothing glamor. The parking lot smells like farts. I blow into my palm, then I feel around me. No, no, it’s really the parking lot that smells like farts, cool. I take the elevator and go to the first floor. I enter the Grande-Place of Complexe Desjardins. To my surprise, I notice purple and yellow lights and a scene in the distance. I’m one floor higher. I walk closer and lean in to see the sight before me. I am speechless. There are very tall black curtains surrounding hundreds of plastic chairs and a stage. We celebrate the artisans of Quebec television in an enclosure in the middle of the shopping center. It reminds me of Place Versailles when they display deer for the holiday season. I imagine the mall customers feeding the cinematographers, screenwriters and directors goat feed from the palms of their hands. I take the escalator and go down one floor. I buy myself a cappuccino and a carrot muffin at one of the small restaurants nearby. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a lady observing me in silence. She whispers something to her husband. I try to read his lips. I managed to decode two sentences: “Roland, have you seen the little deer?” It’s really pitiful! »
*
I’m sitting next to my producer and the director of my TV series. I have a nomination in the category of best written comedy-drama. Nicolas Ouellet is in charge. He is funny, handsome and charismatic. He points out the elephant in the room by mentioning the absurdity of the situation of celebrating a gala in a shopping center and adds: “Get ready, because next year is a pot luck at Vincent Graton. » Everyone laughs. We hear a baby crying on the other side of the black curtain. His mother taunts him. Light drips from my eye.
*
I eat the other half of my egg sandwich. I’m sitting in my car. The parking lot is crowded. I take a big bite while looking in my rearview mirror. I see a child with an elderly man. The boy seems worried: “Grandpa, our car was stolen!” » The old man chuckles and says: “Well no, look at that… I’m going to blow up the car!” » The septuagenarian weighs on his remote starter. The car lights up and lets out a “shoo-shoo!” » The boy bursts out laughing. I smile slightly as I look at them in front of my small mirror. I dig into my pants pocket and take out my car keys. A paper falls under my seat. I bend down, pick it up with two fingers and read my speech even though I didn’t win a trophy: “I dedicate this trophy to all the poqués of Quebec. To all those who are struggling and who fight against illness every day. People in wheelchairs, people going through cancer, people missing an arm or a leg or both, lung or heart transplant recipients, people taking endless medications, people who visit the hospital more often than a chalet in the woods, you are hotyou are beautiful, you are strong and I love you. » I smile like a fool as I start the engine of my car.