Betty and Veronica

From Sherman Alexie's 1996 novel Reservation Blues. Caucasian duo who start as groupies for the native American band Coyote Springs. They become backup singers for them, before quitting and becoming a duo on their own. They gain success on the same label as their former bandmates, Calvary Records, by appropriating Native American culture and posing as part-Native Americans.

Obviously named after the Archie Comics characters.

Dear Coyote Springs,

We just heard about Junior, and we wanted to tell you how sorry we are. We'll miss him. Things are going well for us. We signed a deal with Cavalry Records, thanks to your help, and we're currently working on our debut CD, which will be out next summer. We recorded our first song the other day, and there's a copy on the tape enclosed.

We both think that Junior is in a better place now.

Sincerely,

Betty and Veronica

Thomas read the letter over a few times. He held the cassette tape in his hands. He didn't know what to do and was shocked that Betty and Veronica had signed with Cavalry Records. Should he throw that cassette away and never listen to it? That wouldn't do any good, because the CD would be all over the place next summer. He'd hear it played on the radio. Betty and Veronica would have a Platinum Album, a number one hit, and videos on MTV. Thomas wanted to protect Chess and Checkers from the music on this cassette tape. He held it in his hands for a while, studied its design, then walked over to the tape player he'd hidden away, dropped the cassette into place, and hit the play button. Thomas heard a vaguely Indian drum, then a cedar flute, and a warrior's trill, all the standard Indian soundtrack stuff. Then Betty's and Veronica's beautiful voices joined the mix.

Can you hear the eagle crying?

Can you hear the eagle crying?

I look to the four directions

And try to find some connection

With Mother Earth, Mother Earth

I offer you tobacco and sweetgrass

I offer you tobacco and sweetgrass

I pray to the four directions

And try to find some connection

With Father Sky, Father Sky

And my hair is blonde

But I'm Indian in my bones

And my skin is white

But I'm Indian in my bones

And it don't matter who you are

You can be Indian in your bones

Don't listen to what they say

You can be Indian in your bones

Can you hear the buffalo dying?

Can you hear the buffalo dying?

I look to the four directions

And try to make the corrections

For Mother Earth, Mother Earth

I'll smoke the pipe with you

I'll smoke the pipe with you

I pray to the four directions

And try to make the corrections

For Father Sky, Father Sky

And your hair is blonde

But you're Indian in your bones

And your skin is white

But you're Indian in your bones

And it don't matter who I am

I am Indian in my bones

I don't listen to what they say

I am Indian in my bones

Thomas hit the eject button, threw the cassette on the floor, and stomped on it.

See also

• Coyote Springs
• Father Arnold

External Links

• Sherman Alexie's homepage