Block 4 1/22/11 10th grade
This story is about a 14 year old boy named Arnold (aka Jr.). He lives on the Spokane Indian reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. He felt red when he went twenty miles off the reservation to Reardan High School and he felt white when he was on the res.
Junior’s “best friend” Oscar got really sick. Oscar was only a stray mutt, but he meant more to Junior than any person in his life. There was nothing he could do to save Oscar. The family had no money to pay a doctor. Junior took Oscar outside then ran into the forest but he could not escape the bang of his father’s riffle, when he shot his best friend.
In September Mary Junior’s sister runs away. Mary finished high school but she didn’t go to college and didn’t get a job. Mary elopes in Montana. Mary ends her email saying her honeymoon was a dream come true: that she loves her life, husband and Montana. Mary tells him she moved into a new house and says she loves and misses him and the family.
When Junior tells Rowdy he’s going to Reardon Rowdy absolutely hates him. Rowdy becomes enraged and punches Junior in the face. This is a loss of a long term friendship for both of them. Junior no longer has a friend to protect him and share good and bad times with. When Thanksgiving time comes Junior misses Rowdy who for the past 10 years had come over to the house on Thanksgiving.
Junior’s Grandmother was killed by a drunk driver. At his Grandmother’s wake, there was almost 2000 Indians. Everyone had a story to tell about his Grandmother. Junior is surprised and greatful,. Sadly Mary is not able to attend.
A couple of weeks later Junior’s Dad’s best friend Eugene is shot in the face in a fight over a bottle of wine. Junior grieves and misses 20 days of school. Junior begins to make lists looking for the little pieces of joy in his life.
The school counselor tells him that his dad is coming to pick him up, because his sister Mary has died. There had been lots of drinking and Mary and her husband had been passed out in the back bedroom when the trailer burned down. At Mary’s burial, Junior’s mom is hysterical with grief, slapping Junior on the face telling him never to drink
Junior thinks about the fact that the biggest difference between Indians and white people is that so many more Indians die young, and that of the deaths he himself has experienced about 90% of them have been because of alcohol. He once again swears to himself that he has to get off the Reservation, and he hopes he lives.