1. In this time of grief, why do you think Junior laughs so much? What are the specific moments he laughs the hardest?

Junior laughs so much during this time of grief because it is the only way that he can get away from all of the sorrow and loss he is feeling. The times where he laughs the hardest are also the times where he feels the most loss. When his sister dies, just the simple fact that his dad didn't die while coming to pick up Junior seems like the best thing in the world to Junior, and he laughs because he realizes how pathetic that sounds. The other time he laughs is after Rowdy tries to punch him because Rowdy believes that Junior caused his sister's death. This should be one of the most hurtful parts in the novel, where even in this time of immense grief for Junior, Rowdy still has the nerve to go after Junior. Instead of breaking down because of the complete betrayal of his best friend, he just laughs when Rowdy misses his punch. In short, Junior believes that if he laughs hard enough, all the sorrow will go away and everything will become funny again.

Like Junior says at the very beginning of the novel, cartoons are his lifeboats. His laughter is serving as his lifeboat in this time of crisis for him, allowing him to escape. Just like cartoons, laughter is ubiquitous, no matter where someone is or what language they speak. Junior is not just hoping that his laughter will make him feel better, he hopes that it will make everyone better. He thinks that he is responsible for all of these deaths, and in a way is trying to make up for it by bringing everyone else's spirits up with his laughter.

One thing that Alexie may be trying to do is cement the fundamental difference between Rowdy and Junior. When Rowdy has a problem, he is likely to turn and fight it, where as when Junior has a problem he tends to laugh it off. While these survival strategies both are effective on the rez, it is essentially this difference that drives Rowdy and Junior apart. Rowdy stays and fights the problems he faces, while Junior instead makes fun of himself, so it doesn't hurt him as much when others do the same.

Do you think Junior has had to deal with loss in this way before? Do you think he is responsible for his sister's death? What do you think is the biggest difference between Rowdy and Junior? Explain.

Interpret/explain/explore the context and significance of the last line of the book (230).

   The last line of the book “We didn’t even keep score”(230) may be the most important line of the whole book. Alexie says this because at the end Junior learns that friendship is the most important thing in his life. Rowdy and Junior did not need to keep score because they were just playing to have fun. They weren’t playing to find out who was better and playing as hard as they could. They just wanted to become friends again because they need each other. Everyday Junior would think of Rowdy and wished they were still friends again. Although we don’t know for certain, Rowdy probably thought about Junior just as much.

  In the middle of the chapter Junior was shocked when Rowdy comes to him to hangout. That was as close to an apology as Rowdy was going to give to Junior because of how tough he is. Junior thought ”For a second, I thought about saying no. I thought about telling him to bite my ass. I thought about making him apologize. But I couldn’t. He was never going to change.” Junior knew that Rowdy was trying to open up to him and this was as far as he would go so Junior had to take it. This was Junior’s last chance at becoming friends with Rowdy again. Maybe getting back to his old life, his less complicated life, the life he started out with. So Junior had to say yes so he could be happy anywhere he went. He could not survive on the rez without Rowdy. Rowdy was the one who protected him from other bullies and he was his best friend that he could tell anything to. Junior needs someone like that. He is too emotional to keep it to himself so he had to get back together with Rowdy. Now that they have become best friends  again they don’t need to fight or be mad at each other. That is why they did not keep score. They were too busy having fun to care about any of their problems.

In this time of grief, why do you think Junior laughs so much? What are the specific moments he laughs the hardest?

In the chapter "Because Russian Guys Are Not Always Geniuses," Junior laughed the hardest and the most hysterically. Junior was laughing in this time of grief because he was trying to distract himself from all the pain of his sister's death. He was distracting himself by also worrying about his dad during the snowstorm. Junior was trying to hide himself from his true emotions. He was feeling sad and angry. Juniors said, “ My dad was trying to comfort me. But it’s not too comforting to learn that your sister was TOO FREAKING DRUNK to feel any pain when she BURNED TO DEATH” (205)! Sherman Alexie puts part of this sentence in capital letters to put an emphasis on the amount of anger Junior was feeling about his sister. Junior felt Mary was going to be successful and continue to be a role model for Junior. But when Mary dies because she was too drunk Junior was frustrated at her for being so “Indian.” At the same time Junior was sad because he lost Eugene, his grandmother and Mary these were the people who were role model and gave hope.

Junior began to laugh when he saw Rowdy in the woods. Junior was laughing because Rowdy missed a punch when he was crying. And Rowdy the toughest guy on the rez NEVER cried or missed a punch. Rowdy said “ Your sister is dead because you left us. You killed her” (211). Once Junior found out the reason Rowdy was crying, Junior immediately stopped laughing. Junior stopped laughing because he realized Rowdy still thinks he was a traitor and it was his fault. Junior instantly felt sorry because he believed it was his fault too. Junior realized  he left the rez so his his sister left the rez. When Junior can’t seem to find the answer to something he instantly seems to blame himself.  

Was Junior anger at his sister justified? Why or why not? Did Junior really kill his sister? Will Rowdy eventually go to Reardan? Do you think Junior will go to college? Did this book have a happy ending?

What does Junior realize about his own identity, his life and Rowdy?

          Throughout everything that happened to him, towards the end of the book, Junior realizes that life goes on. Of course, sometimes terrible things happen to people, but life must go on. Junior has this epiphany during a flashback with Rowdy. "Near the top, the branches got thinner and thinner...I kept expecting one of them to snap and send me plummeting to my death..." (225). "But it didn't happen. The branches would not break" (226).

          The branches are like a metaphor for the hardships in life Junior has experienced. All the deaths that he has had to deal with. Every death and unfortunate thing is another branch up the tree. But Junior knows that he has to keep climbing in order to reach the top.

          This flashback helps Junior realize many things. It helps him realize that life is a beautiful gift. And to not take it for granted. Junior can also tell that he's hard working, and will continue to pursue his dreams. The facts that Junior has this flashback with Rowdy in it, hints that everything is going to be ok in the end. Rowdy has been Junior's best friend since what feels like forever, and it's very important that Rowdy was a part of Junior's realization about his future life. It is now clear that even though Rowdy and Junior had their major fight for a while, Rowdy is proud of Junior. Junior knows they'll always be there for each other, even if they're not in the same location. "I would always love Rowdy. And I would always miss him, too" (230). Sure enough, in the end, they both realize that life goes on, and so must they.

What do you think about the ending? Is this a happy ending? What else do you think Junior has realized?

What does Rowdy say to Junior? Why does he say this? Do you think there is truth in this?

         In the chapter "Talking about Turtles", Rowdy came up to Arnold and the two of them practiced and played basket ball. Rowdy said "You're the nomadic one...I always knew you were going to leave us behind and travel the world...you looked happy. And I was happy for you" (229). There is a sense of forgiveness in what Rowdy just said. Even though the rest of the rez still believes that Arnold is a traitor, Rowdy forgave him. In front of the rest of the rez Rowdy showed Arnold hatred but when Arnold emailed Rowdy, Rowdy replied instead of ignoring Arnold's existence. Rowdy knew that the rez is a hopeless place, and once and still being Arnold's best friend, he knew Arnold will hold on to his hope and leave the rez to pursue his dreams. There is truth in what Rowdy said to Arnold at the basketball court because Arnold was the first person to have the courage to leave the rez. Arnold knew people were going to hate him even more than they already did, but he didn't care. His actions inspired his sister Mary, and Mary left the rez after Arnold did in order to escape this cage-like rez. Rowdy never thinks before he acts, therefore when Arnold first told Rowdy that he will leave, Rowdy punched him in the nose because he wasn't ready for the leaving part to happen so fast. Afterwards, he regrets doing this because he already knew that one day Arnold will leave him, he just didn't know Arnold would go to Reardan. Rowdy wouldn't have reacted the same way he did if Arnold went to anywhere else but Reardan. Like Mr. P said, Arnold is a warrior, he is born to fight, to bring hope back to the rez, and the Whites have the most hope.

       "I had a dream about you a few months ago. You were standing on the Great Wall of China. You looked happy. And I was happy for you" (229). An assumption was made that before Rowdy came to find Arnold to play basketball, the two were worse enemies. Yet, Rowdy having a dream about Arnold a few months ago means that at that time Rowdy still misses and cares about Arnold, while hating him at the same time for being a "White-lover" (53). But also "I was happy for you" indicates that Arnold is Rowdy's only friend-for-life, and no matter what kind of situation they are in, nothing can separate them.

     Do you think Rowdy forgave Arnold? If so, at what point do you think Rowdy had forgiven Arnold? Why do you think Rowdy forgave him? Are they still best friends or just normal friends? Would Arnold have said the same thing if it was Rowdy who went to Reardan?

         

Summarize the outcome of the game. Why does Junior cry at the end? What does he realize?

During the basketball game, Junior and Rowdy go head to head, playing defense and offense, and having to guard each other throughout the entire game. Junior was proud of himself right after the game because he beat his “enemies” by forty points and because he was able to stay with Rowdy and only let him get four points.  When his team held him on their shoulders after the game, he saw the look on Wellpinits faces.  He then looked up to his dad only to see the sad look on his face.  “I thought he’d be cheering.  But he wasn’t.  He wasn’t even looking at me.  He was all quiet-faced as he looked at something else.  So I looked at what he was looking at.  It was the Wellpinit Redskins, lined up at their end of the court, as they watched us celebrate our victory.” (195)  This passage shows how Junior was excited about winning the biggest game of the season, but also how he is surprised that his dad isn’t cheering for him.  Instead, he has a sad face on while looking at Wellpinit.  In this moment, Junior starts to experience guilt.  He felt ashamed because he realized that he had a great life and a basketball game between two small-schools shouldn’t determine how the rest of his life is lived.  

At the end of the night, Junior is crying in the bathroom.  His teammates thought he was crying tears of joy when really they were tears of shame.  He was ashamed that he was too into the game to realize that he actually wanted to hurt his best friend.  “I was crying because I had broken my best friend’s heart.” (196)  This passage shows how Junior could never replace Rowdy even with his new white friends.  The bond they hold is too strong to break even with a fight like this.  Junior still considers Rowdy his best friend but does Rowdy still consider Junior his best friend?

Do you think Rowdy will forgive Junior? Why or why not?  How will Juniors social ranking change after this game?  Do you have any predictions on what will happen to Junior in the future? (i.e. college, jobs)

Summarize the outcome of the game. Why does Junior cry at the end? What does he realize?

During the game, Junior starts off strong by beating Rowdy at the first shot.  This streak continues, and “[They] beat Wellpinit by forty points.  Absolutely destroyed them.” (194)  The previous game between Reardan and Wellpinit ended in the exact opposite way, with Wellpinit “absolutely destroying” Reardan.  At the end of the most recent game, Junior makes a startling realization of how the win affected the Wellpinit team.  “It was the Wellpinit Redskins, lined up at their end of the court, as they watched us celebrate our victory… I knew that one or two of those Indians might not have eaten breakfast that morning.  No food in the house… I knew that none of them was going to college.  Not one of them… I was suddenly ashamed that I’d wanted so badly to take revenge on them.” (195-196)  Junior was ashamed before that the Wellpinit team had beat them that first game, and wanted to get revenge on them to show that he wasn’t useless, and that he truly found success without the tribe.  However, back then he didn’t realize that winning that game was the only hope the Wellpinit team had.  From there, their hope grew, when they became number one in the state.  This signified that the Wellpinit team was actually getting somewhere, and for them, they felt like this could add to their futures, previously filled with nothing.  With this most recent game, however, the hope was taken away as soon as it came.  Reardan took their spot as best in state, and that symbolized the white people taking the Indian’s culture away from them, breaking them down, like Mr. P had told Junior before.  Junior sees this, and is extremely ashamed about it, because if his tribe had seen him a traitor before, this event confirmed his identity as a traitor.  He used to deal with this situation with his tribe, but now he’s the one bringing the pain down on them.  In the quote mentioned before on page 194, Alexie uses the words “absolutely destroyed” to describe Reardan’s win.  This shows that while Reardan “destroyed” Wellpinit in the game, they also destroyed any hope they had before.  In the text, the line “absolutely destroyed them” is placed on a different line, adding emphasis to how bad it was.

Junior is also now truly seeing from the point of view of the Reardan students.  It takes him a moment to remember that the Indians kids are struggling in life, and simply to get by.  At first, he didn’t think how much something like being the best in the state in basketball would mean to the Wellpinit kids, and only cared about being seen as strong and worthy to them.  It didn’t quite dawn on him that his situation was similar to theirs.  Now that he’s on a different wavelength, he has some chance of future, which makes him a bit more selfish.  This chance of a future and success is something he shares with the white kids, and this makes him think in their mindset.  It’s like he’s looking in on the Indians from the outside, finding it hard to relate to them though he faces the same struggles they do.  This may show that maybe hope truly is white, and that’s what Junior’s turning into.

Do you think Junior will eventually “lose” all of his Indian heritage, in a way?  Will the Indians regain their hope again?  Will Junior help them to do this?  Will hope ever last for the Indians?  Has this action secured the name of traitor onto Junior, or does he still have a chance?  What could he do to regain the Indians’ trust?

Why does Junior say he would always love his tribe? What do you think this reveals about Junior?

      When Junior says this, it implies that he has never left the life on the rez, that he was always connected to it. Even though everybody on the Rez usually beat him up and called him names, the rez was his home. In the chapter "Red Versus White", Junior says, "on the rez, you know every kids's father, mother, grandparents, dog, cat, and shoe size" (153). This shows that no matter the differences between two people on the rez, they were still close to each other. There is also another great quote that proves the Indians are all connected in some ways like they are one single person. "Each funeral was a funeral for all of us. We lived and died together" (166). The Indians feel each other's pains. They immediately stopped harassing Junior when they knew his grandmother had died. Junior loves the rez because of the connections between everybody.

      Junior also implies that even though everybody on the rez thinks Junior betrayed them, Junior himself thinks he was just fulfilling his dream. Junior's heart had never left the rez. He had always hoped that he and Rowdy would someday become best friends again. He had always hoped that people will stop hating him and beating him up. Junior has never stopped trying to prove that he has not betrayed his people, and that he had only did what he had to. He would never betray the rez. His home.

      Which side do you think Junior will support if Reardan and Wellpinit High got into an argument? Why? Do you think Junior has actually betrayed his tribe? Or that he still loves it? What would you do in Junior's situation?

2. In the last sentence on page 167, Junior says: "And all of us laughed as we walked and drove and rode our way back to our lonely, lonely houses." What is the irony in this? Why is this such a powerful moment for Junior? What is . he saying about his tribe?

        In the chapter "Wake", the funeral for his Grandmother is held. Grandmother Spirit is carried to the fifty yard line of the football field above the ground. The people of the rez stopped hassling Junior. Junior writes "I was also the kid who lost his grandmother. And everybody knew that losing my grandmother was horrible." (159) Alexie uses this scene to prove that even when people are hating each other, they can still show compassion. Alexie also uses this phrase to show that the relationship between the tribe and Junior can still be healed. Near the end of the funeral when "Billionaire Ted" (160) is mistaken about the powwow out fit and is embarrassed the who tribe came together the whole tribe laughs together. This is interesting because throughout the novel the entire tribe has had a specific hatred toward Junior. However, when they all see a rich white man who is an "Indian lover" the whole tribe thinks it is amusing.
     
        After the ceremony has ended Arnold writes "And all of us laughed as we walked and drove and rode our way back to our lonely, lonely houses." This entire sentence is ironic in a few ways. One way is that for the past two hours the whole tribe was mourning, laughing, and celebrating together. However, after that small point in time is over, they go back to the way they were, lonely and drunk. This is ironic because one second they are together and the next they go back to hating one another. The tribe is one moody person who can't decide what they are feeling.
   
        This is an extremely powerful moment for Junior for a few reasons. One reason is he truly realizes how the rez works. Before, Junior just saw the rez as a bunch of angry, drunk, poor Indians. However, after this line he realizes why people drink so much. At first he thought it was because they had nothing else better to do. As the novel progresses he realizes that people drink because they are lonely. The second reason why this is so important is because Junior realizes that he isn't the only one who gets lonely. He notices that the tribe is just as lonely as he is at Rearden.

Do you think that Junior empathizes with the people on the rez when it comes to loneliness? Would you stop being mean to someone you hate if someone they knew died? What would you do in a situation like with Billionaire Ted? Explain.

Why does Junior say he would always love his tribe? What do you think this reveals about Junior?

Why does Junior say he would always love his tribe? What do you think this reveals about

Junior?

Even with Junior going to Reardon and most of the people on the Rez hating Junior they can all come to together and help him get through this hard time.  When Junior finds out his Grandmother passed away he is devastated.  His Grandmother was the only one who one hundred percent supported him through all his changes and hardships while transferring to Reardon.  When Junior is talking about his Grandmother's wake he says: “We were stunned because almost two thousand Indians showed up to say goodbye.  And nobody gave me crap.(159)” Junior will always respect the people in his tribe because even though they hate him so much the come together for him.  All the time he's been on the Rez everyone has been very mean to him, but they didn’t at this time.  Even if they don’t respect Junior they found a place in their hearts to respect him because a person who was huge in his life and many other is gone.  Junior reveals that even with everything they go through he will always love everyone in his community.  Junior was once part of their community and would have the same reaction if someone he knew just left him and his community.  Junior understands what he did was wrong and the fact that they respected him shows that they still kind of respect him.  

Do you think all the deaths Junior has experienced will make the people on the Rez sympathetic for him?

Do you think that the tribe will come back for Junior?

Who is the first game against? How is he treated by the crowd at the first game? How does the team (and coach) react/support him? How does this impact him?

In the chapter “Reindeer Games”, Arnold's first game on Reardan's varsity basketball team is at Wellpinit High School. He says, "Do I have to tell you that I was absolutely sick with fear?" (142). He says this because this is the first encounter with the rez residents where he is on the "white" team. The second the bus arrives, it gets pelted with snowballs. When they get into the gymnasium, the crowd was chanting, "Ar-nold sucks! Ar-nold sucks!" (143). He goes on to say, "They weren't calling me by my rez name, Junior. Nope, they were calling me by my Reardan name." (143). This really shows how the entire rez is shaming him as a traitor. While he has a good sense of belonging and identity at Reardan, he has lost that back in the rez.

            The coach reacts to this fast, and asks if Arnold is okay. He also says that he doesn’t have to play the game, but he sticks with it and states that he does. This is like what Arnold had told himself after playing Roger in tryouts. “I was a warrior.” (141). This statement carries through to who and what he becomes. Arnold’s team is very supportive as well. Junior starts to laugh because, and he says, “If these dang Indians had been this organized when I went to school here, maybe I would have had more reasons to stay.” (144). When Junior starts to laugh, the coach and the rest of the team don’t understand why. Still, they all laugh and make sure Junior isn’t the one that is being put on a stage, alone.

            One factor that impacted Junior was Rowdy. Junior says “And then I noticed that the only Indian who hadn’t turned his back on me was Rowdy. He was standing on the other end of the court. He passed a basketball around his back, around his back, around his back, like a clock. And he glared at me.” (144). Rowdy glaring at Junior is like the time when he drew Rowdy that cartoon. Rowdy didn’t rip it up, but he gave Junior the finger. Here, Rowdy didn’t participate in the group shame like everyone else did, but shot daggers from his eyes to show that he was MAD, red, hot, furious mad. Junior even says this; “He wanted to kill me, face-to-face.” (144). During the game, Rowdy knocked Junior unconscious. The injury and medical attention after that was not the important part. Coach’s advice after is what impacted Junior a lot. He said, “The quality of a man’s life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his chosen field of endeavor.” This really makes Junior fell better about himself.

            Even though Junior has lost his identity at the rez and was shamed in front of his friends and family, he stuck through it and truly did become a warrior and stood brave throughout this experience.

         What would you have done if the entirety of BB&N had turned their backs to you? Do you think that Rowdy's anger was justified? Do you think that Junior "being a warrior" is a beginning of change to him? Is the coach's advice important to Junior in any way? Why do you think whites are so scared of the Indians (the Spokane white judges)?

2. Who is the first game against? How is he treated by the crowd at the first game? How does the team (and coach) react/support him? How does this impact him?

In the chapter “Reindeer Games”, Junior plays his first game with the Reardon basketball team against his old school, Wellpinit high school. As soon as he departs from the bus, he hears his name being chanted “Arnold Sucks!” Not only does Rowdy not like him, but the whole Rez is against him.“They all turned their backs on me”(144). It’s like he has lost his place at the Rez. He is no longer welcome there.

instead taking in the hatred from the Rez, Junior decides to laugh it off. “My laughter was the only sound in the gym”(144). If nobody else laughed with Junior, he would look like a total fool, so the coach and Roder join in to support him, and then his whole team joins in. This shows how Junior is not the new Indian kid at school, he has gained a place in Reardon, where people appreciate him for him. This game has impacted Junior because he now realizes that he is not welcome at the Rez community, but that he is more welcome in the Reardon community, and that his team and coach will support him through the basketball season.

do you think this game has brought Junior and Rowdy’s friendship farther apart? Do you think that this game will make Junior tougher? Do you think this will happen at one of his other games? Will basketball bring Rodger and Junior closer together?

2. Who is the first game against? How is he treated by the crowd at the first game? How does the team (and coach) react/support him? How does this impact him?

Arnold’s first game is against Wellipint High School. It is somewhat annoying that he has to drive back and forth between schools with the limited gas money hes has, but there is much worse problems to come. The whole town is united against Arnold and the impression that he is a traitor, and it is one of the few things that the whole town agrees on. The chanting “Ar-nold sucks!” (143) is showing the hatred the Indians have for Arnold. The back-turning shows the disrespect for Arnold. The hatred and disrespect is shown to extremely well with the fact that grown men and women are all joining in in what seems like a petty cause. Arnold might be realizing what large effect his school transfer is having on the Indian community.

Arnold could absorb the hatred and take much offense to it, but he just shakes it off, by laughing. Lots of courage is needed to laugh off hatred that was shown in the gym. Also, the laughed was also noticed by everyone. “My laughter was the only sound in the gym” (144) explains how much effect that lugh had on the Indians in the gym and probably angered them more. The anger is shown vividly when Arnold gets hit in the face with a quarter

Arnold’s teammates definitely support Arnold and they show that by laughing alongside Arnold when he is turned upon. Although it shows respect, it is a lot easier to do because they know they are already hated and they are expected to be like that. His coach shows his respect later by telling stories with Arnold, and he seems to be a very nice and loving person as he comforts Arnold after his concussion. I think the coach is another example of Arnold gaining friends in the white world and show him slowly growing away from his former Indian life.

Do you think that Arnold is showing great courage through his actions? Do you think that the coach is a big example of Arnold being more connected to whites? How about Rowdy, do you think Arnold’s friendship with him ever be healed? Do you think that events like this will continue? Why?

In what ways does Junior feel he needs to "pretend"? Why is this so difficult for Junior? Be specific in your answer. Use detail.

Junior feels that he needs to pretend that he’s poor. He has to pretend that he has more money then he really does, so people will like him more. He thinks that once everyone finds out his secret, of being poor that people won’t want to be friends with him. He also thinks that he’s going to loose Penelope. Junior said, “I pretended I belonged,” on page 119. It seems that if he pretends that something might happen, then it will. Junior honesty just want’s to belong somewhere; he just wants to fit in without a question.

It’s hard for Junior to pretend because eventually lies have to come out. It seems that he can’t exactly be himself. He’s always making sure that he has a back up story if anyone asks anything having to do with money. There was a picture on page 120 and it was How to Pretend You’re not Poor. He was prepared for almost every situation that might be thrown his way having to do with money.  His lie finally came out when he borrowed some money from Roger and Penelope confronted him about being poor. Thinking that he was done for, and never going to have friends against he gave up and said yes. All Penelope did was kiss his cheek and showed her sympathy. He then got a ride from Roger. “If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing,” Junior said this on page 129. Junior is starting to open up to some people in the school.

Why do you think Junior is opening up to Roger and Penelope? Would you do this? How do you think Rogers and Juniors relationship will go?

2. Junior says that the night of the Winter Formal was one of the "best nights of his life." Why? Explain. Do you think it could be a great night, but also confusing for Junior at the same time? Why?

In the chapter “Dance, Dance, Dance” Junior says that the Winter Formal night was one of “the best nights of his life” (129). He says this because at the dance, Junior could just be himself and not be scared. When first going to the dance, Junior was “worried that people would make fun of him” (122). Once he got to the dance, he noticed that nobody was making fun of his suit, which was his dad’s bought in the 1970’s. Everyone was quickly envious of the suit. Alexie says that “every dude in the joint immediately wished he’d worn his father’s lame polyester suit” (122). He says this, this way because we have to notice that it is a lame suit, and everyone just wants to wear it because Penelope said that it was cool.

Junior wanted to belong in the world of Rearden. He was “popular by association” (123). Junior was finally fitting in, which makes his night at the Winter Formal a great night. Junior also had “the best night of his life” because he and Penelope were having fun. “Penelope and I were so happy to be alive, and so happy to be alive TOGETHER, even if we were only a semi-hot item, and we danced every single dance” (122). Junior was having the night of his life next to the girl of his dreams, Penelope. He had fun WITH Penelope, they shared every dance together. Being able to be alive was fun, but being able to be alive with Penelope was even better. Sherman Alexie makes the word Together in capitals to show how important it is for Junior. If he wasn’t together with Penelope, it wouldn’t be as fun. It is also in capital letters because he is sharing some time with his friend. Junior had finally made a White friend at Rearden, something thought not possible by Indians.

Junior was confused at many times this night. An example is when nobody is making fun of his suit. This would be confusing because it is ironic that people AREN’T making fun of his suit. The suit was his dad’s, bought in the 1970’s, which is old. It is made of polyester and is lame. Another example of Junior being confused this night is when Roger is so nice and polite to him. “I couldn’t believe he was so nice. He was, well, he was POLITE! How many great football players are polite? And kind? And generous like that? It was amazing” (126). Junior is confused and surprised at the fact that Roger, the kid he had punched, the best football player ever, a popular, could be so nice to him. Junior is confused because this wouldn’t be normal at the rez. If raised at the rez, Roger would be mean and a bully towards Junior. Junior is confused because he is not used to this occasion happening.

Do you agree that this is Junior’s “best night of his life”? Do you think that Junior be considered part of the Rearden community? Do you think that Junior will stay “popular” his whole time at Rearden? Do you think that Junior will have more confidence at Rearden? Why or why not?  If you were Junior, what would you do the same or differently at the dance?