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

The significance of the quote "We didn't keep score." (Alexie, 230) is that it didn't matter, who won or who lost, it mattered that their friendship had survived. Even through all the obstacles as well as thrived the moments of joy.  Rowdy finally comes back at the end of the school year saying I know your moving away from the reservation, but as long as we maintain our friendship, it’s all right. As he states, "I always knew you were going to leave. ... I had this dream about you a few months ago. ... You looked happy. And I was happy for you." (Alexie, 229). Rowdy is finally accepting that Junior left the reservation and that he's happy in Reardan and that's fine. Junior had been waiting for this moment ever since he left the reservation, this moment of understanding as well as their friendship being mended. The last line of the book shows how a good friendship will withhold and stay strong through anything. 

Why does Junior cry on pages 216 and 217? (Question #2) (Huck)

On pages 216 and 217, Junior cries for three reasons. First of all, he cries for his sister. Knowing she could not stay in their basement forever, she suddenly moved to Montana and got married partly because Junior had “kind of shamed her” (Alexie 89) into doing it. She had realized that by staying at home, her future was set. When she ventured outside in search of better places to live and things to do, she was unlucky and died rather quickly after. Junior also cries for his tribe. He knows that they have little hope for their future, and “most of them would die because of booze” (Alexie 216). Finally, Junior cries for himself. He knows that in the end, his attempt to change his future would possibly “kill (him), too, but (he) knew that staying on the rez would have killed (him), too” (Alexie 216). He may feel guilty as well, knowing he had succeeded where others had failed. Junior’s sister’s death was a way for Junior to realize his luck so far in this attempt.

Question 1 - Why does Rowdy tell Arnold, “You killed her” (211)? Is there truth to this statement? (Sam Theodore)

On page 211, Rowdy tells Arnold that Arnold killed Mary. In the middle of Mary's funeral, Junior runs off into the woods and bumps into a crying Rowdy. He had been lurking in the woods watching the funeral when Arnold bumped into him. As soon as Arnold sees him crying, and mentions it, he starts to laugh, which triggers Rowdy's emotions. He protests furiously as Arnold touches his shoulder and tries to punch Junior but misses. In the heat of all this, because Rowdy is so angry, he claims that Junior killed his sister. He accuses him of this because of his transferring to Reardan. Because Rowdy was so angry at Junior for leaving, he pinned Mary's death on him. And the reason of the death you ask; because he went to Rearden. There is really no truth to what he said, although Junior believed it, because it isn't true. It was not his decision for Mary to leave, although Rowdy claims his transferring to Reardan was the cause. It was not his fault she got married, became drunk, and threw a party which led to a fire, even though Rowdy accused him of it. With all of the new gaps in his life, he appointed the blame to himself to make himself feel better. The viewers and him take the news differently.   

Question #3

 

                In the game that Rearden plays against Wellpinit, Rearden wins by about forty points. In the beginning of the game Arnold tells a news reporter “The thing is, the best player on Wellpinit, Rowdy, he used to be my best friend. And now he hates me. He gave me a concussion that first game. And now I want to destroy him.” (Alexie, 185). Junior keeps this mentality because after months of being hated and (metaphorically) punched by the rez, he wanted to (metaphorically) punch back. He keeps thinking this until the end of the game. When he looks over and in that moment realizes that he himself was taking it too far. At the end of the game he went to go cry because he had been so mean.

Question 2: Summarize the cartoon on 182. What is the significance? What does this show about Junior? What is his dilemma? (Anna)

The cartoon on page 182 shows how Arnold is seen as a traitor at Wellpinit, and an angel at Reardan. The drawing shows Arnold playing basketball at the Rez gym with the crowd calling him a "white lover", and dressed as a devil. On the other side, Arnold is an angel who is getting cheered on by his Reardan teammates. This shows that in Junior's mind, he sees himself as a traitor to his old school. He sees himself getting praised at Reardan, his new team; and dishonored by Wellpinit, his hometown team. Arnold can't even figure out his emotions towards this dilemma. He says, "A basketball game...can be the difference between being happy and being miserable for the rest of my life." (Alexie 184). Arnold will feel joyous if his team wins, but ashamed for crushing his own former school mates. This dilemma will affect Arnold and make him feel like a traitor, which is exactly what Arnold conveys through his cartoon.

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

At the end of the game, the Varsity team from Reardan had won the game against "Redskins" from Wellpinit, and he began to cry. At the beginning of the game, Arnold was uncertain if he had the skill to lead their team to victory, as the coach appointed him the secret weapon. In addition, he kept supporting him by telling Arnold that "you can do it" (Alexie 189). Although Rowdy, his ex-best friend who was twice his size, was defending him, Arnold managed to get the basketball out of his hands. The text says, "I rose above him as he tried to dunk it. I TOOK THE BALL RIGHT OUT OF HIS HANDS!" (Alexie 192). This boosted his self-confidence because later not only did Arnold prevent him from shooting, he also managed to shoot a basket; as a result "the gym exploded" (Alexie 193). In the end, Reardan had won with about a 40 point difference. Afterwards, however, he started to cry, "tears of shame" (Alexie 196) because he felt guilty that they had won. The book says, “I was suddenly so ashamed that I’d wanted so badly to take revenge on them” (Alexie 196). He had realized how unfortunate the Indians were compared to the whites. The book says, "The guys on our team had mothers and fathers who had good jobs...I knew that two or three of those Indians might have not had breakfast...live with drunken parents...none of them was going to college" (Alexie 195).  Even though, he mustered up enough courage to play against Wellpinit again, he learns that winning is not the only thing that matters.

#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? (Nolan)

     Junior's first game is against his former school Wellpinit High School. All of the fans at the game treat Jr.awfully, chanting, "Ar-nold sucks!"(Alexie 143). Arnold is really rattled after hearing this betrayal from his old school, but perseveres and plays in the game. When Arnold walks onto the basketball court, everybody turns their backs, but Rowdy. The coach supports Arnold when he is sad about his old school turning their backs on him by saying, "Use your tears. Use your pain. Use your fear. Get mad, Arnold, get mad" (coach 144). This impacts Arnold because it makes him want to play, it makes him want to beat his old team, beat his bestfriend. Arnold did what his coach said to do and brought his anger to the court, he ran on to the court, but was struck in the head with a quarter that drew blood. This angered Arnold even more. Eugene wanted Arnolds night to be over, but he wouldn't let a little scar do that. Those words from Arnolds coach brought some pride into his heart,  made him want to show his old school what he can do. Although Arnold's team doesn't end up winning, Arnold was a winner. He got enough courage to go and play against a whole school chanting at him. Arnold beat his old school Wellpinit in pride, just with the action of stepping on the court.