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

            Rowdy and Junior go way back and have been friends for a very long time. Rowdy has always been there for Arnold for a long time. They were insuperable until Arnold decided that he wants a better education, and "deserts" Rowdy and the Tribe. Rowdy takes it personally and now deeply dislikes him. This hatred has only built up and he is at his breaking point. Rowdy did not have a very stable family situation, so when Arnold left him it impacted him badly and caused him to finally say "I hate you"(211). This is his breaking point and the time that he really admits to himself and Arnold the disdain that he feels.
            I think that Rowdy truly feels that he hates Arnold. The tribe and especially Rowdy has always felt that if something bad happens to you, like someone punches you, that you have to fight back and throw the next punch. When Rowdy decides that life is throwing him a punch for the first time he doesn't punch back, and instead "Rowdy ran"(211), and he had "never run away from anything or anyone"(211). Normally when provoked Rowdy just punches the guy/girl, but him not doing that shows him giving up on Arnold.

How would you react if you were Arnold?
How would you react if you were Rowdy?
Who is more hurt/conflicted at the moment?
How to they feel when Rowdy says that he hates Arnold?

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

At the end of the book, Arnold says, “We didn’t keep score” (230). He had just finished his extremely long game of one on one basketball with his old friend Rowdy. Rowdy says, “You’ve never beaten me one-on-one” (229). After the game the boys realized that they had not kept score. This becomes an unspoken rule because they both realize that previously keeping score has not turned out well. They realize that the game can be more enjoyable if they dont keep score. The book ends here because all is restored except for one thing. On the top of page 230 Arnold asks Rowdy if he wants to go to Readren with him. This question is never answered. The significance of this quote is that Rowdy and Arnold have restored their friendship. Arnold says that he will beat Rowdy but they end up not keeping score. This seems to be an unspoken rule that they will both follow from now and on.

1. If there were to be a PTI two what do you think Rowdy would do? Go to Readren or stay at the rez?
2. Why do you think that laughing works as a coping mechanism for Arnold? If you think that this doesn’t work, why?

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

At the end of the book, Arnold says, “We didn’t keep score” (230). He had just finished his extremely long game of one on one basketball with his old friend Rowdy. Rowdy says, “You’ve never beaten me one-on-one” (229). After the game the boys realized that they had not kept score. This becomes an unspoken rule because they both realize that previously keeping score has not turned out well. They realize that the game can be more enjoyable if they dont keep score. The book ends here because all is restored except for one thing. On the top of page 230 Arnold asks Rowdy if he wants to go to Readren with him. This question is never answered. The significance of this quote is that Rowdy and Arnold have restored their friendship. Arnold says that he will beat Rowdy but they end up not keeping score. This seems to be an unspoken rule that they will both follow from now and on.

1. If there were to be a PTI two what do you think Rowdy would do? Go to Readren or stay at the rez?
2. Why do you think that laughing works as a coping mechanism for Arnold? If you think that this doesn’t work, why?

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

At the end of the book, Arnold says, “We didn’t keep score” (230). He had just finished his extremely long game of one on one basketball with his old friend Rowdy. Rowdy says, “You’ve never beaten me one-on-one” (229). After the game the boys realized that they had not kept score. This becomes an unspoken rule because they both realize that previously keeping score has not turned out well. They realize that the game can be more enjoyable if they dont keep score. The book ends here because all is restored except for one thing. On the top of page 230 Arnold asks Rowdy if he wants to go to Readren with him. This question is never answered. The significance of this quote is that Rowdy and Arnold have restored their friendship. Arnold says that he will beat Rowdy but they end up not keeping score. This seems to be an unspoken rule that they will both follow from now and on.

1. If there were to be a PTI two what do you think Rowdy would do? Go to Readren or stay at the rez?
2. Why do you think that laughing works as a coping mechanism for Arnold? If you think that this doesn’t work, why?

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

At the end of the book, Arnold says, “We didn’t keep score” (230). He had just finished his extremely long game of one on one basketball with his old friend Rowdy. Rowdy says, “You’ve never beaten me one-on-one” (229). After the game the boys realized that they had not kept score. This becomes an unspoken rule because they both realize that previously keeping score has not turned out well. They realize that the game can be more enjoyable if they dont keep score. The book ends here because all is restored except for one thing. On the top of page 230 Arnold asks Rowdy if he wants to go to Readren with him. This question is never answered. The significance of this quote is that Rowdy and Arnold have restored their friendship. Arnold says that he will beat Rowdy but they end up not keeping score. This seems to be an unspoken rule that they will both follow from now and on.

1. If there were to be a PTI two what do you think Rowdy would do? Go to Readren or stay at the rez?
2. Why do you think that laughing works as a coping mechanism for Arnold? If you think that this doesn’t work, why?

What does Junior realize about his own identity, his life and Rowdy (these are all different)?

The last chapters of the book has shown Arnold's growth and new understanding of his identity, but also they have shown how he has learned to never give up. The last few pages of the novel portray Arnold and Rowdy becoming good friends again, but Rowdy actually encourages Arnold to leave making it clear to him that their friendship is repaired and stronger then ever. “We didn’t keep score.” (230) Now that they are friends again Arnold has a stronger connection in the Rez, and a bigger source of hope. This makes him realize that he will always have a connection with his hometown, but his future will be in Reardan. As we have noticed in the last few chapters people at Reardan have really started to connect with Arnold, and when he went to school after his sister’s death “All sorts of boys and girls, and teachers, came up and hugged me and slapped my shoulder and gave me little punches in the belly.” (212) Arnold realizes that his life will most likely be in the direction of hope and good education while Rowdy will be stuck on the Rez for the rest of his life. On the last page of the novel rowdy says “Just make sure you send me postcards.” (230) This proves that Rowdy will never be able to leave the Rez, and maybe accepting his poverty while Arnold will reject any idea of poverty.

Arnold's double lives have taught him the importance of hope, and never giving up, because on the Rez he would never accept his poverty, and in Reardan he would always meet challenges with courage. These lessons have shown Arnold that he has hope, and that his life has a very good chance of taking a turn for the better, but that he will always have a piece of the Rez in his heart.

It seems evident that Arnold will most likely graduate high school and maybe even move on to college, but either way he has shown us the power of hope and ignoring stereotypes.

Questions:

Has anyone in your life shown great amounts of courage and hope? If so how is it similar or different from Arnold's situation?

Do you think Arnold will have a good future and even move on to college? Why or why not?

Who do you think are the most influential people in Arnold's life?

In this time of grief, why do you think Junior laughs so much? What are the specific moments he laughs the hardest? (299-end)

Arnold laughed so much during this time so that he can hide his emotion, and cover tears with laughter. When he learned the worst things, that’s when he laughed the hardest. “Yep, even weird boys are afraid of their emotions(132).” This quote sums up how he is reacting. Arnold is afraid to express his emotions, and wants to make it seem like it’s no big deal, and make it seem funny, instead of the common sad, tearful reaction. Although he reacts this way, he is very, very sad and heartbroken, because Mary and Arnold were very close.

            Arnold laughs the hardest when he is with his dad after he picks him up. When his dad arrives at school, and he thought he had possibly died in a car wreck, he hysterically laughs. All of this is very ironic. It is especially ironic when Arnold says, “‘I know, I know,’ I said. ‘She’s dead. But you’re alive. You’re still alive.’” You would expect Arnold to be so sad and depressed when his dad pulls up. You would especially not expect him to say that Mary died with such ease. He also laughs a ton when his dad tells him how Mary died.


Do you think Mary would blame Arnold for her death? why or why not?
If you were Arnold, how would you react to this sad news?
What do you think his dad was thinking while he was laughing?