Themes

Racism.

Experiences with Peers.
-Ostracized at new school.
-New friends assume racial stereotypes.

Trick-Or-Treating.
-Drive-by car eggs them, says racial slur.

Costumes for School Play.
-Stereotypical Native American costumes worn,
despite Chich's story of when white men made
them perform to make them money.

The Restaurant.
-Refusal of service based on race.

Identity.

Identity "Assigned" By Others.
Self Image/Self Identity.
Family identity.

Poverty.

Friends Compared to Self.
"After leaving Miss Elsie's house, I couldn't look at ours the same way... the
inside of our house didn't have the beauty of Miss Elsie's either" (McManis 100).

New Home Compared to Previous Home.
"Back on the rez, our farmhouse wasn't glamorous either. But it was comfy.
Chich's colorful quilts draped over the homemade furniture Chup had built. He'd carved eagles and
bears into the legs of tables... The house had almost always smelled of baking bread, huckleberry or
blackberry pies, and stews. The old wood stove churned up enough heat to keep everyone warm. I knew
we were poor in Grand Ronde, but I hadn't felt poor. I'd felt proud. But I didn't feel that way
on 58th Place" (McManis 103-104).

Efforts to Escape Poverty.
"'...Hey, did I tell you that I got top grades in my class?' Daddy had started his trade
schooling a month before Peewee and I entered Budlong. He took the No. 5 bus from Western
Avenue to Westchester, some two towns away. He brought home big red books and tons of
papers, and Mama had saved enough money to buy him some special pencils and
drafting tools" (McManis 101).

Hope.

Father's Positive Outlook.
Chich's Optimism/Kindness.
Witnessing Father Reconciling Identity.