While Junior is having thanksgiving with his family he asks his dad, “Hey, dad, what do Indians have to be so thankful for?”(102). His dad replies by saying that they are thankful for not being killed by all the whites. This is very ironic because white people think quite the opposite, they think that Indians are dangerous and that they should not be messed with at all. When Junior goes to Rowdy, he is met by Rowdy’s dad who lies to him about Rowdy being home. Junior had brought a comic and gives it to Rowdy’s dad who does not even have the courtesy of letting Junior inside. This tells the reader that Rowdy wants no part with Junior and does not want to see him. Then Junior sees Rowdy looking at him through the window as he is leaving. Junior also sees the comic in Rowdy’s hand not torn up and in one piece. This means that Rowdy might be calming down after hitting Junior.
At the end of the reading when Junior emails Rowdy for some life advice about Penelope Rowdy replies; “I’m sick of Indian guys who treat white women like bowling trophies”(115). This is literally saying that Junior is a very racist person. Junior for some reason takes this quite lightly and resorts to asking Gordy who gives a similar reply saying that Junior is a racist. Junior is now being told repeatedly the same answer. I think that Junior is not a Racist even though an article says otherwise. This is because Junior is the one who is trying to be a part of something new and that is trying to blend in with a group of people with different skin color. He is a person who is quite the opposite of racist. In this chapter, I think Junior’s identity matured more and became more aware of things. This is because Juniors is officially Penelope's boyfriend and he is taking that as a very serious relationship.
Do you think Rowdy is beginning to forgive Junior? Do you think that Juniors relationship with Penelope can go farther? Do you think that Penelope's dad will beat up Junior? Do you think Junior’s sister will ever return after the letter they have received of her having the time of her life?
Rowdy is beginning to forgive Junior because he didn't tear up his comic and he replied to his email. I think that because Rowdy didn't tear up Junior's comic it shows that he still respects Junior and that he misses Junior. Rowdy is keeping the comic as a way to remind himself of Junior because he misses Junior, but he wants to be viewed as tuff, so he is taking his time in forgiving Junior. Although Rowdy's respond to Junior's email wasn't nice he still responded and this shows a little bit of hope for their friendship because before Rowdy wouldn't even be in contact with Junior. Rowdy is starting to forgive Junior by responding to his email and not tearing up his comic.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Rowdy is trying to forgive Arnold even if it isn't in his nature but I am not sure it will work. Jr. is definitely maturing as a person and Jr. realizes that people will be even more tough on him and he needs to act in a way where they won't be so hard on him. I think it is great that Jr. has become friends with Penelope and that shows that he has changed enough to be seen as a important person. I hope that things will get better from here on out but we can never be sure and I feel like there is some foreshadowing in this chapter such as Penelope wanting to travel and she might move or something. I do hope that it gets better though
ReplyDeleteI think that there is a zero percent chance of Rowdy and Junior becoming friends again because of how Rowdy isn't getting any better. As Mr. P said, "Your friend Rowdy, he's given up. That's why he likes to hurt people. He want's them to feel as bad as he does" (42). This is showing how Rowdy, once he does something bad, there is no going back and making right, he is just caught in an infinite downfall. This is not just for Rowdy, but a majority of the Indians (especially Rowdy).
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think that Mary will never return to the sad, sad reservation because she has no happy memories there, just depressing, missed opportunities and depression. I think that the only way she will ever return to the reservation is in a severe emergency.
I think that Rowdy will not forgive Junior for a very long time, but the way the story is written I believe that Rowdy will forgive him near the end of the book. Rowdy got mad at Junior when Junior rushed all this shocking news at Rowdy. Because of that, Rowdy probably overreacted a little and expressed an opinion stronger than he wanted to. I don't think that Junior's sister will come back because she is having the time of her life! Basically, if you are having the time of your life that means that you enjoy that current lifestyle the most, why would you want to go back to a different lifestyle?
ReplyDeleteDo you think Mary's disappearance will have an affect on Junior?
I think Junior will definitely fix any gaps in his friendship with Rowdy because Mr. P also said to Junior that he is the only thing that keeps Rowdy going, the only thing that gives Rowdy hope. By leaving the rez, Junior severed the hope he provided for Rowdy in their friendship. However, since Junior is trying to patch up their relationship, I think Rowdy might gradually open himself up to hope again as well. Sending the negative response back to Junior's email was just a way to cover up what he's actually feeling- like Lilla said, he has to keep up the facade of being tough. By keeping the cartoon, though, and actually looking at it, Rowdy shows he's at least thinking about their friendship. In addition, rekindling Junior's friendship with Rowdy would be a key event in balancing his Reardan life and his Indian culture as well. Since Rowdy is "even more important than family", it will be like the last part of Junior is attached to him, in a way; it will complete his identity.
ReplyDeleteI think that Rowdy is definitely beginning to forgive Junior. Even if he does not want to admit it, the fact that he didn’t rip up Junior’s cartoon of them shows how he missed Junior. I also think that Penelope and Junior are a good match because they have a lot in common, like their dreams. Except, because Penelope is so popular, and Junior is the new kid without many friends I feel that their relationship could be broken because of that.
ReplyDeleteI believe Rowdy is already forgiving Junior because Junior was his only friend and hope left. Without Junior, he is torn apart and just gets depressed overtime. At some point he will have to apologize because Junior was the only guy who was different. Without Junior, Rowdy has totally given up and has nothing left to do. His father makes life even harder a struggle for him. I think Junior was a major part of Rowdy's life. At the end when Rowdy doesn't tear up the comic, this shows he still has feelings for Junior. I think Junior's sister will return to the reservation to see her family. She is not coming right away because she is having the time of her life and people in the rez will call her a traitor. She is trying to get her message across that she is happy with the decisions she made so everyone knows she enjoyed her life instead of thinking she broke the rules and ran away. I think Penelope and Juniors relationship can go farther because Junior has this calmness and comfort which Penelope needs and I think they both have some similar qualities. Penelope feels like a normal girl with Junior and she want to feel like that. She senses things differently so I think Junior will be a good person for Penelope.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Rowdy will eventually forgive Junior because Rowdy is in a way in the same position as Junior. Both of their hearts need to be accompanied, and frankly, I think Junior is doing a better job of that than Rowdy. Junior at least now has Gordy, Penelope, and the rest of the grade (now that he is popular). Rowdy on the other hand has only his drunk dad. I think that eventually Rowdy will realize his situation and forgive Junior. I also believe that Penelope and Junior's relationship does in fact, "have the potential" that every relationship requires. I am not exactly sure how Penelope will get around her father though. He will be an extremely tough obstacle that they will need to overcome in order to proceed with their relationship. Also, I do not believe that Mary will ever come back to the reservation that they call home. I also think that Junior and Penelope will eventually move to somewhere else as well.
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