The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Read Online Free PDF Page B

Dad got stopped three times for DWI: Driving While
    Indian.

    But Reardan has one of the best small schools in the state, with a computer room and
    huge chemistry lab and a drama club and two basketball gyms.
    The kids in Reardan are the smartest and most athletic kids anywhere. They are the best.
    "I want to go to Reardan," I said again. I couldn't believe I was saying it. For me, it seemed as real as saying, "I want to fly to the moon."
    "Are you sure?" my parents asked.
    "Yes," I said.
    "When do you want to go?" my parents asked.
    "Right now," I said. "Tomorrow."
    "Are you sure?" my parents asked. "You could maybe wait until the semester break. Or until next year. Get a fresh start."
    "No, if I don't go now, I never will. I have to do it now."
    "Okay," they said.
    Yep, it was that easy with my parents. It was almost like they'd been waiting for me to ask them if I could go to Reardan, like they were psychics or something.
    I mean, they've always known that I'm weird and ambitious, so maybe they expect me to
    do the weirdest things possible. And going to Reardan is truly a strange idea. But it isn't weird that my parents so quickly agreed with my plans. They want a better life for my sister and me.
    My sister is running away to get lost, but I am running away because I want to find something.
    And my parents love me so much that they want to help me. Yeah, Dad is a drunk and Mom is an ex-drunk, but they don't want their kids to be drunks.
    "It's going to be hard to get you to Reardan," Dad said. "We can't afford to move there.
    And there ain't no school bus going to come out here."
    "You'll be the first one to ever leave the rez this way," Mom said. "The Indians around here are going to be angry with you."
    Shoot, I figure that my fellow tribal members are going to torture me.

Rowdy Sings the Blues
    So the day after I decided to transfer to Reardan, and after my parents agreed to make it happen, I walked over to the tribal school, and found Rowdy sitting in his usual place on the playground.
    He was alone, of course. Everybody was scared of him.
    "I thought you were on suspension, dickwad," he said, which was Rowdy's way of saying,
    "I'm happy you're here."
    "Kiss my ass," I said.
    I wanted to tell him that he was my best friend and I loved him like crazy, but boys didn't say such things to other boys, and nobody said such things to Rowdy.
    "Can I tell you a secret?" I asked.
    "It better not be girly," he said.
    "It's not."
    "Okay, then, tell me."
    "I'm transferring to Reardan."
    Rowdy's eyes narrowed. His eyes always narrowed right re he beat the crap out of
    someone. I started shaking.
    "That's not funny," he said.
    "It's not supposed to be funny," I said. "I'm transferring to Reardan. I want you to come with me."
    "And when are you going on this imaginary journey?"
    "It's not imaginary. It's real. And I'm transferring now. I start school tomorrow at Reardan."
    "You better quit saying that," he said. "You're getting me mad."
    I didn't want to get him mad. When Rowdy got mad it ok him days to get un-mad. But he
    was my best friend and wanted him to know the truth.
    "I'm not trying to get you mad," I said. "I'm telling the truth. I'm leaving the rez, man, and I want you to come with me. Come on. It will be an adventure."
    "I don't even drive through that town," he said. "What makes you think I want to go to school there?"
    He got up, stared me hard in the eyes, and then spit on the floor.
    Last year, during eighth grade, we traveled to Reardan to play them in flag football.
    Rowdy was our star quarterback and kicker and middle linebacker, and I was the loser water boy, and we lost to Reardan by the score of 45-0.
    Of course, losing isn't exactly fun.
    Nobody wants to be a loser.
    We all got really mad and vowed to kick their asses the next game.
    But, two weeks after that, Reardan came to the rez and beat us 56-10.
    During basketball season, Reardan beat us 72-5 and 86-50, our only two losses of the
    season.
    Rowdy scored