The story is basically about two long lost friends who decided to go on a trip to Phoenix, Arizona. The story starts off just after Victor lost his job at the BIA ( Bureau of Indian Affairs), he later finds out that his father had died of a heart attack in Phoenix, Arizona. Even though Victor hadn't seen his father for about two years, Victor still felt " genetic pain, which was real and intimidate as a broken bone" (803). Victor then takes this journey to claim his father's saving account and ashes. However, due to the fact that Victor lost his job at the BIA and is financially incapable of paying for his trip. As a last resort, he turned to the Tribal Council, who was only able to give Victor one hundred dollars.Victor runs into Thomas Builds-the-Fire, who offers to lend him the money he needs on one condition.
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The two men then proceed to take a plane to Phoenix, where they encounter and talk to a passenger named Cathy, a former Olympic gymnast. Thomas continues to initiate a conversation with Cathy, which made Victor feel embarrassed at Thomas's attempt to converse with Cathy. As the plane arrives in Phoenix, the two men ride in a taxi to Victor's father's trailer, where Victor apologizes to Thomas for beating him up when they were young. As they arrive, Victor retrieves his father's ashes, saving account money, and the pickup truck. Victor and Thomas then use the pickup truck to drive back to the reservation through the Nevada desert.Back at the reservation, Victor gives half of his father's ashes to Thomas. Both Thomas and Victor plan to travel to Spokane Falls and the throw the father's ashes into the waterfall. Thomas tells Victor that ashes will “rise like a salmon, leap over the bridge, over me, and find his way home” (812). The story concluded with Victor promises Thomas that just this once that he will listen to one his
The two men then proceed to take a plane to Phoenix, where they encounter and talk to a passenger named Cathy, a former Olympic gymnast. Thomas continues to initiate a conversation with Cathy, which made Victor feel embarrassed at Thomas's attempt to converse with Cathy. As the plane arrives in Phoenix, the two men ride in a taxi to Victor's father's trailer, where Victor apologizes to Thomas for beating him up when they were young. As they arrive, Victor retrieves his father's ashes, saving account money, and the pickup truck. Victor and Thomas then use the pickup truck to drive back to the reservation through the Nevada desert.Back at the reservation, Victor gives half of his father's ashes to Thomas. Both Thomas and Victor plan to travel to Spokane Falls and the throw the father's ashes into the waterfall. Thomas tells Victor that ashes will “rise like a salmon, leap over the bridge, over me, and find his way home” (812). The story concluded with Victor promises Thomas that just this once that he will listen to one his