The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior tells a story about when he was 12 and fell in love with an Indian girl named Dawn, the “best traditional powwow dancer on the rez” (74). She was out of Junior’s league. He confessed his love to Rowdy, and Rowdy told Junior that Dawn didn’t “give a shit” about him, which made Junior cry (75). Rowdy called Junior a wimp, but he promised not to tell anyone that Junior cried over Dawn.

Junior goes as a homeless person for Halloween, which he says is an easy costume because he looks half-homeless anyway. Penelope arrives dressed as a homeless woman and explains she is making a political statement. She plans to ask for spare change instead of candy and donate it all to the homeless. Junior says he’ll do the same to protest the treatment of homeless Native Americans. He suggests they pool their money, and Penelope agrees.

Junior goes trick-or-treating on the reservation and receives candy and spare change and a dollar from his father. A few people tell him he’s brave for attending Reardan, but most people slam the door in his face and call him names. Junior realizes it feels good to help poor people, even though he is poor himself.