A Sour Victory

In the chapter, "In like a lion" Rowdy and Arnold face off in a rivalry game. Rearden is playing Wellpinit and Rearden's only loss came at the hands of Wellpinit. Arnold was starting that game and was assigned to guard Rowdy. Rowdy only scored four points and Arnold had a very spectacular offensive game. The game resulted in a Rearden win by over forty points. Rowdy's team had lost and he was embarrassed by Arnold. However after the game is over Arnold thinks about how the Wellpinit team felt, and more specifically how Rowdy felt. Arnold realizes that he may of beat Rowdy but some of the Indians on the Wellpinit team may not have eaten breakfast. Some of the players have drunk parents, and Rowdy was probably going to get beat up for losing. Arnold suddenly realizes that he may of won the "game" but not the "war". On page 195, Arnold says, "I knew that none of them were going to college." (Alexie 195) Arnold concludes that even though he won the game, he is still Indian and many of his friends and family have a very dismal future. Arnold begins to cry after the game because he feels sorry for attempting to "destroy" Wellpinit. He wants to even apologize to Rowdy for seeking so much revenge. Even though Arnold beat Rowdy and the other reservation kids, he realizes they still are from the same background, and they all lack a very important thing; a future.

-Ryan