Explain the significance/importance of the friendship with Gordy for Junior.

During geology class, Junior corrects his teacher, Mr. Dodge that petrified wood isn't really wood, and the class nerd, Gordy backs him up. The next day, Gordy explains to Junior what tautology is, and Junior makes a joke out of it. After calling each other “weird” and “singular witted,” they become friends.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Gordy is the smartest person Junior has ever met, but he surprises Junior by telling him that he has to read a novel several times to really understand it; first for the plot, then for the history and the meaning of each word. Each book is like a mystery, no matter how much you learn, there is still more to know in this world. Junior tells Gordy that he draws cartoons and thinks that Gordy will think he’s pathetic, but instead, he explains how just like reading a book for the story, Junior draws cartoons for the stories and that’s what gives him joy. They head off to the Reardan High School Library and Gordy describes how although it’s a small library, with only “three thousand four hundred and twelve books, it would still take you almost ten years to finish.”(Alexie, p. 97) In other words, “The world, even the smallest parts of it, is filled with things you don’t know.”(Alexie, p. 97)                                                                                                                                                          

From becoming friends with Gordy, Junior realizes there’s a world out there, beyond the Rez, Wellpinit, or even Reardan; but each place, even the small places, are filled with mysteries, just like there is always more to learn in a small library. Although at first Junior thinks that Gordy knew everything, he is still learning more and more each day. The sky’s the limit. Gordy tells Junior that he should approach life like he approaches books, with hope, knowing that something good will come out of it one day that will bring him joy. Later, Junior realizes that hard work and the feeling of complexion is joyous. Gordy is giving Junior the ability to see for himself and have the determination to explore the possibilities in this world, giving him the feeling of hope, a feeling that Junior has never been able to experience.  

       

-Michelle