Summary Of Roger Jack's 'An Indian Story'

The Essay, I have chosen to read from is ReReading America was An Indian Story by Roger Jack. The topic of this narrative explores the life of an Indian boy who grows up away from his father in the Pacific Northwest. Roger Jack describes the growing up of a young Indian boy to a man, who lives away from his father. Roger demonstrates values of the Indian culture and their morals through exploration of family ties and change in these specific ties. He also demonstrates that growing up away from one’s father doesn’t mean one can’t be successful in life, it only takes a proper role model, such as the author provides for the young boy.

In the first paragraph the story description of the main characters, Aunt Greta who will be the the boy’s role model through out the story. You

quickly gain an understanding starting in the second paragraph; that the boy’s past and family situation affect’s his current situation. The main character’s father had remarried a half-breed Indian, this made him feel uncomfortable at the time: therefore, the boy asked to move in with his Aunt.

On page 53, four paragraphs down the author states that the boy’s choice in moving away improved his academic life. His father only lived a mile and a half down the road, like the old saying so close but so far away. At the end of page 53, the author talks about him and his Aunt going on trips. She taught him all about Indian culture on these trips. They even traveled to the imitation Stonehenge Monument. On this trip his Aunt had begun to talk to the main character about what he wants to be in life. The boy answers “I want to be like you,” and she had told him to think about following in his father footstep’s considering the fact many Indian boy’s do.

On page 55, we have reached the climax of the story. This altercation took place under the influence of alcohol. The fight take’s place when a guy accuses the now young man of flirting with his girlfriend. The man accusing him is immediately verbally assaulted by the main character who defends himself in a manner that brings him to his feet. This is the first time in the story Aunt Greta is disappointed in him as they leave the event and return home

with awkward. Later on page 56 through to 58, they return home and the young man feels ashamed for what he did, so oddly enough he leaves the house to talk to his father. As his father explains to the boy that his Aunt’s actions may be a grieving response as she might be thinking she has failed in her responsibility of raising the boy. It is also than explained to him that his Aunt was mischievous in her younger years and was considered desirable by many. This explanation causes the boy to ponder about why she never remarried again? The father explains that the Aunt may have feared the loss of another loved one; at this point she has filled the void with taking care of his grandfather and him. At the bottom of page 58 the young man returns to his Aunt and apologizes about the occurrence that happened the night before. They also discussed why she never remarried and she stated she was content with the love she found and she was to busy taking care of him and his grandfather that died previously. The discussion of colleges arises in the conversation as well and the boys does decide to attend Spokane. On page 59, they decide to return to the Imation Stonehenge Monument, this time they return to a gloomy dark feeling, which I believe is foreshadow for later events. On page 60, the author explains the young mans transfer from home to college life. He also receives a call from his father notifying him that his Aunt Greta is ill and it a state of emergency. The main character hangs up the phone and says “like the older times used to say, ‘she might go away for a while, but she’ll be back.” This state totally concludes the young man change from needing a role model to being able to survive on his own, all thanks to his Aunt Greta