Summary

Chapter 21 opens with a poem entitled, “Blood.” In the poem, at his mother’s funeral, a mosquito landed on Alexie’s knuckle. At first, he was tempted to smash it but instead he allowed it to fly away “fat and drunk” (72). When the same event occurred later he smashed the mosquito in order to read his fortune in the broken insect pieces. The poem reads, “One wing says, ‘yes you did love your mother.’ And another wing says, ‘yes, of course your mother loved you.’ But the dismembered proboscis shouts, ‘you don’t have to forgive her sins or your sins but its probably best if you give it a try, you blood bag of a son” (73).

As a part of the funeral service, Alexie decided to remain awake for 29 hours with his sisters and brothers as a part of a Native spiritual...