Chapter 1 Summary

The reader introduced to Victor, a nine-year-old Native American that lives on an Indian reservation in Spokane. It is New Years Eve 1976 and Victor describes the "hurricanes" that are plaguing the Indian reservation. Two of Victor's uncles, Adolph and Arnold, are brutally fighting each other during a New Year's Eve party. The commotion wakes Victor.

Victor watches the fight in despair. Victor's parents, along with the rest of the adults on the Indian reservation, are drinking to excess. Victor explains that drinking and alcoholism is a common occurrence on the reservation. It makes Victor sad when he finds his parents passed out on the bed from drinking too much. Victor lies down next to them in bed and can feel the alcohol seeping from their bodies.

Victor explains that the alcohol has caused much sadness and trouble on the reservation. Victor's father is...