On the day we met, she told me she was named after the sexiest country music star alive. And that she knew how to fire a gun. And that she was one hundred percent Cherokee.
-- Unnamed Narrator (Shania)

Importance: In the opening lines of "Shania," the narrator lists some of her former friend Shania's most notable qualities, then contrasts herself to Shania by noting, "My mama says I'm named after nobody. We don't have a gun in our house. I have blonde hair and blue eyes" (1). From these distinctions and other commentary in the story, the reader can discern that Shania was intriguing to the narrator because she was different, and in particular because she was Native American.

You haven't told anyone this but you feel like you need to tell her about what you wanted to do to those baby chicks that time at the family reunion. And she listens without being afraid...
-- Charlie Elliott (Charlie Elliott)