“she braided my sister's hair with hands that smelled deeproots buried in the earthshe told me the old storieshow time never matteredwhen she diedthey gave me her clock”

“She told me that every other step was just for me.'But that's only half of the dance,' I said.Yeah,' my father said. 'She was keeping the rest for herself. Nobody can give everything away. It ain't healthy.”

“James tells the crowd that the river is just a few yards from where we stand is all we ever need to believe in. One white woman asks how old James is and I tell her he's seven and she tells me that he's so smart for an Indian boy. James hears this and tells the white woman that she's pretty smart for an old white woman.”

“She wanted to be buried in a coffin filled with used paperbacks. ”

“Maria was staring at me like I was wearing purple socks. ‘Wow,” she said. “That’s exactly what music is.’ And then she started crying again. But this time, she wept quietly. ‘You understand,” she said. 'You really understand.”

“She's the Sandwhich Lady.""Excuse me?""She delivers sandwiches to the homeless.""Really. I can't imagine her in such a role.""What do you mean?" "Well, she always seems so impulsive, so emotional. What's the word I'm searching for? So individualistic. Not tribal at all...”

“You must be a rich man," she said. "Not much of a warrior, though. You keep letting me sneak up on you."You don't surprise me," he said. "The Plains Indians had women who rode their horses eighteen hours a day. They could shoot seven arrows consecutively, have them all in the air at the same time. They were the best light cavalry in the world." Just my luck," she said. "An educated Indian."Yeah," he said. "Reservation University."They both laughed at the old joke. Every Indian is an alumnus.Where you from?" she asked.Wellpinit," he said. "I'm a Spokane."I should've known. You got those fisherman's hands."Ain't no salmon left in our river. Just a school bus and a few hundred basketballs."What the hell you talking about?"Our basketball team drives into the river and drowns every year," he said. "It's a tradition."She laughed. "You're just a storyteller, ain't you?"I'm just telling you things before they happen," he said. "The same things sons and daughters will tell your mothers and fathers."Do you ever answer a question straight?"Depends on the question," he said.Do you want to be my powwow paradise?”