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Junior was born with congenital hydrocephalus: he had excess spinal fluid on his brain. As a complication of this condition and the resulting surgery, Junior had regular seizures throughout his early childhood. -
Oscar is Junior's dog, he is a mutt whom Junior trusts more than any human being, and Junior feels that Oscar is a very good being. Oscar becomes sick from the heat, and he has seizures. Junior begs his parents to take Oscar to the vet, but they simply don't have the money, as the visit could cost hundreds of dollars. Instead, Junior's dad shoots the dog -
Junior just received his geometry books in class. He opened it and saw his mother's name in the book, making it 30 years old. He realized how poor the school was and threw the book. It struck Mr. P on the nose, breaking it and suspending Junior. -
Mr. P comes over to Junior's house and has a talk with Junior about hope on his front porch. When Junior's parents come home he asked them that since "white people" have the most hope, can he attend Reardan, which is an all-white school. -
Junior approaches Rowdy at the tribal school to ask him if he wants to come to Reardan with him. Rowdy got mad and punched Junior in the face, this is where their friendship started to get rocky. -
Roger tells Junior a racist joke involving Indians, African Americans, and buffalo. Onde told Junior felt like he was kicked in the stomach, so he punched Roger in the face because it was so offensive. Roger then respected Junior from then on. -
Junior tries out for the Reardan basketball team and Coach says that there will be a lot of cuts this year. Then, Coach, has the kids play full-court one-on-one. Junior matches up against Roger, who is 6’6” and can dunk. Roger steals the ball from Junior and dunks. Coach asks Junior if he wants to go again or if he needs a break. Junior goes again, and, after Roger fouls him, he makes a jump shot. Junior makes the varsity team. -
Junior's older sister, Mary, met a stranger at the casino on the reservation. She fell in love with him immediately because of his good gambling skills. They left what they knew behind and moved to Montana to get married. -
Junior goes to the bathroom during history because he is bored and he stops at the lady's room because he hears someone throwing up. After deciding to wait to see who it is Junior is shocked to see that it is Penelope. Junior asked why she was throwing up and finds out that Penelope is bulimic. -
Junior's grandmother was walking home from a mini powwow at the community center when she got hit by a drunk driver. The paramedics were able to keep her alive until they reached the surgery room. She later died of major internal injuries. -
Junior, Penelope, Roger, and 15 other people ate at a Denny's after a school dance. Everybody orders pancakes, even Junior, even though he knows he only has $5.00 in his pocket. Halfway through the meal, Junior goes to the bathroom to puke. Roger comes to check on him, finds out his dilemma, a gives Junior two twenty-dollar bills to cover his meal cost. -
Junior asks Penelope to the Winter Formal and she says yes, but Junior is nervous because he has so little money. Junior can’t drive and has no vehicle, so he tells Penelope to meet him at the gym. Junior wears his dad’s old suit, and Penelope loves it. She calls it retroactive. Junior and Penelope dance every dance together, and Junior intentionally avoids getting photos, photos he can’t afford. Junior is glad he hasn’t revealed his poverty -
The championship game comes down to Wellpinit and Reardan, on the opening tip-off Rowdy gets the ball and races down the court. Junior runs right beside him all the way to the rim, Rowdy and Junior jump up together as Rowdy tries to dunk. Junior blocks Rowdy and runs the ball to his side of the court. With Rowdy right behind him, Junior pump fakes and makes a three. Reardan wins as Junior shuts down Rowdy and keeping him to four points -
Mary has a party in Montana with her new tribe and husband and everyone gets drunk because of Native American tradition. Mary passes out in bed with her husband. Sometime In the night somebody accidentally set the trailer on fire, killing both Mary and her husband -
Junior sees Rowdy playing basketball by himself at the school's basketball court. Junior walks up to Rowdy wanting to play against him, Junior and Rowdy play until the street lamps light up the court and nobody kept score. Their friendship has been restored