He loved her of course but better than that he chose her day after day. Choice that was the thing.

Thomas Builds-the-Fire closed his eyes and told this storyI remember when I had this dream that told me to go to Spokane to stand by the falls in the middle of the city and wait for a sign. I knew I had to go there but I didnt have a car. Didnt have a license. I was only thirteen. So I walked all the way took me all day and I finally made it to the falls. I stood there for an hour waiting. Then your dad came walking up. What the hell are you doing here He asked me. I said waiting for a vision. Then your father said All youre going to get here is mugged. So he drove me to Dennys bought me dinner and then drove me home to the reservation. For a long time I was mad because I thought my dreams had lied to me. But they didnt. Your dad was my vision. Take care of each other is what my dreams were saying. Take care of each other.

I would close my eyes and dream of something strong dream of horses exploding rising into the air their hearts beating survive survive survive.

Can you hear the dreams crackling like a campfire Can you hear the dreams sweeping through the pine trees and tipis Can you hear the dreams laughing in the sawdust Can you hear the dreams shaking just a little bit as the day grows long Can you hear the dreams putting on a good jacket that smells of fry bread and sweet smoke Can you hear the dreams stay up late and talk so many stories

And I couldnt make fun of her for that dream. It was my dream too. And Indian boys werent supposed to dream like that. And white girls from small towns werent supposed to dream big either.We were supposed to be happy with our limitations. But there was no way Penelope and I were going to sit still. Nope we both wanted to fly