This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona

"This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona"
Sherman Alexie
Esquire, 1994

"Victor knew that Thomas would remain the crazy storyteller who talked to dogs and cars, who listened to the wind and pine trees. Victor knew that he couldn't really be friends with Thomas, even after all that had happened. It was cruel but it was real. As real as the ashes, as Victor's father, sitting behind the seats. 'I know how it is,' Thomas said. 'I know you ain't going to treat me any better than you did before. I know your friends would give you too much shit about it.'
Victor was ashamed of himself. Whatever happened to the tribal ties, the sense of community? The only real thing he shared with anybody was a bottle and broken dreams."

I chose this passage because I found it to be vey emotional. Two boys who were friends as kids can no longer be friends due to some kind of status quo. Their lives went in two different directions as adults and then crossed again. After a tremendously emotional road trip, flashing back to all of their memories, their friendship will never be rekindled due to their positions in the community.

The story mentions that Thomas is the story teller in tribe and kind of has a crazy reputation. No matter the past theses two boys share, Victor can't be seen talking to him because then other people passing by may think Victor is crazy too. This is something both men knew and neither one took offense to. I did like that Victor felt ashamed and recognized the flaw in the system. He still was not going to talk to Thomas much but at least he knew that was the wrong thing to do and felt some remorse. I know that actively doing something you know is wrong is not a good thing, but I think in this case it is. The reason theses two people have the understanding is because of the pressure from their surrounding community. I like that Victor, while still conforming to the ideas of the community, questioned them.

I think this clip is a lot like the ending of the movie The Breakfast Club. A lot of kids from different social groups all bond over a day in Saturday detention. They talk about a lot of personal and family history but then they realize no matter how strong the bond they created that day is, they will have to go back to their own peers at school on Monday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OMuX561ykM