From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way

Part 2, Chapter 20 is a verse chapter in which the speaker describes how he is the “[l]ife of the party” (96) and willing to do anything, from alcohol to drugs. This status makes him feel powerful, but he doesn’t realize that “Indians” are never seen as the “good guys.”

Jesse starts sixth grade at a new school but is still unable to read or write well. Jesse’s friend Leeroy and Jesse’s brother Jerry are in seventh grade, and Jesse’s brother Josh is in eighth grade with Leeroy’s sister Sylvia, who now smokes and wears make-up; Jesse finds Sylvia attractive.

Jesse is beginning to notice girls. One day, while waiting to catch the bus, he sees a red-headed girl named Lucie; she is a swimmer and hangs out with the cool children at school. Jesse sees her talking to two other girls. He makes conversation with them; the other girls laugh and roll their eyes, but Lucie smiles and introduces herself to him.

Jesse skips school and goes to a mall with Leeroy and another boy named Richard. Leeroy and Richard order fries and gravy, but Jesse doesn’t have any money. He hopes the other two will share their food, but they don’t and laugh at him.