Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, graphic violence, and racism.

Amber Cloud receives certificates revealing that her sons have a different “degree of Indian blood” from each other (67). Sammy, whose father is not Indigenous, is only 1/8 Indigenous while his younger half-brother, Grayson, is 5/16. Amber worries about her boys’ futures. Grayson will qualify for the tribal rolls, guaranteeing him money from the casino, while Sammy will not. David, Grayson’s father, tells Amber she cannot do anything about it.

Dave hangs a dreamcatcher over Grayson’s crib to ward off evil in the night, and Amber wonders if they should put one over Sammy’s bed. She begins to think that Sammy was a mistake even as he smiles up at her. One night, Dave shares the news that Big John LaBarge died. Amber considers Big John “the last of the tribe’s old-school Indians” and is saddened to learn of his loss (70). Amber holds Grayson in her arms as she and Dave talk but treats Sammy like a pet, yelling “down” when he tugs on her leg. Amber feeds Grayson, and when he is done, Amber throws the food on the ground for Sammy.