The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The day after Junior decides to switch schools, he finds Rowdy on the playground of the Wellpinit Junior High school and tells him he’s transferring to Reardan. Rowdy tells him it’s not fun and that Junior’s making him mad. Junior tries to convince Rowdy to leave the reservation with him and transfer to Reardan, and Rowdy spits on the ground.

While in conversation with Rowdy, Junior remembers that Reardan beat the Wellpinit flag football, basketball, and baseball teams, and Rowdy was the star of all three teams. Junior competed against Reardan’s team in Academic Bowl, and because of him, his team answered one question correctly; he knew that Charles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities. Junior remembers the Reardan kids as “magnificent” and “filled with hope” (50).

Rowdy realizes Junior is serious and turns away from him. Junior touches his shoulder, and Rowdy calls him a homophobic slur. They both cry, and Rowdy screams a scream of “pain, pure pain” (52). Junior touches Rowdy again, and Rowdy punches Junior in the face, knocking him to the ground. Junior realizes Rowdy is now his worst enemy.