Ernest Buckler's Long, Long After School, And The Grandmother Spirit

Supporting someone can change the way they feel and improve their courage. Support moves like a cycle, it has a mutual affection for everyone. There are many ways to impact someone, those who impact others in positive ways create a better mental and overall status of others and themselves. Both writers Ernest Buckler in “Long, Long After School”, and Sherman Alexie in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian implement this idea of how support can change someone. First, in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Grandmother Spirit encourages Junior to go to Reardon. Grandmother Spirit would like to help Junior to create a better future for himself. Additionally, in “Long, Long After School” Wes is not at his peak. People around

Junior and his Family are not ready to forgive the drunk driver Gerald, but it was an action that felt right, as it was for Grandmother Spirit. “My father was all quiet and serious with the surgeon, a big and handsome white guy”(Alexie 157). This quotation has a big impact on Junior as person. Later, he got to know the driver was drunk, and Junior and his Father thought about thrashing the driver. Instead, they kept Grandmother Spirits last wishes. Junior learns to forgive Gerald, and this helped Junior forgive the rez for putting him through a difficult time for going to Reardon. In addition, Grandmother Spirit pushed Junior to go to Reardon because she wanted him to follow his dreams. Additionally, Grandmother Spirit teaches Junior to stand up for himself, and expereince the feeling of secuirty, and create a safe enviornment of where he is. She is Juniors safe haven. He would come to her when he seeked for advice or help. For example when Junior punched someone in the face. “‘Did he hit you?’ she asked. ‘No, not at all,’ I said. ‘Not even after you hit him?’ ‘Nope.’ ‘And he’s a big guy?’ ‘Gigantic. I bet he could take Rowdy down.’ ‘Wow,’ she said. ‘It’s strange, isn’t it?’ I asked.

Initially, Miss Tretheway treated him equitably to end the bullying. Wes was bullied on the sledding hill, when he was just trying to take Mrs. Banks’ laundry home for her. The bullies kept pushing him around, but then Miss Tretheway’s brave expressions had scared off those individuals. Miss Tretheway assisted Wes in the gathering of the laundry that was clutered in the snow. Wes appreciated the gratitude, and Miss Tretheway treated him respectfully, even though his race and ethnicity is different. This quotation proves evidence for the first point conveyed; “‘Do you remember the night you steered your sled into mine, going down Parker hill?’ ‘No,’ I said. ‘Did I do it on purpose’ ‘ I don’t know’ Wes said. ‘ Maybe you didn’t. I thought you did.’ Maybe I did. I don’t remember. ‘I was taking Mrs. Banks wash home on my sled, and you were coasting down the hill. The basket upset and all the things fell out in the snow. Don’t you remember… Miss Tretheway came along and you all ran” (Buckler 114). If Miss Tretheway would not have been there to alarm off the bullies, Wes would not have been able to get the wash to Mrs. Banks with the possibility of worse actions. This had a major impact on Wes because he felt like there was someone that accepted him. Wes realized that Miss Tretheway is there for him, and she showed him that she cared for him. There was a lot of racism in this time period, and that is why Miss Tretheway wanted him