This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona Essay

In the short story, “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, Victor and Thomas-Builds-the-Fire are two young Indian men living on a reservation. They were best friends up to age fifteen, but had long since drifted apart. Thomas goes around town telling the same old stories that everyone is tired of listening to. Most people don’t stop to listen or speak to Thomas and neither has Victor up to this point. The men have opposing personalities and ideas about life in general. Thomas is fearless and brave. He has the courage to reach for any dream he dreams, he is very spiritual and trusts in his visions to lead him on his path in life. He always has a story to tell and says that stories can change the world, which is all he has to cling

Thomas is compelled to accompany him to Arizona, but Victor does’nt understand why until halfway through the journey when Thomas shares a story about many years ago. He had followed a dream to Spokane Falls, where he found Victor’s father, who told him there were no visions in Spokane and that he should quit waiting for one to appear. Thomas realized the actual vision that day was Victor’s father. His dreams were telling him “take care of each other.” When Victor discovered this encounter between Thomas and his father he decided that Spokane Falls was the place his father’s ashes should rest. After Victor collected his father’s ashes he decided to give Thomas half of them, in order to repay him for all he had done. Thomas announced that he was planning on tossing the remains in the Spokane Falls. He explained how he imagined Victor’s father rising like a salmon, leaping over a bridge to find his way home. Thomas explains, “And your father will rise like a salmon, leap over the bridge, over me, and find his way home.” (pg 74). This vision is of Victor’s father metaphorically springing into his next life, almost like the Falls will give him a new life. Also, “find his way home” is like saying that the ashes being in such a magical place will set the spirit to rest where he truly belonged, at home. Victor then states he was planning on doing the same