Wanting to Say Things: The Power of Stories
AN ANTHOLOGY OF NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
from "Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock” by Sherman Alexie in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
“You know,” I said, “sometimes you sound like you ain’t
even real.”
“What’s real? I ain’t interested in what’s real. I’m interested in how things should be.”
My father’s mind always worked that way. If you don’t like the things you remember, then all you have to do is change the memories. Instead of remembering the bad things, remember what happened immediately before. That’s what I learned from my father. For me, I remember how good the first drink of that Diet Pepsi tasted instead of how my mouth felt when I swallowed a wasp with the second drink.
Discussion Questions
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How do you define “real”? Is there a difference between something that is “real” and something that is “true”? If so, what is the difference?
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Does being realistic entail more optimism or more pessimism?
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How does changing a memory change your life story? How does changing a past story affect future outcomes?
Writing Prompt
Write a narrative about an unpleasant experience you have had. Re-imagine and change the memory by focusing on the things that happened before the unpleasant experience. End the story with a positive outlook, either by consciously choosing where to end or by reflecting on insights that the experience gave you.