Pat Plummer

“Well, the thing is, I don't think Indians are nomadic anymore. Most indians anyway.'

No, we're not,' I said

I'm not nomadic,' Rowdy said. 'Hardly anybody on this rez is nomadic. Except for you. You're the nomadic one.'

Whatever.'

No. I'm serious. I always knew you were going to leave. I always knew you were going to leave us behind and travel the world. I had this dream about you a few months ago. You were standing on the Great Wall of China. You looked happy. And I was happy for you.'

Rowdy didn't cry. But I did.

You're an old-time nomad,' Rowdy said. 'You're going to keep moving all over the world in search of food and water and grazing land. That's pretty cool.'

I could barely talk.

Thank you,' I said.

Yeah,' Rowdy said. 'Just make sure you send me postcards, you asshole.'

From everywhere,' I said.

I would always love Rowdy. And I would always miss him, too. Just as I would always love and miss my grandmother, my big sister, and Eugene.

Just as I would always love and miss my reservation and my tribe.

I hoped and prayed that they would someday forgive me for leaving them.

I hoped and prayed that I would someday forgive myself for leaving them.”
― Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian