If I Ever Get Out of Here

Lewis goes to homeroom to find a new teacher there. Miss Strassburgher wants to meet with him after school. Lewis notices Stacey leave with Harold Russel, arm in arm. Lewis is confused why she’s with Harold and not with George. Lewis also notices that George has a black eye, but when asked about it, George tells Lewis that he will tell him about the black eye later. Throughout the day, Lewis notices animosity from not only fellow students but also from several teachers. Mr. Meyer is blatantly antagonistic. He even tries to antagonize George, but George ignores him. Lewis tries to get answers out of George again, but George still doesn’t want to talk about it yet. Instead, he invites Lewis to come over to his place after school. He has a new Queen album he wants to show Lewis.

After the school day ends, Lewis retrieves his jacket from Mr. Doyle and checks in with Mr. Groffini. Mr. Groffini imparts more lessons to Lewis about the way things work in the “real world.” Lewis leaves, having learned a new thing about what constitutes a Native American teenager: “I was beginning to understand I had, in the school’s eyes, only become an Indian student when I became a problem. Which meant that your Standard Indian Kid could also be defined as your Standard Trouble Kid” (261).

George and Lewis listen to the new Queen album, specifically to the song “White Man.” It’s a song about the mistreatment of the Native Americans. Lewis likes the sentiment, but finds that the song flounders in its goal of properly representing Native American sentiments. George then leads Lewis to his parents’ bedroom. Lewis is reluctant to break their trust by snooping, but George wants to show him the Queen concert tickets that Mr. Haddonfield is giving to George as a Christmas present. There is one extra ticket for George to bring whomever he wants with to the concert, and he wants Lewis to come. Soon thereafter, Mr. Haddonfield takes Lewis home. Lewis asks him about what happened to George, but Mr. Haddonfield only provides a vague answer. Lewis then asks him about his history with Native Americans, but the answer is simple and doesn’t confirm nor deny Lewis’ fears that Mr. Haddonfield’s parents worked at one of the infamous boarding schools.

Lewis gets a full-sized guitar for Christmas from Albert and his mom. They had not needed to use all the money his mom asked of Lewis from his paycheck and with the leftovers, they were able to purchase him a guitar. Lewis can scarcely believe that he has his own, real guitar now. He promises he won’t lose interest in playing the guitar. Along with the guitar, there are some tab books of Beatles songs, which the Bug had helped Lewis’ mom pick out. It was all a Christmas miracle, according to Lewis.

When school starts back, Lewis finds things have, for the most part, settled down, and most don’t remember anything about him or Evan.

It’s January and the winter is already harsh. Lewis is glad that they are caught up on their heating bills. One day, the snow is so deep that school lets out early. Back home, Lewis and Albert struggle to keep the driveway free of snow. Mr. Haddonfield and George are coming by to pick Lewis up so that all three of them can go pick up the concert tickets together. Mr. Haddonfield, George, and Lewis drive to Niagara Falls, though with increasing difficulty on account of the snowstorm. Mr. Haddonfield goes to the grocery store nearby, and has George and Lewis go pick up the tickets. They all meet back outside. The stores are all closing early because the storm is getting worse.