Blasphemy

  To Rosalie Swedlin, I sing an honor song for her guidance.

  And, of course, to my mother and siblings for loving my stories even when they probably reveal too many family secrets.

  And most of all, I want to thank my wife, Diane, and my sons, Joseph and David. It’s hard to live with a writer but they manage to survive me with beauty and grace. I cherish them.

  CONTENTS

  Table of Contents

  Blasphemy

  Also by Sherman Alexie

  Title Page

  Copyright © 2012 by FallsApart Productions, Inc.

  Dedication

  Contents

  Cry Cry Cry

  Green World

  Scars

  The Toughest Indian in the World

  War Dances

  This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona

  Midnight Basketball

  Idolatry

  Protest

  What Ever Happened to Frank Snake Church?

  The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

  The Apporximate Size of My Favorite Tumor

  Indian Country

  Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock

  Scenes from a Life

  Breakfast

  Night People

  Breaking and Entering

  Do You Know Where I Am?

  Indian Education

  Gentrification

  Fame

  Faith

  Salt

  Assimilation

  Old Growth

  Emigration

  The Search Engine

  The Vow

  Basic Training

  What You Pawn I Will Redeem

  Acknowledgments