"Why does Rowdy tell Arnold "You killed her" (211) Is there truth to this statement?" Questions #7, Max E.

As Junior runs from the burial of his sister because of the sighing sound the coffin made, he crashes into Rowdy at full speed. In the middle of a tear-filled and emotional conversation between the two boys, Rowdy tells Junior that "Your sister is dead because you left us." (211). This makes Junior feel that "She (Mary) only got married so quickly and left the rez because I had left the rez first. She was only living in Montana in a cheap trailer house because I had gone to school in Reardan. She had burned to death because I had decided that I wanted to spend my life with white people" (211). Although Mary may have been inspired by Junior's move to Reardan, and embarked on a new life in Montana because of this inspiration, it is unfair to blame Junior for Mary's death. The alcoholic hangover and stove fire did not directly occur because of the move. They took place by chance. If Mary's death did not happen, they she most likely would have continued a happy life with her husband.