If I Ever Get Out of Here

Lewis is with his friends, Carson and Carson’s cousin, Tami. Carson is helping Lewis cut his hair with the hope that it will help him fit in better at school. Like many Native Americans, Lewis wears his hair long with a traditional braid. The two boys are discussing how best to cut the braid off. Tami grows impatient, grabs the scissors, and lops it off in one quick cut. It’s tradition to keep the braid, but Tami cut it before they could properly secure it. When Lewis gets home, his mom doesn’t reprimand him for cutting his braid. Instead, she hauls out the old and slightly rusty clippers and shaves off the rest of Lewis’ hair. Lewis shares a bedroom with his uncle, Albert. Albert says that Lewis will get used to not having any hair; Albert lost his when he was sent to Vietnam. 

It’s the first day of seventh grade. Lewis has never had any luck making friends at school. There is a new kid, and Lewis hopes he can become friends with him. The new kid, George, takes a natural liking to Lewis. George is interested to know that Lewis is a Native American; George’s dad grew up around Native Americans.