[Discussion] Runner- Up Read: Five Little Indians by Michelle Good, Ch 11-14

Happy Sunday book lovers,

Welcome to the fourth discussion post for Five Little Indians by Michelle Good. Today's post covers Chapters 11-14. Refer to the schedule for more info or check out the marginalia, if you've read ahead and want to chat!

Kenny catches up with Lucy and is reunited with little Miss Kendra as Chapter 11 opens. The three of them head to the park and while Kenny is full of joy & hope, Lucy is realistic about his actions over the past year and her concerns. Kenny promises her that "I can change". The sweet family has a summer of love followed by Kenny & Lucy's wedding in the fall. But then, Kenny gets the itch and walks out on Lucy and Kendra for a job at the logging camps. He sends most of his paychecks to Lucy with no reply. After some time being away, he receives a letter from Clara urging him to return home as Lucy is in the hospital with respiratory issues. Kenny is able to leave that same day (with pay and promise of a job when he returns, if he wants it) and returns to the Frances Street home. He's greeted by a fiesty Clara and they have multiple tense interactions. Kenny heads to see Lucy at the hospital the next morning. Though Lucy is frustrated with Kenny, she allows him to stay. He helps her with her recovery at home. Lucy gets back to her normal self and the family has a lovely day together including a park date, Chinese food and Lucy & Kenny cuddling in bed. The next morning though, Kenny wakes up early and slips into the early morning mist.

Clara and the crew pick up where they left off as Chapter 12 begins. They have left Mariah's and are in Hope, BC taking a break from driving and enjoying burgers. They chat about how life is "fast out here in the world". Clara naps as they drive on and wakes when they have arrived back in Vancouver. George drops her off at Frances Street so she can reunite with Lucy and Kendra. They make plans to meet at the Friendship Centre in a few days before parting ways. Clara and Lucy reunite and spend hours updating each other about their lives, reminiscing and making future plans. Clara decides to embark on a career opportunity of being a Courtworker (someone who is there to "keep Indians out of jail"). She makes it through the training and the final examination. Lucy and Clara continue their days sharing care of Kendra and supporting each other. The chapter ends with Clara beginning to pen a letter to Mariah.

Chapter 13 starts with Howie engaging in his final jail- avoidance counselling session with Clara! The two have become friends and bonded over their shared experiences like having spent time at The Mission. Howie returns to the Centre and asks Clara out on a date the next day. They meet and after some conversation, Howie tells Clara the story of how he ended up on the BC coast (when he's from the prairie province of Saskatchewan). Howie explains his childhood facination with all the new sights like mountains and dense forests... and then the joys of being at Auntie Mae's house with electricity, running water and a TV! Howie enjoyed a very festive 6th birthday celebration though the party came to an abrupt end when a priest and RCMP appeared at the door a few days later. They demanded to take Howie to school as it's "the law". Despite his mother and Auntie Mae's protests, the RCMP take the boy away. Over a whole year passes and Howie starts to lose some hope. He is tormented by other children at the school due to being a bed-wetter. Young Kenny befriends Howie and starts sticking up for him when he gets teased by other kids. Years pass and young Howie is now 9. One day he ends up in the hospital and is visited by Auntie Mae who hatches a plan to help him escape the school. That same night, Howie begins his escape plans and he manages to run away from the school. Clara listens to him intently as he recounts his story and then after dinner, she invites him to come up for a tea. She then begins to tell him about Mariah...

Kenny wakes with a sweat as Chapter 14 opens and finds himself in the presence of Louise and he apologizes to her as he quickly jolts off to work. He stops for a hangover breakfast and coffee and is distracted by a newspaper heading about children sueing the federal government. He thinks of Brother and of Lucy and how she "made it okay somehow". He calls Lucy from a phone booth and makes plans to come see Kendra. He's greeted by a smart-mouthed Kendra that lets him have it. She vents her frustration and is fiercely protective over her mother Lucy. Lucy and Kenny chat after Kendra leaves the home. After some relaxing time and a nap, Lucy begins making dinner but has to pop to the store. As she's away, Kendra comes home and is surprised to see her father is still present. Kenny urges Lucy to attend a gathering at the Friendship Centre that was "calling all survivors" to form a lawsuit on behalf of the students against the schools. Howie and Kenny reconnect in a tender hug as Howie thanks Kenny for helping him to survive. The two men chat and catch up a bit before making plans to have breakfast tomorrow morning. Kenny heads in to chat with the lawyer and after 30 minutes, he is out but is overcome with nausea, vomiting and a whole whack of stress symptoms. Reliving the horrors he experienced takes a tole on Kenny. He drinks himself to death and we see the world disappear around him as Kenny leaves the physical world. Lucy identifies Kenny's lifeless body and the chapter ends with Kenny's funeral.