Hearts Unbroken

As the two complete homework on Labor Day, Louise reassures her mother that her decision to seek two degrees will benefit Indigenous families: “You’re becoming a lawyer […] ‘to defend tribal sovereignty and to keep American Indian children in American Indian families and communities,’ where we belong” (54). Joey arrives to pick Louise up. They go to Burnham Outlets, the large mall nearby, to work on a feature story about a junior at East Hannesburg who helped to restore an antique Cadillac with his grandfather. Joey wants Louise to interview the subjects while he takes the video and photographs. After receiving repeated pointers on the story from Joey, Louise realizes why he brought her: “You’re training me, aren’t you?” (61). Joey thinks he can elevate the skill of the staff. His confident ownership of the paper is clear: “When you’re on your own, I can’t have you doing a shitty job for my school newspaper” (62). Louise questions his boldness to herself.

Louise compliments Hughie’s singing of “If I Only Had a Heart.” He responds “Yvhiketv cvyace tos (I like to sing)” (64). Auditions are the next day, and the teacher-director plans to cast inclusively. Hughie tells Louise that a senior, Garrett Ferguson, is competing for the role of Tin Man.