Wandering Stars: A Novel

Pratt, now in retirement, reflects on the boarding school and his subsequent regrets. Namely, he remembers that President Theodore Roosevelt did not respond to his request for more funding. Pratt feels the media did not give him the right admonitions for his work at the Carlisle Indian School, the papers instead referring to him as an “honest lunatic” for what he did at the school. Pratt compares himself to Roosevelt, assuming himself better because he did not parade Indigenous children around for a show. However, deep down, Pratt knows that he did the same thing. He receives a letter from Charles Star requesting an interview for a book, and Pratt uses his great-grandson's birth in San Francisco as an opportunity to go to Oakland and see him.

Charles can’t control his memories. He knows there is some memory deep within him, buried underneath the abuse and trauma he suffered at Carlisle. He thinks about the times he ran away from Carlisle, realizing that he had to return for food and shelter. Because Charles uses laudanum, he cannot tell the difference between his memories, his present, and his dreams. He imagines riding the train to Florida but doesn't realize it is a dream.