The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

The reader introduced to Victor, a nine-year-old Native American that lives on an Indian reservation in Spokane. It is New Years Eve 1976 and Victor describes the "hurricanes" that are plaguing the Indian reservation. Two of Victor's uncles, Adolph and Arnold, are brutally fighting each other during a New Year's Eve party. The commotion wakes Victor.

Victor watches the fight in despair. Victor's parents, along with the rest of the adults on the Indian reservation, are drinking to excess. Victor explains that drinking and alcoholism is a common occurrence on the reservation. It makes Victor sad when he finds his parents passed out on the bed from drinking too much. Victor lies down next to them in bed and can feel the alcohol seeping from their bodies.

Victor explains that the alcohol has caused much sadness and trouble on the reservation. Victor's father is broke and couldn't afford Christmas presents the year before, but still bought alcohol. Victor explains the overall feelings of despair in the reservation. Victor watches the fight between his uncles from his bedroom window: they fight in the snow until they came to an agreement, but both are badly beaten.

Victor goes on to explain that fighting and unproductive, unhealthy, negative behaviors happen everyday and with everyone on the reservations. The boy believes that the trouble stems from the crimes he and his people have had to endure and witness in the past. Victor cannot understand why everyone witnesses the fight, but does nothing to stop it.