Shannon's Blog #2

In this section, Auntie takes Tayo and nurses him while he’s sick. We learn that she took him as a child, from her shamed sister and she was recognized for her burdens by raising Tayo and her son, Rocky. Auntie changes the sheets and puts Tayo in Rocky’s bed. He vomits from daylight and traumatizing experiences, and he cries in the dark while grandma listens to him. Robert, Auntie’s husband says that he’s glad to have Tayo back at home.

Sooner, Tayo wants to go back to the hospital but Grandma tells him to get a medicine man. Auntie doesn’t agree because rumors will start, like they did with Tayo’s mother and white men and Josiah with a Mexican woman. The Old Ku’oosh comes to see Tayo and he explains to Tayo different views on the fragile world and Tayo explains to him that he hasn’t killed a man. But Old Ku’oosh wants to cleanse him with rituals to cure him so that his dreams are not haunted, so Auntie feeds him blue cornmeal mush. He doesn’t vomit his food and he doesn’t care anymore about living.

Tayo realizes how the alcohol numbs the pain of the veterans at Dixie Tavern with Harley, Emo and Leroy. They talk stories about their time in the army.

At that point in the story, I got a better understanding of what exactly was going on. The book is becoming more interesting, and now Silko’s writing has portrayed a clear image on Tayo and his history.

pg: 29-49