Summary

The short story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie begins with Victor, a Native American young man who wants to travel to Phoenix, Arizona, to collect his father’s remains after he died of a heart attack. He does not have enough money, so he asks the Tribal Council for help. The Council only agrees to offer Victor one hundred dollars, which is not nearly enough to help him go to Phoenix and back. Victor accepts the offer and goes to cash the check.

While he waits in line at the Trading Post, he notices Thomas Builds-the-Fire, a young man he used to be friends with growing up. Victor recalls that Thomas tends to talk to himself and tell stories that nobody wants to listen to. Because of this, the other people on the reservation avoid Thomas and do not want to be associated with him. 

Victor recalls that, w...