Quote 1
"Arnold," she said one day after school, "I hate this little town. It's so small, too small. Everything about it is small. The people here have small ideas. Small dreams. They all want to marry each other and live here forever."
"What do you want to do?" I asked.
"I want to leave as soon as I can. I think I was born with a suitcase."
Yeah, she talked like that. All big and goofy and dramatic. I wanted to make fun of her, but she was just so earnest. (15.87-15.90)
Penelope is beautiful and blonde and white, and her home is the rich little town of Reardan. Oddly enough, though, she doesn't see Reardan as a place of hope, like Arnold does. Instead, she sees Reardan in much the same way that Arnold views the reservation. Penelope believes that, in order to realize her very big dreams (that would be something other than getting married and having children), she must leave her home in Reardan. What are some of the other limitations that Penelope faces in Reardan?
Quote 2
"Arnold?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something big?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Are you poor?"
I couldn't lie to her anymore.
"Yes," I said. "I'm poor." (17.109-17.115)
Arnold finally comes clean with his white friends when he confesses to Penelope that he's poor. What is Penelope's reaction? Is his life better once he tells them the truth about his family?