The First Annual All-Indian Horseshoe Pitch and Barbecue by Sherman Alexie

"Somebody forgot the charcoal; blame the BIA."

If it has not become obvious already, Sherman Alexie is quite fond of using long titles for his short-stories and yet ironically, many of them like The First Annual All-Indian Horseshoe Pitch and Barbecue are very short in length. Clocking in at only four-pages, we are offered a highly condensed depiction of a communal gathering on the reservation. Victor even makes a cameo appearance, dragging a piano over to play some music for the event. 

As the narrator later observes, "There is something beautiful about an ordinary carnival." It's a mixture of cynicism and sincerity. Sure, there are plenty of hotdogs, Kool-Aid, foot races for the kids, fun pranks, basketball tournaments. This should a time of joy and celebration but the narrator's underlying cynism is difficult to ignore. He views these activities as perfunctory or meaningless: "And then Seymour told Simon, "Winning all those contests makes you just about as famous the world's best xylophone player." Shattered dreams and disappointment cast a pall over the festivities but there are still glimpses of hope to be found here. The parental affection towards a mixed-child, the first meeting of a potential romantic relationship: "Neither has the words to describe this but they know how to dance, yes, they know how to dance." It's these beautiful little moments highlighting perseverance that are packed with meaning. Despite all the hardship and trauma, there is still a sense of community that endures under the yoke of oppression.