The Middle Five · Chapter
II: Brush explained
Brush wins a horse race for the narrator's father, earning his respect.
What happens
Brush wins a horse race for the narrator's father, earning his respect. Later, a mother brings her two sons to the mission school, and Brush and Frank help them settle in. The chapter also includes a visit to the narrator's home, where they witness white boys stealing pemmican from a grave, leading to a discussion about mourning customs.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs when the old woman’s tender, birdlike reassurances clash with the boy’s raw, uncontr…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Cultural Identity and Assimilation
Brush's success in the horse race reflects traditional Omaha skills, while the mission school environment pressures assimilation.
- Family and Community
The mother bringing her sons to school and the narrator's family welcoming Brush highlight community bonds and family dynamics.
- Loss and Grief
Brush's orphanhood and the grave-offering custom illustrate themes of loss and remembrance.
Characters to notice
- Me
Narrator; accompanies Brush, helps new boys, and learns about mourning customs.
- Brush
Rides in and wins a horse race; helps new boys Lester and Warren adjust to school.
- Lester
Newcomer to the mission school; helped by Brush and Frank.
- Frank La Flesche
Helps Brush with the new boys and assists in setting up their bed.
- Joseph
Mentioned as part of the Big Seven; referenced in Brush's story about having no home.
Key passages
“Who are you, little brother?”
The narrator's father asks Brush to identify himself after the race.
Brush responds by naming his grandfather and friend, earning the father's approval.
“Tell the White-chest... that I have brought my two boys to stay here.”
A mother asks Brush to tell the superintendent she has brought her sons to the mission school.
She hopes the boys will learn to write and asks for kindness.
“I bet one of those boys will die before the year is gone.”
Brush predicts that one of the white boys who stole pemmican from a grave will die soon.
The narrator agrees, reflecting a belief in supernatural consequences.
