Brush told the young girl who was serving potatoes to "give him two, he's hungry" (pg. 4).
The two boys became the best of friends and a bond of brotherly love developed between them. Brush taught Francis everything he knew. They spent many hours during the day with each other and Francis also became a quick study and learned very quickly so that he could catch up with Brush and work in the same classes (pg. 13). .
As time goes on Brush and Francis take three other boys under their wing and teach them all that they can. They form their own gang, calling themselves "The Middle Five" with Brush at the head of the gang; he falls into the role of teacher. Throughout the story, Brush seems to gain wisdom from the things that he learns at school as well as a few Saturday trips home with Francis where he is able to observe the ways of the Omaha. As he observes the culture of the white's, the traditions and religion, he gains the insight of change that is coming to the Omaha community.
Brush sees that the traditions and the way of life for the Omaha are being swallowed up by the white man culture. This is very apparent through the children's first days at the boarding school. Each child is stripped of his native clothing and given white man's clothes to wear. His hair is cut to a style of the white man and he is given a white man name. All language that is native to the Omaha is strictly forbidden. Each child is forced to learn to speak the English language. They are taught the religion of the Presbyterian's through daily prayers and teachings from the Bible. Brush carries his Bible with him and learned all of the stories and meanings of each of these stories. He then would break them into simpler terms for the other boys to understand. .
Through observation and listening, Brush sees that the Omaha culture and way of life as they knew it before contact with the white's, will some day come to an end.
