Joan Brown

Jr. Smiled Joan Brown

A Native American boy loves to run, whether on an errand, escaping from the cops, competing against horses, or for the joy of it. Yet this race can't be won until he finds his identity. The ghetto streets, parental neglect and abuse, prejudice, and illiteracy prevent Jr. from establishing his identity. The foster care system places him in a good home, and Jr. must learn to read. As he reads, he learns too much. Reading confuses him. Who is he? Would friends accept him if he weren't an athlete? Why must they depend on him to always come through for them? The short-lived smile reverts to an impenetrable faade. In the end, Jr. must return to the beginning.