They say most friendships last 7 years

I'm reading the book "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian"by Sherman Alexie. It is about the courageous Indian, Arnold Spirit. He is also known as Junior to the Spokane Indians that live on the reservation. All his life he wanted a bit of a change, something other than drunk adult Indians and fistfights everyday. He especially wanted a change from being picked on everyday and wanted a decent education. Is that too much to ask for? Apparently, it is for most Indians because when Arnold switches from the local Indian school to the school of Reardan (which is in a white town 22 miles away from where he lives) he is completely shunned by people he had known for his whole life. He was even shunned by his best friend, Rowdy, which he had known for most of his life.

It starts off as a very masculine friendship. Although, Arnold isn't the most masculine man in the world, Rowdy comes very close to that. Rowdy is the toughest kid on the reservation. He is long and lean (and as Arnold says, as strong as a snake). He is too tough to even show emotions. Rowdy becomes and looks even more tougher due to his dad. Rowdy's dad drinks hard, and hits Rowdy and Rowdy's mom all the time. But, whenever Arnold asks Rowdy about it (such as a bloody face) Rowdy would say, "It's war paint. It just makes me look tougher." Ever since kindergarten Rowdy got into fights, and he fought everybody. But not Arnold. Rowdy and Arnold were both born on the same day of November 5th, 1992. And they were best friends ever since. Best friends, that is, until Arnold transferred to Reardan.

Things were never the same between them afterwards. Probably because Rowdy never talked to Arnold again. And just like that, a 14-year-long friendship vanished. Just because of one comment. I can't hate on Rowdy though. He felt betrayed, his only real friend betrayed him for a stupid school. How would that make you feel? I can relate to both of them though. Sometimes, you need a change in life whether it affects people positively or negatively. You just can't hate the person that needed or went through that change though. You have to look from both perspectives, and you have to try to understand. Because, you now, there is always room for forgiveness.