My deepest thanks to the wonderful people at Tin House: Win McCormack, Craig Popelars, Elizabeth DeMeo, Alyssa Ogi, Diane Chonette, Jakob Vala, Becky Kraemer, Alex Gonzales, Nanci McCloskey, and Sangi Lama. You all feel like family. Special shout-out to my wonderful editor, Masie Cochran, who helped make these stories as good as they can be.

Thank you to the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast MFA program for being such a stellar place to grow as a writer. Thank you to Justin Tussing, Robin Talbot, and Matt Jones, and thank you to my mentors, Rick Bass and Aaron Hamburger. Without this program, I would not be where I am today. It afforded me the time to write and develop my craft. Thanks, too, to the Elizabeth George Foundation, whose generosity allowed me to finish this collection.

To the editors and publishers who published my stories throughout the past years—thank you. To my Narrative Magazine family—Tom Jenks, Carol Edgarian, Mimi Kusch, and Jack Schiff—thank you for what you do. It’s so important.

This book wouldn’t exist without the support of so many people. To start, I have to go back to my beginnings. Thank you to the folks at Orono High School: Claire Moriarty, Karen Frye, and Chris Crocker. What would I have done without your continued support and care?

Thank you to Carol Lewandowski and John Goldfine. You were the best teachers a student could ask for. I return time and time again to the things you taught me. I’m forever grateful. And thank you to my professors at Dartmouth College, those in the English department and Native Studies department, for pushing me.

I’m compelled to say “agent,” but she’s family: thank you, Rebecca Friedman, for being the best “agent” a writer could ask for. And many, many thanks to Cara Hoffman. First a mentor, and now a friend and family member, it’s like we’ve known each other forever.

I am indebted to the Penobscot Nation—and to all my ancestors who came before me, who endured and persisted for us to be here—for its immense support. Tribal resources allowed me to pursue my dreams in higher education, which undoubtedly helped get me to where I am. Thanks must also go to the Penobscot community at large: you all have cheered me on and have always encouraged me. Thank you. I would also like to extend special thanks to Gabe Paul and Carol Dana for putting up with my occasional questions about the Penobscot language. I’m just a beginner, and I know I need to be a better student.

To Jake, Tyler, Ethan, Julian, Dylan, Yuma, Chad, Emily, Darby, and Athena—who would I be without having grown up with you all?