1. Buddy calls some of the "old-timers" an "irreligious lot." Why would Kikoy be religious even though some of his companions were not?

2. What are the similarities between Buddy and Uncle Kikoy? How do these similarities shape Buddy's personality?

3. Does Uncle Kikoy actually come to Buddy at the end of the story?

4. Why would Bacho choose to have Buddy arrive too late to see Uncle Kikoy?

5. Why would Uncle Kikoy be as devoted to Buddy as he is?

6. Why is Buddy embarrassed by his father's new marriage? If he is embarrassed, why would he choose to live in San Francisco, near his father, rather than Seattle, near his mother?

7. What does San Francisco represent for Buddy? How does his view of San Francisco differ from his view of Seattle?

8. Buddy admits that he behaved very badly as a teenager for a few years.

Why does...