Summary

In Chapter 6, “William,” William and Cletus leave the “raggedy edge” (34) of Tulsa, reaching the more respectable neighborhood where William lives. William's mother, Kathryn, is full-blood Osage Indian. She earned money for her share of the oil pumped from the Indian-owned land, as well as her brother's and her mother's shares, making her wealthy. By this time, the government has declared that “every Osage without a certificate of competency would need a white guardian to manage their money” (35), and William's father, Stanley, had control of Kathryn's money. They are building a three-story house in a new section of town, and Stanley is in full control of the project.

When William reaches home, his parents smell the alcohol. Stanley decides that William will begin working in his store, the Victory Victrola Shop. He will work every day after school and all day Saturday...