What did his mother Nina and grandmother Martha want? A good woman to look after Peter and his daughter Ethel-Marie.
What did Peter think of Mae? A young girl. His pal.
How many years difference was there between Peter and Mae? 11 years.
What did Mae's mother tell her about kissing? That you can get pregnant.
What did Mae realize about being an unwed mother? It was socially unacceptable and people whispered about her.
Before he announced the wedding, they had a big fight. What happened? Peter hit Mae.
How did Velma feel about her dad? Angry “I would glare at him balefully with clenched fists.”
Respond to these in your journal.
What does irony mean? What is ironic about Mary and Mae's situation?
Why was Peter's nonchalance appealing to women? What traits do you look for in a partner?
Velma says her mother always told the truth no matter how much it hurt. This affects how Velma tells stories. Are there times when the truth is better kept secret?
Why do you think that Mae and her father could only show deep emotions when they were drunk?
Why don't you think that any of the girls took Dr. Disosway up on her offer to go for further schooling in medicine?
Discuss this statement: “It is possible to miss someone when they die when you didn't get along with them.”
Pretend you are Dr. Lulu Disasway. Write a letter to a family member describing your experiences in Fort Yukon.
Pretend you are Dr. Lulu Disasway. Write three journal entries about your experiences in Fort Yukon.