The Great Turkey Walk

“Nary a one of ’em asked me what that business might be.”

This observation, made after Simon announces his intention to leave, uses understatement to reveal the profound emotional neglect he experiences from his biological relatives. Their lack of curiosity about his plans underscores their perception of him as a burden. This indifference establishes a baseline against which the loyalty of his future found family will be measured.

“Next, I’d want my skinner to have an interest in the enterprise. […] Not only him, but all of us, me and the birds, too.”

In his negotiation with Bidwell Peece, Simon displays a business acumen that contradicts the “pea-brained” label assigned to him. By offering a percentage partnership, he demonstrates an understanding of motivation and shared risk, valuing collective success over a simple employer-employee dynamic. This moment is foundational to the theme of The Strengths of Found Family, as Simon builds his team on mutual interest rather than mere wages.

“Instead, they spread their wings and flew. Straight and clear. All the way across that water. I held my breath, amazed at the wonder of it.”

This event at the Gasconade River is a pivotal moment where the literal action of the turkeys directly mirrors the growth that Simon is experiencing. Simon’s solution to the obstacle transforms a potential disaster into a success, and the turkeys’ flight symbolizes the unexpected potential of his plan. This event highlights his burgeoning ability to overcome challenges through ingenuity.

“‘I ain’t nobody’s master, and never mean to be. Even Uncle Lucas never kept no slaves.’ I stopped to consider. ‘Then again, maybe he figured he had enough between me and Aunt Maybelle and the cousins.’”

Simon’s dialogue with Jabeth establishes his innate moral compass and egalitarian worldview. The initial declaration of principle is followed by a moment of wry, understated humor, creating situational irony that reveals his keen perception of his own family’s oppressive dynamics. This line characterizes Simon as someone whose decency is more profound than the complex social hierarchies of his time.

“Miss Rogers always said as how there’s a place for every soul in this world. Only needs to be found.”

Simon’s reflection on Jabeth’s lack of talent with turkeys shows the direct influence of his teacher’s philosophy on his leadership style. By internalizing this lesson, he demonstrates a wisdom that looks beyond surface-level competence to find an individual’s unique worth. This quote links Simon’s developing maturity to his education, reinforcing the idea that his intelligence lies in his perceptiveness and his ability to see potential in others.

“Jabeth put that flute to his mouth again. This time the music that came forth sounded just like Miss Rogers. Graceful and twinkling and full of light and life.”

A simile connects the sound of Jabeth’s flute—a symbol of his discovered talent—to the character of Miss Rogers. This comparison elevates the mentor figure to a guiding ideal, suggesting that her positive influence on Simon is now being extended to others through his actions. It also places Jabeth on an equal plane as Miss Rogers, reinforcing Simon’s belief in equality and his ability to see goodness that others overlook.

“You gulled me, and I won’t be gulled!”

This outcry marks a significant step in Simon’s coming of age, as he moves from naive victim to an individual defending his own dignity. His anger stems not just from the financial loss but from the violation of his sense of fairness. The forceful declaration, a contrast to his usual placid nature, demonstrates a newfound assertiveness and self-respect, precipitating the confrontation with his father.

“Ain’t sure a man can call a boy that unless they’s striven and sweated some together.”

In rejecting his father’s sudden claim of kinship, Simon articulates a core argument for the theme of the strengths of found family. He defines family not by blood but by the shared struggle and mutual effort he is experiencing with Peece and Jabeth. This line clarifies his evolving worldview and showcases his ability to see through his father’s self-serving appeal.

“It’s kind of hard to find and lose your pa all in the same day, Mr. Peece.”

This understated line captures the emotional impact of Simon’s father’s betrayal, a pivotal moment in his coming-of-age journey. The simple statement conveys a pain and disillusionment that belies his supposed lack of intelligence. This vulnerable dialogue shows Simon turning from his failed biological family toward the nascent found family he is building with Peece.

“Ain’t rescued you for no reward, Simon. Rescued you ’cause you’re my friend. Ain’t never had a friend before.”

Jabeth’s declaration solidifies his bond with Simon, defining their relationship by loyalty rather than transaction. This dialogue contrasts with the self-serving motives of Simon’s biological father, establishing a core tenet of the narrative’s exploration of found family. Their mutual admission of never having had a friend before establishes them as equals, moving beyond their initial rescuer-and-rescuee dynamic.

“Want a good, solid pair of boots so’s I won’t have to be reshodding him for a long while.”

Speaking to a prejudiced storekeeper, Simon adopts the man’s language to achieve his goal of providing his friend Jabeth with high-quality boots. This moment illustrates Simon’s developing practical intelligence and his ability to navigate a flawed world to protect his companions. The scene critiques societal prejudice while demonstrating Simon’s growth as a provider and leader within his chosen family.

“‘Man don’t need a drink anymore when he’s got friends as good as you, Simon,’ was all he said.”

Peece connects his sobriety directly to the fellowship he has gained, marking a turning point in his character arc. The gift of the new hat, which prompts this admission, symbolizes a fresh start and the shedding of his former identity. This line serves as a testament to the theme of the strengths of found family, suggesting that connection and purpose can be remedies for despair.

“Well, now, forever in the mind of Indians and forever in the mind of white folks seems to be two entire separate things.”

Peece’s remark provides a concise critique of the historical injustice and cultural clashes between settlers and Indigenous tribes. The understated dialogue exposes the deceptive nature of government treaties. This line expands the novel’s moral landscape beyond the group’s immediate quest, introducing broader social commentary on honor and exploitation.

“That would be a matter of interpretation of boundaries, would it not? And all white men know that Indians are too uneducated to truly perceive such concepts as boundaries.”

John Winter Prairie employs pointed verbal irony to subvert the racist stereotypes used against his people, turning the colonizers’ own logic back on them. His calm, intellectual response, delivered in the midst of a tense confrontation, challenges the simplistic depiction of “savage” Indigenous peoples. This dialogue highlights a more complex and just authority than the “civilized” figures Simon has previously encountered.

“‘You’ve got a deal, sir.’ I paused. ‘If you’ll promise to keep my pa and Cleaver, too.’”

This line marks Simon’s decisive severance from his biological father, whom he treats as a liability to be bartered away. The transaction signifies a complete role reversal, with the underestimated son holding power over his manipulative father, a key moment in the theme of The Journey as a Catalyst for Coming of Age. Simon’s choice to prioritize his enterprise and chosen family over blood ties is a clear expression of the theme of the strengths of found family.

“I’ll take on the whole, entire U.S. Army if I have to. Nobody attacks me and mine without cause.”

Simon’s defiant declaration to the Cavalry captain showcases his transformation into a confident leader. The use of hyperbole (“the whole, entire U.S. Army”) and the possessive pronoun “mine” emphasizes his loyalty and protective ownership of his flock and companions. This confrontation with a formal authority figure demonstrates the moral compass and self-reliance that he has forged on his journey.

“My turkeys wasn’t being attacked. Far from it. They was snapping at those insects as if they’d never seen anything as delectable in their entire lives.”

This quote marks a pivotal moment where Simon’s enterprise becomes the group’s salvation. Situational irony occurs as the swarm of grasshoppers—a symbol of destruction—is transformed into a feast, reinforcing the symbolic nature of the turkeys as an underestimated asset. Their instinctive action subverts expectations and refutes the conventional wisdom that dismissed Simon’s plan, supporting the theme of Redefining Intelligence Beyond Book Smarts.

“I wondered how her entire family had been done in. Wondered why they’d come to this place of desolation to begin with. Wondered how we could leave her in the morning.”

Simon’s internal monologue reveals his developing empathy and moral compass. The use of anaphora in the repetition of “Wondered” emphasizes his contemplative state, as he shifts from curiosity about the past to a critical decision about the future. This moment signifies a key step in his coming-of-age journey, transitioning from focusing on his enterprise to accepting responsibility for another person and expanding his found family.

“Nothing at all, atall on Simple Simon’s mind. Never was, never could be.”

When Peece startles Simon in the middle of his romantic thoughts about Lizze, Simon is too embarrassed to honestly share what he has been thinking about. Instead, he retreats into an ironic invocation of others’ beliefs about him, pretending that, just as others have always said, he is not smart enough to be thinking about anything “atall.”

“Just when are you going to allow me to function as a human being again? When are you going to stop protecting me?”

Lizzie’s direct and frustrated questioning of Simon challenges his simplistic view of her as a fragile victim in need of rescue. Her dialogue asserts her agency and complexity, revealing her strength and resilience in the face of trauma. This confrontation forces Simon to reassess his own behavior and motives, marking an important development in their relationship and pushing his own maturation forward.

“My eyes fell from the distance to my turkeys. They was already tucked up in their nests for the night, their bronze feathers blending into the sunset. They’d been good troopers all along. The best.”

As Simon gazes at the distant Rocky Mountains, his attention returns to his flock, the reason for his journey. The visual imagery of the turkeys’ feathers “blending into the sunset” connects the flock to the natural landscape that the group has conquered together. Simon’s personification of the birds as “good troopers” reflects his own sense of accomplishment and the deep connection he has forged with his unconventional enterprise.

“Because I’m only fifteen. You’re an older woman and couldn’t ever have anything to do with me!”

Simon’s outburst reveals the source of his recent turmoil, finally revealing his internal conflict over his perceived inadequacy. The confession, fueled by the hyperbolic description of 16-year-old Lizzie as an “older woman,” underscores his youthful insecurity and naivete. This moment of vulnerability is a critical turning point in his emotional development and his relationship with Lizzie.

“The matter is that nobody ever taught me! You think they got pretty little schoolhouses with pretty little schoolteachers like your Miss Rogers for slaves?”

When Simon expresses shock at Jabeth’s illiteracy, Jabeth’s retort introduces a stark dose of social reality into the narrative. His rhetorical question contrasts his experience as an enslaved person with Simon’s comparatively privileged access to education, highlighting the deep inequalities that define their pasts. This dialogue enriches the theme of the strengths of found family by showing that their bond transcends vastly different origins and opportunities.