"What You Pawn I Will Redeem" by Sherman Alexie

This story is about a Native American man, whose name is Jackson Jackson, and who for most of his life has been a homeless drunk. One day he stumbles upon a pawnshop and in the window of the shop he recognizes his late grandmother's old powwow-dance regalia. Here is something that he has worth fighting for. He finally feels he has a purpose. The pawn shop owner makes a deal with Jackson stating that if he can produce $999 within twenty-four hours he will sell the regalia back to him. Jackson, who only has $5 to his name, which actually must be split with his two friends who are also Indian, agrees to the owner's bargain and sets out in search of a plan to earn almost $1000 by noon the next day. This story is about a man who must overcome his demons to respectfully earn what is rightfully his and how he will try and try again to succeed. However though he tries numerous times and accumulates various amounts of money, he cannot help but spend it on pleasures usually denied him. With his first $5 he spends it on alcohol for him and his friends in order to find "inspiration" on how to earn the money needed to regain his family heirloom. It continues to go downhill because with all money he does earn or is given he spends it immediately on either alcohol or food, which are not always spent on just himself, but other impoverished Native Americans in the area. One thing that Jackson has going for him is his strength in his culture, he is nearly always kind and respectful to those around him and he can find humor even in the rough times of his life. In the end, Jackson returns to the pawn shop at noon with again only $5 to his name. The pawn shop owner asks him "Is that the same five dollars from yesterday?" Jackson replies "No, it's different." "Did you work hard for this money?" "Yes." The owner "thinks about the possibilities" and disappears in the back of his shop then returns with Jackson's regalia. "Take it." "But I wanted to win it." "You did win it. Now, take it before I change my mind." Jackson took back what was rightfully his and discovered his family heritage renewed as he was able to finally "dance with [his] grandmother." He had finally found his self and had, rather unsteadily, won back his heritage.