In “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix Arizona,” found in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, by Sherman Alexie, we are reintroduced to Victor and learns that his father has died. Victor and his childhood friend Thomas Build-the-Fire go on a road trip to Arizona to obtain Victor's father's ashes. Thomas reveals that he had assured Victor's father years ago that he would help him when the time came. Although Victor had a problematic relationship with his father, as well as with Thomas, part of their trip to Arizona involves Thomas recounting his experiences with Victor's father and Victor's "rebirth". After Victor's father dies, Victor and Thomas unite. Victor feels no real connection to the Native American Indian way of life unlike Thomas, who is an obsessive storyteller. Thomas Builds-the-Fire's name supports its role in the preserve. Builds: Fire can be interpreted as the beginning of stories, as fire needs an external source to start, as do the stories that are told. Thomas' stories had a purpose when he was young, as Victor asked him to tell his stories, but as he grew up, people stopped caring. Although he was not well respected for his stories by the other Native Americans on the reservation, Thomas continued with his tales. At one point Thomas says, “We are all given something to measure our lives by, a determination. Mine are the stories that may or may not change the world. It doesn't matter as long as I keep telling the stories [...] I have no brothers or sisters. I just have my own stories that came to me before I even had the words to speak. I learned a thousand stories before taking my first thousand steps. They are all... half of the sheet... 74). Unlike Thomas, Victor originally intended to do the same, but his belief changed. Thomas' spirituality is pure and this scene brings them closer together thanks to their bond through Victor's father. “That's What It Means to Say Phoenix Arizona” by Sherman Alexie represents rebirth and friendship. The story tells of Victor's awakening in which he finds himself, thanks to Thomas-Builds-the-Fire. Victor comes to peace with himself, where before he was full of anger. His self-discovery is similar to the rebirth of a phoenix, hence the story's title. During the journey, Victor and Thomas regained something of the friendship that several burdens had helped to abolish, but when they separated, they both realized that things would go back to the way they were before. Ultimately, Victor's father is what brings Victor and Thomas Builds-a-Fire together on a journey.