The Outside Circle

One day, Elder Violet introduces a new activity to the group: She tells them that they will create masks of their own faces. With gauze and plaster, the men craft these masks and bring them to the sweat ceremony the next day. During the ceremony, they gather around a fire, and Violet shares her wisdom. She explains that “rage and hate are like masks, covering the people we really are. We’ve worn them to survive” (94). Anger, she says, should be a tool to make changes in their lives.

Following the ceremony, Violet gives the men an entire day to reconnect with their true inner selves. They venture into the wilderness to figure out the masks that they wear to survive and whether these masks are still necessary. Pete, however, seems lost and uncertain. He sits on the grass, gazing at his mask. When Violet checks in on him, he tells her that all he ever wanted was to be a gangster, and now he’s unsure of his identity. In response, Violet performs a smudging ceremony, seeking guidance from the creator.

That night, as he sits on the grass near a tree, Pete suddenly hears a noise. Startled, he turns around and comes face to face with a big brown bear. The bear looks aggressive, and Pete is frightened. Rising onto its hind legs, the bear towers over Pete. It seems about to attack him but, instead, it violently claws at the tree trunk behind him, leaving visible marks. After that, the bear leaves, leaving Pete in shock. He goes to find the others who are asleep in their sleeping bags, but they say they didn’t see anything.

The following day, Violet asks all the men to place their masks on top of the lodge. When they are done with the sweat ceremony, she explains, the masks will “represent [their] true selves” (102). They will then return to the center to paint the masks with colors and designs that reflect their identities as men. Pete confides in Violet about his encounter with the bear, and in response, she performs a round of the sweat. After the ceremony, she tells Pete that she received his spirit name, the name that represents his true spirit: Waking Bear. The bear that he encountered the previous night is his protector. Pete is content and pleased with his new name.

Pete receives a call from Frank, who tells him that business is flourishing and suggests that Pete should rejoin. Pete firmly declines, making it clear that he has no intention of returning. Frank insists, claiming that Pete owes him, but Pete hangs up the phone, stating that he wants nothing to do with Frank.

Later, Pete and the other men graduate from the program. The illustrations on Page 106 showcase their painted masks, each vibrant and unique. Violet congratulates the group and offers each of them a feather as recognition of their accomplishment. Pete’s mask is depicted on Page 107: a black and white mask featuring the silhouette of a bear’s face.

Pete is called to the unit office, where he learns that Joey has been injured and is in the hospital. Angry and distressed, Pete rushes to see his brother with Elder Violet. At the hospital, he finds Joey lying on a bed, covered in bruises. Pete knows it was the gang that beat Joey up as retaliation for Pete refusing to rejoin, and he is overwhelmed with guilt. He blames himself, feeling responsible for all of it. In tears, he apologizes to Joey. However, Joey reassures him, stating that he did the right thing by standing up to the gangsters and that he’s going to be okay.

In a circle with Violet and two other men, Pete grapples with the decision of whether to seek revenge or let the gangsters go unpunished. Violet tells him that he must choose what kind of man he wants to become. Pete, determined, expresses his desire to stand up and make Joey proud.

A while later, Pete makes a call to Crystal. She’s at home, holding their toddler. Pete says that he wants to discuss their baby, but she’s clearly upset: “[M]y baby doesn’t have a dad” (113), she says, before hanging up. Three weeks later, Pete calls Crystal again. This time, he shares the news of his new job in construction and his willingness to provide financial support for their child. Crystal is surprised, but she makes it clear that she doesn't want him anywhere near her or Shayla, their daughter. Nevertheless, Pete is overjoyed to discover that he has a little girl. Three months pass, and Pete settles into a routine with his job and life. One day, Ray drives him to Crystal’s house, where Pete meets Shayla for the first time. He brings her a teddy bear as a gift.

Five months later, Pete is granted full parole. He is leaving the center with Ray and Joey when his old gang reappears. They say that he’s still one of them, but Pete firmly stands his ground, making it clear that he wants nothing to do with them anymore. During this confrontation, the illustrations portray the bear standing menacingly behind him. The gang eventually backs off, warning him that it isn’t over. Pete drives away with Ray and Joey.

The narrative then flashes forward to the present. Pete sits in a circle with the men in the program. He reflects on that tumultuous period 12 years ago and shares that he is currently leading the program, and considers himself incredibly fortunate. The story ends with Pete telling the men that “every day gets a bit easier” (120).