“You know what he did to me. That isn’t your son. It’s the damn Trickster. He’s wearing a human face, but he’s not human.” 

Granny Nita, Maggie’s mother, gives a final warning to Maggie about Jared before the Martins move to Kitimat. Anita alludes to the Trickster, or Wee’git, doing something to her and is certain that he has taken on a human form as Jared. As a toddler, Jared has a traumatizing relationship with Granny Nita because of her beliefs, and only many years later he learns of the Trickster’s role in his life. 

“The world is hard, his mom liked to say. You have to be harder.” 

Maggie’s approach to life is one of toughened resentment and callous violence; she is unemotional and criticizes Jared whenever he expresses sadness. After a traumatic childhood, Maggie grew into someone who faces any hardships with brazen grit in an attempt of self-preservation. She expects Jared to approach life the same way so that his compassion is not taken advantage of.

“Don’t tell anyone I talked to you, okay? I have enemies and I don’t want you to be any more of a target than you already are.” 

A raven speaks to Jared for the first time after his encounter with David in the mall, reassuring him that Maggie and Richie have scared him out of town. Jared is convinced this is just a “pot hallucination” and only later uncovers that the speaking raven is Wee’git, his father.