"He was not a very tidy boy in general, but he did like arranging things in cupboards and drawers and then opening them later and finding them just as he'd left them."
Banks is an eloquent writer. In this one statement she reveals three things about her narratives. First, Omri is a vivacious kid who rarely devotes his attention to the cleanliness of his space because he doesn't slow down enough to care about keeping things neat. Secondly, Omri is every bit a child in Banks' estimation of him because he enjoys the simple, base joy of opening and closing cupboards. This action is a peculiar fascination with children because they remain in awe of the world around them and enjoy learning how the basic rules of the universe, such as object permanence and order. Finally, because Omri is not generally tidy but, as an exception, does arrange things neatly in cupboards, the reader can identify foreshadowing. The exception invites irony because Banks is later going to exploit this exception to astonish Omri.
"All his thoughts, all his dreams were centered on the miraculous, endless possibilities opened up by a real, live, miniature Indian of his very own. It would be too terrible if the whole thing turned out to be some sort of mistake."
Omri needs to believe that the Indian in his cupboard is real because he needs to believe that the world is more complicated than he originally thought. If the living toy is possible, then magic is possible. Although he witnessed the toy, Omri is afraid to trust what he's seen because it would be too cruel of the universe to raise his hopes and then dash them.
"Omri refused to get involved in an argument."
After discovering the Indian in his cupboard, Omri immediately shifts his priorities. He's willing to do anything to protect his new miniature friend, even avoiding conflict at great personal cost. He simply won't compromise the Indian's safety by risking detention or anything like that.
"Good! I like danger. Do you like danger, Texas Man?"
Little Bear is a warrior. He interprets Boone's reluctance to fight as cowardice, but he also demonstrates in himself an eagerness for conflict. Little Bear's pride serves him well in battle but it holds him back from connecting with other people.
