How does this section of flashbacks relate to stanley

Some flashbacks are: The real story of Elya Yelnats and Madame Zeroni, (Elya breaking the promise to carry Madame Zeroni up the mountain so she could drink from the stream), the story of Katherine Barlow and Sam at Green Lake, how Stanley's great grandfather was robbed by Kissing Kate Barlow (he survived by "God's thumb"). They connect to the story because Stanley "breaks the curse" by carrying Zero up the mountain (God's thumb, which saved Stanley's great grandfather) and Stanley and Zero finding his great-grandfather's suitcase that Kate Barlow stole when she robbed his stagecoach.