Collections First Day of School

John didn’t sleep well because

• summer was ending.

• he was excited about going to school.

• he heard heavy traffic and car horns.

• his sister Audrey kept him awake.

John knows that something has “gone wrong” when

• Audrey comes down to breakfast.

• his mother says the National Guard came in overnight.

• his mom tells Audrey what groceries to buy.

• his mom says his dad has been gone for an hour.

The porch steps remind John of when he

• kicked Audrey’s doll buggy down them.

• heard the rain crow earlier that morning.

• was scared to walk down the steps alone.

• ate ice cream after school with Audrey.

John pinches Audrey so hard because

• she cried when he broke her doll.

• he wants her to hit him so he can stay home

• their mother seems to care more about Audrey.

• he is scared and angry and wants her to stay home.

John and Audrey’s mother says, “Behave yourselves,” at the end because

• she doesn’t want them to skip school.

• she thinks they will stop for ice cream before school.

• she wants them to feel like it is an ordinary day.

• they are too old to take each other’s hand.

At the end, John has learned that

• Audrey will always be braver than he is.

• he should not let fear control his actions.

• his mother will always think of him as a child.

• his family does not understand him.

A poised person is

• calm and controlled.

• excited and happy.

• angry and loud.

• shy and tired.

If you linger, you

• move away quickly.

• make something smooth.

• shiver with excitement.

• stay somewhere longer than necessary.

To move stealthily is to move

• noisily and boldly.

• stiffly and slowly.

• quickly and openly.

• sneakily and secretly.

Resentment is a feeling of

• fear or panic.

• caring and concern.

• anger or frustration.

• envy or jealousy.