David Cappella - 'The Sledgehammer'

The transcript narrates a vivid memory of a young boy walking with his father during a humid August evening. As they approach their house, a car arrives unexpectedly, creating tension. The father confronts the men in the car with silent strength, using a sledgehammer as a symbol of his resolve. After the confrontation, the father and son return to the house, reflecting on the event and the father's role as a protector.

What is the setting described in the beginning of the narrative?

• A stormy night

• A quiet countryside evening

• A busy marketplace

• A bustling city street

How does the narrator feel as the car arrives?

• Excited and curious

• Happy and relieved

• Fearful and tense

• Indifferent and bored

What action does the father take during the confrontation?

• He silently lifts a sledgehammer

• He shouts at the driver

• He runs away

• He calls the police

What does the narrator learn from his father's behavior?

• To remain silent and observant

• To always ask questions

• To act impulsively

• To ignore tense situations

How is the father's presence described at the end of the narrative?

• As a distant and weak figure

• As a rogue and unreliable person

• As a carefree and jovial man

• As a steadfast and rooted sentinel