snake dance by corey cord

SNAKE DANCE

by Corey Ford

“Hello. That you Mom?” He glanced at his watch. The game had been over for a halfhour, and the gang would be coming down the street any minute now. “Hello, Mom.

This is Jerry. Sure, I’m all right. I’m fine. And you? Mom -“ and his voice seemed to

falter for a fraction of a second -“How is he? Is there any change?” There was a tiny

silence. “Oh.”

 His voice was a little duller when he spoke again. “I see. Yeah. And the other

specialist, he said the same thing? Oh sure, sure. No, of course there’s nothing to

worry about. No, I’m not worried. I only just called to find out if there was any change,

that was all. Did they say if he could ever – I mean, can he move his arms yet?” He

gulped. “Well, that doesn’t mean anything, really. All those things take time. Sure, a

year, or maybe even less – What? What money? Oh, you mean I sent you last week?

Now, Mom, I told you all about that already, didn’t I? Sure, it’s a scholarship. I got it

for playing football. I didn’t need all that money you and Pop had been saving up for

me to go to college, and so I just thought maybe, with Pop being laid up now for a

while and all – Who, me? Homesick? Not so you’d notice it.” He laughed. “I’m having

the time of my life. I know practically everybody here already, and everybody knows

me. Every night we all sit around and talk, or else we go down to Semple’s Drugstore

for a milk shake – “

 He opened the folding door a little. In the distance he could hear the sound of

band approaching.

 “Well, Mom, I gotta hang out now. The gang’ll be here in a minute. We’re

having a celebration after the game today. Sure, I did, the whole game; you oughta

seen me in there. I made two touchdowns. Everybody’s going down to Semple’s after

the game, and they’ll all want me to be there, too. Listen, Mom. One other thing

before they get here. I’m going to be sending you a little money each week from now

on until Pop is better. No, Mom, heck, I got plenty. Here they are now. Hear them?”

 The band had halted outside. Someone led a cheer.

 “That’s for me. Mom. Sure! Didn’t I practically win the game for them today?

Hear that?” he kicked open the door of the phone booth and held up the receiver.

The crowd was calling, Jerry! Hey, Jerry, come on!”

 Hear that, Mom? Now goodbye. Tell Pop everything’s okay, see? Now don’t

worry. Bye.”

 He stepped out of the booth, adjusting his white cap with “Semples” printed in

red letters. The crowd was lined along the soda fountain, shouting, “Jerry! Milk shake,

Jerry!” 

1. The story takes place in the

 a) past 

b) present

c) future 2.  A clue to the time of the story is

 a) the telephone booth 

b) the band 

c) the college

3.  Jerry is calling his mother from

 a) his college dormitory

 b) Semple’s Drugstore

 c) the school stadium

4.  When he asks, “How is he?” jerry is referring to

  a) his father       

 b) his brother

              c) his best friend

5.  When he asks, “Is there any change?” his mother’s reply is probably

 a) “No” 

b) “Yes” 

c) “I don’t know”

6.  An important event that has occurred in the past is

 a) that Jerry’s father has become seriously ill

 b) that Jerry won a football scholarship 

c) that Jerry has become homesick 

7.  In the football game, Jerry actually

 a) got two touchdowns

 b) didn’t play

 c) did not play as well as he claims

8.  Jerry says, “Everybody knows me.” This statement is

 a) false, but makes him feel more important

 b) true, just as he claims 

c) true, but for a different reason

9.  Jerry lets his mother hear the gang calling his name

 a) as an excuse to hang up

 b) because she doesn’t believe him

 c) as evidence of his athletic success

10.  The crowd calls, “Hey, Jerry, come on!” because

 a) they want him to go to Semple’s

 b) someone else needs to use the phone

 c) they want him to wait on them

11.  Jerry really gets money he sends home from

a) his football scholarship

  b) working at the drugstore

c) borrowing from friends

12.  One clue that suggests where Jerry gets the money to send home is

 a) a cap with “Semple’s” printed in red 

b) two touchdowns at the football game

c) a band that stops outside 

13.  In the past, Jerry’s parents have

 a) been so wealthy that they could give him everything he wanted

 b) made sacrifices so that he could have the things he needed  

c) harshly disciplined him for spending money on himself

14.  Based on his actions, Jerry may be described as being

 a) generous, hardworking, caring

  b) athletic, studious, homesick

  c) conceited, carefree, dishonest

15. An important clue to Jerry’s character is the fact that

 a) he lies to his mother

 b) he has taken a job to help his parents

 c) he brags about being a football hero