Excerpt from “The Fuller Brush Man”
by Gloria D.
Miklowitz
Purpose:
read for clues to make inferences
#1 flashback(s)
#2 indications that Donald works
#3 indications that something is wrong with his
mother
1
Donald
leaned into the car trunk to find the box holding the giveaways. He had to pay for each letter opener,
shoehorn, and vegetable brush, money out of his own commission, but it was
worth it. Why else would people listen
to his sales spiel if it wasn’t because they felt indebted the second they
reached for a sample?
2
What
a mess, he thought, getting grease on his hand.
Ever since Mom stopped driving.
Ever since she …Well, there was no use dwelling on that. When he had time he’d try to get rid of some
of the junk. He dropped a dozen plastic
shoehorns into his sample case, snapped the lock, and glanced at his watch.
3
Man,
he was hungry. He’d been working
steadily since right after school, four hours.
All he’d eaten was a doughnut left in the breadbox at home, running out
the door with Ava calling after him to get a glass of milk first.
4
He’d
sold enough brushes to call it quits for the day, but maybe he’d work another
hour. If he went home now, even though
it would mean a real meal, not McDonald’s, Ava would be there. Their newest housekeeper, she’d sit there at
the kitchen table, arms folded, watching him, and she’d go into her usual song
and dance.
5
“Go
in to your mother. Just for a minute. Say hello.
Say something.”
6
“Later.”
7
“Now.
She’ll be asleep later.”
8
“Why? She can’t talk. She probably doesn’t even know who I am. What difference does it make?”
9
“Donnie,
Donnie. You love her. I know you do. Do it for you, if not for her.”
10 “Leave me alone…”
11 He crossed the street and was nearly
knocked down by a kid on a two wheeler, shooting out of a driveway, wobbling
his way down the road. When had he
learned to ride a bike? Eight, nine
years ago? Yes. In the Apperson Street schoolyard, even now,
and for a second he felt the same surge of fear and exultation he’d felt then
gripping the handlebars.
12 “I can’t!
I can’t! I’m falling! Mom,
Mom! Help me!”
13 “You can!
You can! Keep going! That’s right!
You’re doing it!”
14 Running alongside, face sweating and
flushed, red hair flying about her eyes and cheeks, she was laughing with
joy. And when he finally managed to stop
she threw her arms around him and cried, “See?
You did it! I knew you could!”
15 He swallowed a lump in his throat and
marched briskly up the walk to the door of a small, wooden house.
1.
Which question is NOT answered in
paragraphs 2-3?
A
How many shoehorns does Donald have?
B
How long has Donald been working?
C
What did Ava tell him that morning?
D
What is wrong with Donald’s mother?
2. In paragraph 4, what is meant by the phrase “usual song and dance”?
F
the usual music Ava plays in the kitchen
G
Ava’s regular fussing about Donald and his mother
H
the entertaining stories Ava tells Donald about his mother
J
Donald’s sales pitch when he is selling the products
3. The author uses what phrase to relate a feeling of sadness?
A
“no use dwelling on that”
B
“the same surge of fear and exultation”
C
“swallowed a lump in his throat”
D
“threw her arms around him and cried”
4. Based on the information in paragraphs 11-14, the reader can
conclude that Donald –
F
cherishes the memories of his mother
G
never learned to ride a bike
H
does not have a father
J
inherited his mother’s red hair
5. What can the reader conclude about Donald in this story?
A
he hired Ava to care for his mother
B
he is working to save money for college
C
he avoids going home as much as he can
D
he wishes he had learned to ride a bike
6. What point of view is used in this passage?
F
first person, Donald
G
first person, Ava
H
third person, Donald
J
third person, Ava
Why was he working so hard
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