Tuesday, July 29, 2025

P18

 Here's an explanation of some of the more difficult words and phrases from the text you provided:

  • Couldn't blame him: This means that Noah understood completely why Gus needed to get out of the house and didn't think it was wrong. He empathized with Gus's situation.

  • He'd come to regard Gus as family: This implies that Noah no longer sees Gus just as a friend or acquaintance, but someone he considers as close and important as a relative.

  • Only child: A person who has no siblings (brothers or sisters).

  • Influenza: A common infectious disease, often called "the flu."

  • Coastal clouds slowly began to roll across the evening sky, turning silver with the reflection of the moon: This is a descriptive phrase painting a picture of the clouds moving in from the coast as evening approaches. The moon's light makes them appear shiny and silver.

  • Leaned his head back and rested it against the rocking chair: He put his head back to relax against the back of the rocking chair.

  • His legs moved automatically, keeping a steady rhythm: This suggests he was rocking in the chair without consciously thinking about it; his legs were moving on their own in a consistent, repetitive way.

  • Felt his mind drifting back to a warm evening like this fourteen years ago: His thoughts started to wander and he began to remember an event from the past.

  • The town was out in full: The entire town population was present and participating in the festival.

  • Games of chance: Games where the outcome is determined by luck, such as lotteries or dice games.

  • Hazy eyes that kept on coming: This is a somewhat poetic description. "Hazy eyes" might suggest eyes that are soft, perhaps a little unfocused, or even slightly dreamy. "Kept on coming" means her gaze lingered on him, continuously holding his attention or drawing him in.

  • An ordinary beginning, something that would have been forgotten had it been anyone but her: This means the initial meeting was unremarkable and would normally not have been memorable if it were with a different person. However, because it was her, it became significant.

  • Knew before he'd taken his next breath that she was the one he could spend the rest of his life looking for but never find again: This is a strong statement indicating an immediate and profound realization of deep connection. He felt an instant, intense certainty that she was uniquely special and perfect for him, and that he wouldn't ever encounter someone like her again if he lost her.

  • From there, it went like a tornado wind: This is a metaphor suggesting that events unfolded very quickly and intensely, similar to the rapid, powerful, and overwhelming nature of a tornado.

  • The way she was looking at him made his silence seem okay: Her gaze was reassuring or understanding, making him feel comfortable and not awkward about his quietness.

  • The crowds were thin: There were fewer people at the festival.

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