Here are explanations of some of the difficult words and phrases from the story.

Phrases and Vocabulary

"Battered Dodge truck"

This phrase describes an old, beat-up, or rundown truck made by the company Dodge. The word battered means it's been used a lot and shows signs of wear and tear, like dents or scratches.

"Hopped up and rode with him"

This means one of Gus's daughters quickly and casually got into the truck and went along with the man. The phrase hopped up suggests a fast, easy movement, not a formal one.

"Capers General Store"

A general store is a type of small shop that sells a wide variety of goods, often in a rural or small-town setting. It's a one-stop-shop for groceries, tools, clothing, and other everyday items. The store's name is "Capers."

"Didn’t unpack the groceries right away"

This simply means he didn't immediately take the groceries out of their bags and put them away in the house. He postponed the chore to do something else first.

"Found a Budweiser and a book by Dylan Thomas"

To find something in this context means he went and got a specific item he wanted. A Budweiser is a popular brand of beer. Dylan Thomas was a famous Welsh poet and writer. This detail suggests the character enjoys quiet time and reading.

"Held the proof in her hands"

This means she was holding something that confirmed her suspicions or a startling fact. The proof is the newspaper article she is holding, which seems to confirm a surprising event.

"An uninterested first glance"

This describes a quick look at something without much attention or curiosity. She wasn't really trying to see what the picture was at first.

"Vaguely remembered"

This means she had an unclear or faint memory of something. She wasn't fully aware of what was happening around her, so she only has a dim recollection of her mother coming to the table.

"Fathom the coincidence"

To fathom something means to understand or comprehend it fully. She's struggling to understand how two unrelated things could be connected, or how a strange event could happen by chance. A coincidence is an event where two things happen at the same time by chance in a surprising way.

"Erratic behavior"

This describes actions or conduct that are unpredictable, inconsistent, or unusual. It means she wasn't acting like her normal self, and her actions seemed strange to others.

"Aspiring politician"

An aspiring politician is someone who wants to become a politician or is starting their career in politics. Lon is someone who is ambitious and eager to have a political career.

"Dominated the social pages"

The social pages of a newspaper or magazine are sections that cover news about high-society events, parties, engagements, and other social gatherings. To dominate these pages means their engagement was the main story and was written about frequently.