Here are explanations for the difficult words and phrases in the story:
Pocketbook: This is an older term for a woman's handbag or purse.
Thumbed through it: This means she quickly flipped through the pages or contents of the pocketbook with her thumb.
Reverently: This word describes an action done with deep respect and awe. The character handles the newspaper clipping with great care, as if it is something sacred or very important to her.
Indian summer: This is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that occurs in late autumn, typically after the first frost.
Mullets were jumping: Mullets are a type of fish. This is a common sight in coastal areas where they are known to leap out of the water, sometimes several feet into the air.
Brackish water: This is water that is a mix of fresh and saltwater. It is commonly found in estuaries, where rivers meet the sea.
Instinct: A natural, inborn pattern of behavior. The story mentions the mullets' instinct to jump and Noah's reflection on whether human instincts have changed over time.
Primal: This means "fundamental" or "basic." The author uses it to describe the most essential and ancient human instincts, like aggression and the desire to dominate.
Baited his hook: This means he put bait (in this case, live crickets) onto the fishing hook to attract a fish.
Retarded: This is an outdated and now offensive term for a person with an intellectual disability. In the context of the story, it refers to the teachers' incorrect assumption that Noah had a cognitive impairment because he wouldn't speak.
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