Time and Again by Breece D’J Pancake

Questions

Name ______

Try to answer the following questions as you read. Some of the “why” questions might seem unanswerable, but try to figure them out.

  1. Why does the narrator keep the kitchen light on?
  1. What has happened to his boy? Why?
  1. What does the narrator own? Why does he own them?
  1. For what purpose has Mr. Weeks called the narrator out at night?
  1. What does he carry beside his seat? Why?
  1. The narrator thinks, “I think I am too old to do this anymore. I wish I could rest and watch my hogs get old and die. When the last one is close to dying, I will feed him his best meal and leave the gate open. But that will most likely not happen, because I know this stretch of Route 60 from Ansted to Gauley, and I do a good job.” What is he too old to do? Why does he say it’s unlikely that he will “rest”?
  1. What does he say the hogs will do when the first one dies?
  1. When the hitchhiker says that “buses stink,” what does it remind the narrator of?
  1. Why would the narrator think about the hitchhiker’s muscles being strong?
  1. What does the narrator ask the hitchhiker do when he sees Mr. Weeks’s truck? What is his reason for asking this?
  1. Why was the hitchhiker afraid of coming through Fayette County?
  1. What kind of remains have they usually found?
  1. How long has it been since the last remains were found?
  1. What does the narrator imagine when he tells the hitchhiker that he snapped the necks of German soldiers? What is his thought after this? Does this image make sense?
  1. Why does the narrator grab the lug wrench after he pulls to the side of the road? Why does he ask the hitchhiker to look for a flashlight under the seat?
  1. The narrator thinks as the hitchhiker is looking for the flashlight, “But I am way too tired now, and I don’t want to clean the seat.” What is he talking about? Does the hitchhiker find the flashlight? Why not?
  1. The narrator thinks, “Time and again, I try to count and can’t.” Count what? How does that relate to what has been happening in his life.
  1. What kind of food do you think the hogs are expecting?

Now, re-answer these questions with what you can infer by the end of the story.

  1. What does the narrator carry beside his seat? Why?
  1. Why would the narrator think about the hitchhiker’s muscles being strong?
  1. What does the narrator ask the hitchhiker do when he sees Mr. Weeks’s truck? What is his reason for asking this?
  1. Why does the narrator grab the lug wrench after he pulls to the side of the road? Why does he ask the hitchhiker to look for a flashlight under the seat?
  1. What does the narrator own? Why does he own them?
  1. Why did his son run away?
  1. It has been a long time since any remains have been found. Explain why you think the narrator either has or hasn’t killed since then.