4. same
evening
first
remember
birth
friends
receives
few
important

6. 6 4 1 2 5 3 11 12 9 8 10 7

12. Bert has two granddaughters, Mandy and Ruth.
His wife died a year ago.
Ruth’s birthday is next weekend.
Mandy has a piano recital next weekend.

13. when Bert asks himself the same question
how often his son and daughter promised to visit him when his wife died
when Ken will return from work
the last time Bert’s son and daughter visited him
when Sue called Bert

14. too busy at work, sick children, bad weather, no time
he can get all the help he needs, they won’t have to worry about him, he might make some friends

15. Would he fall today?
What if no one came?
They brought him candy, and hope.
He missed his granddaughters.
Painfully, he walked to a chair

16. Bert
Ken
Mandy and Ruth
Mandy
Bert
Bert
Sue and John
Sue

17. P

19. He sang a short song to himself, then laughed.
glass of whiskey
He began to cry.

23. a d c b a c

24. b a