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    432 Results with the "Fiction" genre


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      Chapter XV

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter XV begins with a shift in the children’s journey as they make their way toward their destination on the bus. Fish, Bobbi, Will, and the narrator are quietly observing their bus driver, Lester, as he pulls over to assist a woman whose car appears to be broken down. The woman, Miss Lill Kiteley, stands in stark contrast to Lester with her oversized coat worn over her waitress uniform. The children notice the differences between the two, particularly the way she seems larger than life compared to…
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      Chapter XVI

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      by testsuphomeAdmin In Chapter XVI, the narrative introduces Lill Kiteley, a charismatic waitress whose cheerful disposition immediately endears her to the children on the bus, even managing to lighten Bobbi's mood. Lill, with her lighthearted nature and absence of tattoos, contrasts sharply with the somber situation surrounding them. She finds herself stranded on the roadside after her dilapidated car breaks down en route to her job at a truck-stop diner. Fortunately, Lester Swan rescues her by stopping the bus, enabling her…
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      Chapter XI

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter XI begins with Lester Swan, the bus driver, enjoying a lively conversation with his passengers. He eagerly encourages everyone to sit near the front of the bus, creating a sense of camaraderie among the group, though Bobbi and Will Junior hesitate as they sit beside him, clearly unsure and uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Mibs and Fish, both on edge due to their father's worsening health, sit quietly across from them, their anxiety palpable. The tension in the air is thick, as their journey to Salina…
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      Chapter XII

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      by testsuphomeAdmin In Chapter XII, the narrator finds herself completely overwhelmed by the chaos that is unfolding around her, as well as the internal struggle created by the clashing voices in her head. Desperate to escape the overwhelming situation, she flees from Will Junior’s presence and the dilapidated house that has become a symbol of her confusion. She rushes past her friend, Lester Swan, and Bobbi, barely acknowledging their existence as she tries to distance herself from the storm of emotions that cloud her…
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      Chapter XIII

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter XIII delves further into Mibs’ emotional turmoil, as she struggles with the aftermath of her father’s accident while aboard Lester Swan’s bus. Overcome with guilt and despair, Mibs wrestles with feelings of inadequacy, crying out in her turmoil while reflecting on how she believes she must change herself in order to find any reassurance about her father’s health. The atmosphere inside the bus becomes increasingly tense as passengers—particularly Rhonda and Carlene—express their…
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      Chapter VII

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter VII begins with the protagonist waking up in Pastor Meeks’s office, disoriented and confused, to the sound of heated arguments. She finds herself lying on a blue plaid sofa, surrounded by chaos. Pastor Meeks is in the midst of an angry confrontation with a thin deliveryman, who is holding a large pink Bible. The pastor, visibly irritated, criticizes the color of the Bibles, questioning their appropriateness for his congregation. He seems more focused on the color than the actual purpose of the…
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      Chapter VIII

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter VIII opens with Mibs's unwavering determination to reach Salina, feeling an overwhelming urgency as she makes up her mind to leave the church where she had fainted. Despite Will Junior’s deep concern for her well-being, Mibs refuses to let anything stand in her way, resolute in her decision to go alone. Her desire to get to Salina, no matter the cost, drives her to step outside the church and prepare to run the ninety miles if necessary. As she looks around, the sight of the Heartland Bible…
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      Chapter IX

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter IX opens with the group aboard a bus heading deeper into Nebraska, an environment thick with tension and the emotional weight of the journey ahead. Fish and the narrator exchange subtle but telling glances, communicating their shared anxiety without words. The unease between them is tangible, as both are clearly struggling to process the overwhelming stress of their situation. In contrast, Bobbi sits undisturbed by the rising tension, lounging casually on a cot, comfortably chewing on Bubble Tape…
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      Chapter X

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter X opens with the deliveryman pausing in the intense silence, seemingly contemplating what to do with the baby mice he had discovered nesting among his Bibles. His expression, tense and uncertain, suggests he is considering extreme options, such as poison, drowning, or perhaps even offering us as a meal to a cat. As he slowly removes his wilted carnation and loosens his pink necktie, his rolled-up sleeves reveal a gaunt chest beneath his worn-out overalls. Crossing his arms, two names appear on his…
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      Chapter V

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter V begins with the narrator waking up early on her thirteenth birthday, brimming with excitement but finding that the day feels strangely ordinary. She had hoped for some extraordinary event or newfound ability, but nothing happens to suggest that this will be a day unlike any other. Feeling a bit disappointed that she hasn’t suddenly developed magical powers, she quietly gets out of bed, careful not to wake her younger sister, Gypsy, who is deeply immersed in the comfort of her stuffed animals.…
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