" 'I see you've met Patricia,' Carlos said, kissing her on the cheek. 'She's the girl I've been telling you about. We're totally in love.' " Were Carlos and Patricia really in love? How do you know??

"As Dave listened raptly, Patricia explained the ...strange events." What does "raptly" mean?

"...it was odd to have done such a thing at midnight, he reasoned. But sometimes you just need a Slim Jim and a Mountain Dew. Dave understood the urge." Define the word "urge".

Sitting in front of Carlos' house, Dave saw a woman approaching. Why did he think this was odd?

The text said that the woman's "neighborly smile...seemed out of place". In what way was it out of place?

How had giving Carlos "the benefit of the doubt" proven to be the right thing for Dave to do?

" 'He must hae zipped out for a soda at the Mobil station or something,' Dave thought, giving his pal the benefit of the doubt." Describe the meaning of "benefit of the doubt".

Why did Dave "shift uncomfortably on his suitcase" when he was talking to Patricia?

“So do you think Carlos—I mean, do you think he’s one of the … afflicted?” Define the word "afflicted".

Dave was perplexed when he arrived at Carlos' house. Define the word "perplexed" and state 2-3 reasons why Dave was perplexed.

"She fixed him with a neighborly smile, which seemed out of place on this dark and desolate block." Define the word "desolate".

"Dave walked around the house, making fruitless attempts to enter throught the doors and windows." Define the word "fruitless." Given an example of something you've done that was fruitless.

"To wake him from his slumber, she...clapped loudly several times. Poor Hans suddenly came to his senses and gazed at her with a bewildered look". Define the words "slumber" and "bewildered".