The descriptive details in this excerpt are effective in
helping readers imagine
O what Johnny's bedroom looks like.
O what Johnny's sisters look like.
O how bad Noah feels for Johnny.
O how bad Johnny feels about being sick.
Read the excerpt.
From his room, Johnny could hear his sisters' high-
pitched squeals of delight and the ringing of their
bicycle bells as they rode up and down the sidewalk.
He could hear someone bouncing a basketball and the
swoop of the ball as it swished through the net. He also
heard his best friend, Noah, asking where Johnny was
and his sisters' reply that he couldn't come out to play
because he was sick. This was too much. Johnny
pulled the soft, velvety covers over his aching head and
turned to the wall in protest, realizing there was nothing
he could do but wait for this virus to take its course. He
swore to himself that he would be better by next
Saturday and that he would be outside riding his bike
and shooting baskets along with everyone else.