Read the excerpt from The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.
As they suddenly start toward the house. In this brief fraction of a moment they take the first step toward performing a metamorphosis that changes people from a group into a mob. They begin to head purposefully across the street toward the house at the end. Steve stands in front of them. For a moment their fear almost turns their walk into a wild stampede but Steve's voice, loud, incisive and commanding, makes them stop.
STEVE
Wait a minute . . . wait a minute! Let's not be a mob!
The people stop as a group, seem to pause for a moment and then much more quietly and slowly start to walk across the street.
When a crowd gathers outside Les’s house, Steve comments, "Let’s not be a mob!” What does this show about Steve?
He has managed to remain much more calm and rational than the rest of his neighbors.
He has become the main instigator of the mob as they rush toward Les Goodman’s house.
He has been taken over by emotions and lost his ability to think sensibly.
He thinks the aliens are attacking the neighborhood and he must defend himself.