Final answer:
When Linda knocks the flowers to the floor, it is a symbolic act representing her anger and bitterness towards the boys.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the story, when Linda knocks the flowers to the floor upon the boys' return home, it is a symbolic act that represents her anger and bitterness towards them. Linda has been feeling resentment towards the boys and their actions, and by knocking the flowers to the floor, she is expressing her pent-up emotions. The act also foreshadows the tension and conflict that will arise between Linda and the boys in the story.
Learn more about Symbolism in literature