Text Evidence
Q: What evidence shows the bus stop is unusual?
A: It wasn’t there before / Lena walks the route daily
Q: Why is Lena confused at the beginning?
A: The bus stop wasn’t there before
Q: How does Lena feel at first?
A: Confused
Q: What is one possible theme?
A: Life involves choices
Q: Why does the author use short dialogue?
A: To create tension
Q: What detail suggests the boy knows more than Lena?
A: His vague answers / “Most people don’t”
Q: What can you infer about the boy?
A: He has experience with the bus
Q: How does she feel as the story continues?
A: Nervous/uneasy
Q: What detail supports that theme?
A: The boy says “A choice”
Q: What is the mood of the story?
A: Mysterious/suspenseful
Q: Find evidence that builds suspense.
A: The rumble / strange dialogue / silence
Q: Why does the boy hesitate before answering?
A: The decision is important
Q: What shows her fear growing?
A: “Her heart began to race”
Q: Another possible theme?
A: The unknown can be tempting
Q: Why include sensory details like sound?
A: To build suspense
Q: What detail shows Lena is unsure?
A: She says “That doesn’t make sense” / hesitates
Q: What can you infer about the bus?
A: It is mysterious or possibly supernatural
Q: Why does she keep asking questions?
A: She wants to understand
Q: Why doesn’t the author explain the bus fully?
A: To create mystery and deeper meaning
Q: What effect does the ending have?
A: Leaves readers wondering
Q: What evidence suggests the bus is not normal?
A: “Most people don’t see it” / strange timing
Q: What does the bus most likely represent?
A: A big decision / change / unknown future
Q: How does she feel at the end?
A: Torn/uncertain but curious
Q: What message does Lena’s final step suggest?
A: People sometimes choose the unknown
Q: Why describe normal vs. strange (school vs. bus)?
A: To highlight the contrast between safety and the unknown