Plot Points
This is the specific type of location where Layla’s school field trip is taking place.
What is national park?
This is the name for a hollow rock that has tiny, beautiful crystals inside.
What is a geode?
According to the tour guide’s motto, these are the only things you should take.
What are pictures?
At the very start of the story, Layla feels this way about being outside.
What is excited (or happy)?
This is the name of the classmate who tells Layla to hide the rock from the tour guide.
Who is Cooper?
These insects are attracted to the yellow flowers of the lantana plant.
What are butterflies?
According to the motto, these are the only things you should leave behind.
What are footprints?
When Cooper says, "Quick! Hide it," we can infer he knows that taking the rock is...
What is against the rules?
Layla does this right before she notices the "broken rock" on the trail.
What is take a picture of a butterfly?
This plant, mentioned by the guide, is native to Texas and has tiny yellow flowers.
What is a lantana?
Cooper thinks the rock would make an "awesome" one of these to help remember the trip.
What is a souvenir?
The "heaviness" lifting from inside Layla in paragraph 13 symbolizes her feeling this.
What is relief (or a clear conscience)?
This is the "heavy feeling" Layla feels in her heart after putting the rock in her pocket.
What is guilt (or knowing she is doing something wrong)?
This is the type of scent Layla smells on the breeze that helps comfort her.
What is honeysuckle?
This person is the one Layla is worried will see her with the geode.
Who is the tour guide?
We know Layla is a careful observer because she noticed this many times she had been on a field trip.
What is twice (it was her second one)?
At the end of the story, Layla decides to do this with the geode.
What is show it to the tour guide?
This is what Layla sees "twinkling" inside the rock when she first turns it over.
What are crystals?
This is the reason why national parks have the "take only pictures" rule.
What is to protect nature/leave it for others to enjoy?
The author includes the description of the breeze and birds in paragraph 12 to show Layla is doing this.
What is calming down/listening to her conscience?