Body Language
Leo sits at his desk, head buried in his crossed arms, letting out a heavy sigh every few minutes.
What is: He is tired, sad, or frustrated.
The front glass window of the jewelry store was shattered, and the velvet display cushions were completely empty.
What is: The store was robbed/burglarized.
Mr. Henderson walked into the classroom shaking a wet umbrella and wiping water droplets off his glasses.
What is: It is raining outside.
The kitchen smelled of melting cheese and pepperoni, and three cardboard boxes were sitting on the counter.
What is: They are eating pizza.
The person stands in front of a chalkboard, grading a stack of essays while checking the clock before the bell rings.
Who is: A teacher.
Maya’s eyes dart quickly around the room, her foot taps rapidly on the floor, and she keeps chewing the skin around her fingernails.
What is: She is anxious, nervous, or stressed.
A muddy shoe print shaped like a size 12 boot was stamped clearly on the clean white rug right beneath the open window.
What is: A muddy shoe print shaped like a size 12 boot was stamped clearly on the clean white rug right beneath the open window.
People on the sidewalk are walking with their shoulders hunched, faces buried in thick scarves, and their breath turns into visible mist.
What is: It is very cold outside (winter).
Fire alarms wailed through the house as thick black smoke poured out of the oven.
What is: The food is burned/the cooking went wrong.
Wearing a white coat, they press a cold stethoscope against a crying toddler's chest and look into their ears.
Who is: a doctor or a pediatrician.
When Marcus saw the grade on his paper, his eyebrows shot up, his jaw dropped, and he blinked three times at the red ink.
He is surprised or shocked by his grade.
The safe was wide open, but the digital keypad showed no signs of being broken, scratched, or smashed.
What is: The person who opened it knew the code (it was an insider job).
The trees were bending completely sideways, trash cans were rolling down the street, and loose papers flew through the air.
What is: It is extremely windy or a storm is happening.
Tyler grabbed a bowl, poured in some flakes, milk, and grabbed a spoon at 7:30 AM.
What is: He is eating breakfast/cereal.
They slide under a vehicle on a wheeled board, covered in grease, holding a wrench to fix a leaking pipe.
Who is: an auto mechanic.
Sarah stands with her feet wide apart, her hands clamped tightly on her hips, staring directly at her brother with a lowered brow.
What is: She is angry, confrontational, or asserting authority over him.
Inside the suspect’s trash can was a map of the bank with red circles drawn around the security camera locations.
The suspect planned or scouted the bank robbery.
Sweat trickled down Coach Evans' neck as he looked at the brown, dead grass on the football field under a blinding sky.
What is:
Jenna took a bite, instantly grabbed her glass of ice water, drank the entire thing, and fanned her open mouth with her hand.
What is: The food is extremely hot or spicy.
This person paces behind a wooden desk, wearing a black robe, and raps a wooden mallet onto a block to quiet a loud room.
Who is: a judge.
David looks at the mysterious plate of food, wrinkles his nose, curls his upper lip, and pushes the plate two inches away from himself.
What is: He is disgusted by the food.
The victim was found asleep in bed, but the half-empty teacup on their nightstand tested positive for high levels of sleeping medication.
What is:
The morning light struggled to pierce through a thick, gray blanket that sat low to the ground, making the headlights of oncoming cars look like dim halos.
What is: It is very foggy outside.
The dinner table was set with fine china, lit candles, soft jazz music playing in the background, and two crystal glasses.
What is: It is a romantic, special, or formal dinner.
They sprint across the grass with a whistle in their mouth, throwing a yellow flag onto the field after a player trips an opponent.
Who is: a referee or an umpire.