Runner Questions

Why did this man approach Chance? Part 1.

He had a way for Chance to earn some money.

What does Creager tell Chance at the end of his shift? Part 1.

He has to cut Chance's hours.

What does Chance tell Creager as he is leaving? Part 1.

He is quitting for a much better job and a lot better pay.

Why isn't Chance worried about the future? Part 1.

He is worried about next month and if they don't pay the bills then they will lose the boat and a place to live.

Why does the narrator say Miller joined the army? Part 1.

He joined the army because he had nowhere else to go but jail.

Did the fat guy see who was by the rocks? Part 2.

He knew a girl was pocking around the rocks.

What does the man offer Chance? Part 1.

He offers Chance a job.

Why does Mr. Arnold make Melissa mad? Part 1.

He only believes in free of speech in books and when you try and say something he puts a hand over your mouth trying to muzzle it.

What does Melissa ask Chance? Part 2.

What Chance was looking in the rocks for.

What did the recruiter tell Chance he wanted him to think about? Part 2.

What it means to be a soldier and hoe you need to have courage and not be a coward.

What is on Chance's mind as he walked back to the Tiny Dancer? Part 1.

What the kids at school will think of him if they knew he was a drug smuggler.

When Chance asked his father if he paid the moorage fee, what was his father's response? Part 1.

"Don't worry about the moorage fee, Chance. They can't touch us for three months. It's the law. By then I'll have a job."

What does Chance say about the poor? Part 1.

"It isn't rich kids getting killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, is it? It's not government of the people. It's the government of the rich people. The poor get screwed over from the day they are born to the day they die."

What does the narrator compare hating your parents for being alcoholics to? Part 1.

"It'd be like hating a wounded animal for being wounded, which makes no sense at all."

What did Chance's mother tell him? Part 1.

"My heart. My soul. I'm dying. I've got to start my life over. Away from your father."

What does the man say when Chance asks about the contents of the packages? Part 1.

"You don't know, and you don't want to find out."

What does Miller call the narrator? Part 1.

A coward.

What is Chance worried about? Part 1.

Chance was worried about paying for all the bills and food because he only made enough money to pay for food not the bills.

Describe what Chance finds in the big rocks. Part 2.

A black plastic bag contained a small brown package that was about 5 to 10 pounds and looked like a shoe box.

What kind of student is the narrator? Part 1.

A ghost-walker.

What was on the card? Part 2.

A phone number in case Chance missed a pickup.

Describe the Tiny Dancer. Part 1.

An old, weather-beaten, thirty-foot sailboat with the paint peeling and chipping. The living space was so small that Chance and his father could barely turn without hitting something. Everything is tiny and small.

Who does Mr. Arnold introduce? Part 1.

Brent Miller.

What happened as Chance was leaving the utility room? Part 2.

Bright lights of a car blinded him and the driver sped toward him then veered off hard to the right making the tires squeal. He looked to see who it was to find a newer black Mercedes but the windows were super tinted making it impossible to see who and how many people were in the car.

What does Chance have to do to earn $200 a week? Part 1.

By running.

How does Chance make some money? Part 1.

By washing pots at Ray's restaurant.

Why was Melissa angry and disappointed with Chance? Part 1.

Chance didn't say anything during class.

What is ironic about Melissa's request? Part 2.

Chance is a drug smuggler.

If Chance's dad gets a full-time job, what does his dad want him to do? Part 2.

Chance needs to quit his job.

What reason does Chance give Melissa for looking into the rocks for? Part 2.

Chance said he was looking at a rats nest in the rocks.

Did Chance understand what his mother was talking about? Part 1.

Chance told his mother he didn't understand but he did. His father was always drunk and fighting with his mother.

What does Chance realizes? Part 2.

Chance was working with big time criminals and he needs to be careful because they are watching him and he needed to get out as soon as possible.

What does Chance think will be in the packages? Part 1.

Drugs.

What did Chance find in the rocks? Part 2.

Found an envelope that was the standard size but the paper was darker and rougher than normal envelopes.

What had Chance's father been doing while Chance was out running? Part 1.

Getting ready for a job interview.

How long has Chance's mother been gone? Part 1.

Has been gone for years/five months.

When Chance's father hadn't been drinking how does Chance describe him? Part 1.

He was an okay guy and a hard worker.

Why was Chance's dad getting edgy? Part 2.

He was going to find out if he gets a full-time job.

Why was Chance's dad there when Chance arrived back at the boat? Part 1.

He was on the boat because he got fired from his job.

What was Chance thinking about while in Mr. Arnold's class? Part 1.

He was thinking about the electric bill, the heating bill, the sewage bill, the food bill---and how they don't have the money to pay any of them.

What is on Chance's mind? Part 1.

He was thinking about the moorage fee and every kid seemed to have money that he didn't have.

Describe the fat guy from the marina office. Part 1.

He wore dark sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt that was covered with birds and flowers. He had no neck so his bald head seemed to just sit on top of his neck.

Who was Chance supposed to be living with? Part 1.

His mom.

What does Chance say is the amazing thing about being a criminal? Part 2.

How quickly and easy it becomes a routine.

When Chance mentions going to the police what does the fat guy do and say? Part 2.

If he goes to the police and the wrong people find out then both Chance and the fat guy would end up in body bags.

What did Melissa ask Miller? Part 1.

If he read stuff on places he might end up going.

Why did Chance not like seeing Melissa on the ramp leading for the Pier? Part 1.

It is too close to the stuff Chance didn't want her to see.

What did Melissa want Chance to do? Part 1.

Join the Lincoln Light/school newspaper.

What does Chance's dad say would happen if terrorist blew up Ballard Locks? Part 2.

Lake Washington and Lake Union would drain in the Puget Sound and a big mud hole is all that would be left. The shipping industry and tourism would take big hits and if they chose the right day then they could kill a lot of people.

What speech did Chance say was a bunch of crap? Part 1.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

What did the fat guy suggest Chance does? Part 2.

Make the girl not like Chance.

Who picked up Chance and his dad? Part 2.

Melissa picked them up.

Who was pocking around in the rocks? Part 2.

Melissa.

Why does the narrator dislike Miller? Part 1.

Miller beat up Chance and one day shoved Chance's head into a toilet full of poop and pee.

How long does Chance have to store the packages? Part 2.

Not too long but wait until someone contacts Chance.

Where does Chance live? Part 1.

On a sailboat along 65th street.

What did Chance compare the consistency of the package to? Part 2.

Play-Doh.

What does Melissa say about how Chance acted in class? Part 1.

Said that Chance was brave in class.

What does the fat guy tell Chance? Part 2.

Says that the money will be in the front pocket of the backpack on Sundays and to not come the marina office to talk to him.

Why does Chance not stay with his mother? Part 1.

She left to live in someplace in Oregon without him.

Why does Chance have to wear a backpack on his run? Part 1.

So he can pick up packages at the tree.

Why is Chance going to open a checking account? Part 2.

So he could pay the moorage fee with a check like everyone else and so he doesn't look suspicious.

What does Chance have to do to earn an extra $100 a month? Part 2.

Store some packages on his boat.

What does Mr. Arnold say as Chance leaves the room? Part 1.

That Chance should raise his hand more.

What is Mr. Creager's response to Chance's request? Part 1.

That he doesn't have anymore hours to give.

What did Chance tell Mr. Creager's he needed? Part 1.

That he need more hours.

What war did Chance's father fight in? Part 1.

The Gulf War.

Who did Chance call? Part 2.

The army recruiter.

What form was Chance looking for? Part 1.

The food stamps form.

Who did Chance meet at the Blue Note Cafe? Page 2.

The people part of the newspaper club.

What connection did Melissa and Chance's fathers have? Part 1.

The were best friends back in high school.

Where does Chance and his father live? Part 1.

They live on a sailboat named the Tiny Dancer.

Explain the significance of the last line on the page. "How stupid can you get?"

This line shows that Chance feels that where he lives is a dump and the ducks have a chance to fly away but they don't.

What does Chance request? Part 2.

To get double since the fat guy has a new customer.

Who does Miller compare the narrator to? Part 1.

To his drunk father.

What is the only thing Chance has every really liked to do? Part 1.

To run.

What does Chance ask Melissa to promise him? Part 2.

To stay of the beach and stay away from the marina.

Where are Chance and his father heading? Part 2.

To the foot bank.

Why did Chance take the Army Brochure out of the trash? Part 2.

Unlike Melissa and everyone else who were going to college, Chance didn't know where is was going and what he was going to do.

What kind of stickers did Melissa have on her binder? Part 1.

War is Terrorism and War Sucks.

When did Chance think things would be even between him and the other students at school? Part 2.

When he had a few bucks in his pocket.

What does Melissa suggest Chance write about for the newspaper? Part 2.

Writing about the drug smuggling on the waterfront.

What was written on Mr. Arnold's blackboard? Part 2.

Yellow Alert.