Peter Robinson and Aaron Bentley had never been the best of friends. Aaron was always acting as if he ruled the neighborhood. When Aaron tried to cheat at kickball, running from first base to third without ever touching second, Peter would call him out and send him back to first. “Don’t you know that my Dad is on the city council?” Aaron would say, as if the city council would make a ruling on a game of kickball. This time, Peter had enough. “Why don’t you start your own kickball game? We don’t need a cheater on our team,” he yelled. With that, Aaron charged at Peter, who moved out of the way at the last moment. Aaron slipped. He landed right in a big patch of mud behind home plate, his shirt and his entire face covered in muck. Peter’s mother was outside gardening when the incident occurred. Rather than let things progress any further, she stepped in between them before the hostilities could continue. “Let’s get you home and cleaned off,” she said as she dragged him back to his house across the street. Mrs. Bentley answered the door. “Well, look what the cat dragged in,” she said slowly, looking the pair over quickly, not even recognizing her son’s mud-caked faced. She wore her usual frown, her composure that of queen who disapproves of her subjects. “What have you done to your child?” “My child? But this is ...” Mrs. Robinson started. “Oh, don’t make up excuses. You wouldn’t see my Aaron rolling around in the mud like that,” Mrs. Bentley sneered. “I wouldn’t, would I?” “My Aaron has a bit more class than your boy. I suppose it’s just a sign of his upbringing. You need to learn how to control your child. My Aaron takes after his father, you see. He comes from a long line of superior ...” Just then, Peter came running up, holding a mud-covered cap. “Hey Aaron, you lost your hat when you fell in that mud.” Mrs. Bentley looked at Peter in astonishment, and then back to Aaron, finally recognizing him. Her face turned red. She grabbed him stiffly by the collar and pulled him toward her house, not uttering another word.

Question

Peter Robinson and Aaron Bentley had never been the best of friends. Aaron was always acting as if he ruled the neighborhood. When Aaron tried to cheat at kickball, running from first base to third without ever touching second, Peter would call him out and send him back to first. “Don’t you know that my Dad is on the city council?” Aaron would say, as if the city council would make a ruling on a game of kickball. This time, Peter had enough. “Why don’t you start your own kickball game? We don’t need a cheater on our team,” he yelled. With that, Aaron charged at Peter, who moved out of the way at the last moment. Aaron slipped. He landed right in a big patch of mud behind home plate, his shirt and his entire face covered in muck. Peter’s mother was outside gardening when the incident occurred. Rather than let things progress any further, she stepped in between them before the hostilities could continue. “Let’s get you home and cleaned off,” she said as she dragged him back to his house across the street. Mrs. Bentley answered the door. “Well, look what the cat dragged in,” she said slowly, looking the pair over quickly, not even recognizing her son’s mud-caked faced. She wore her usual frown, her composure that of queen who disapproves of her subjects. “What have you done to your child?” “My child? But this is ...” Mrs. Robinson started. “Oh, don’t make up excuses. You wouldn’t see my Aaron rolling around in the mud like that,” Mrs. Bentley sneered. “I wouldn’t, would I?” “My Aaron has a bit more class than your boy. I suppose it’s just a sign of his upbringing. You need to learn how to control your child. My Aaron takes after his father, you see. He comes from a long line of superior ...” Just then, Peter came running up, holding a mud-covered cap. “Hey Aaron, you lost your hat when you fell in that mud.” Mrs. Bentley looked at Peter in astonishment, and then back to Aaron, finally recognizing him. Her face turned red. She grabbed him stiffly by the collar and pulled him toward her house, not uttering another word.

Jim is reading a story about two boys who get into a fight over a game of kickball. Here is one section he is reading for humor and suspense. Please read the passage (linked to the left) and answer the questions below.

what develpos humour in this story? what develops sense?

Answer 1

The humor in this story comes from the ridiculousness of the situation. Aaron's pompous attitude, Mrs. Bentley's snooty behavior, and the fact that the whole fight started over a game of kickball all add to the humor. The physical comedy of Aaron slipping in the mud also adds to the humor.

The sense of suspense in this story comes from the escalating conflict between Peter and Aaron. The reader wonders how far the confrontation will go, especially when Aaron charges at Peter. The intervention of Peter's mother and the interaction with Mrs. Bentley also add to the suspense, as the reader is unsure how they will react to the situation.