Jordana had been looking forward to her gymnastics meet for months. All of her routines were perfect, and she had a brand new leotard to wear for the competition. If Jordana scored high enough, she would qualify for the Junior Olympics.

The day before the meet, the ring finger on her left hand looked a little red and swollen. Jordana mentioned it to her dad, who was a physician.
Jordana's dad took one look at his daughter's finger and immediately recognized that it was fractured. He turned away quickly from his daughter, hoping that Jordana had not seen the expression of disappointment on his face. Jordana had worked so hard for the opportunity to compete in this gymnastic meet. He did not want to be the one to tell her that her finger was broken and she would miss the meet. He avoided her gaze, and mumbled that he would have to look at her finger later. Then, he headed towards the stairs.

Explain how the withheld information affects the characters or the plot of the story.

The withheld information affects both the characters and the plot of the story in several ways. Firstly, it creates a sense of suspense and anticipation for the reader, as they are aware of crucial information that Jordana is not. This adds tension to the story, as the reader wonders how and when Jordana will find out about her fractured finger.

Secondly, the withheld information affects Jordana as a character. She is described as looking forward to the gymnastics meet for months and has put in a lot of effort to perfect her routines. By not being aware of her broken finger, she continues to feel hopeful and excited about the competition. This creates a contrast between her obliviousness and her father's disappointment, making the eventual revelation of her injury even more impactful.

Thirdly, the withheld information affects Jordana's father as a character. He is described as avoiding his daughter's gaze and not wanting to be the one to tell her about her broken finger, suggesting that he feels guilt or remorse. By keeping the information to himself, he risks potentially disappointing and upsetting his daughter. This internal conflict adds depth to his character and creates a moral dilemma, as he must decide whether to prioritize his daughter's feelings or her physical wellbeing.

Overall, the withheld information of Jordana's fractured finger adds tension, creates a contrast between her innocence and her father's guilt, and poses a moral dilemma for her father. It impacts the characters' emotions and actions, ultimately shaping the trajectory of the plot as the reader anticipates the moment when the truth will be revealed.

The withheld information about Jordana's fractured finger affects both the characters and the plot of the story in several ways:

1. Jordana: Initially, Jordana is excited and looking forward to her gymnastics meet. However, she notices her swollen finger and brings it up to her dad, who recognizes it as a fracture. The fact that her dad avoids her gaze and mumbles about looking at her finger later creates suspense and uncertainty for Jordana. She is left wondering why her dad reacted the way he did and what it means for her participation in the meet. This builds tension and anticipation for both Jordana and the readers.

2. Jordana's Dad: Jordana's dad, being a physician, immediately recognizes that her finger is fractured. However, he withholds this information from her, hoping she did not see the disappointment on his face. This demonstrates his concern for his daughter's emotions and his desire to protect her from the disappointment of missing the meet. By avoiding her gaze and mumbling about looking at her finger later, he delays the inevitable conversation about her injury. This decision reflects his internal conflict between wanting to be honest with his daughter and wanting to shield her from disappointment.

3. The Plot: The withheld information about Jordana's fractured finger introduces a conflict into the story. It creates a sense of uncertainty and raises questions about whether or not Jordana will be able to compete in the gymnastics meet. It adds a new obstacle that Jordana must overcome in order to achieve her goal of qualifying for the Junior Olympics. The plot is now driven by the suspense and tension created by the knowledge of the injury and the impending reveal of the truth to Jordana.

In summary, the withheld information affects the characters by creating uncertainty and suspense for Jordana and highlighting her dad's internal conflict. It also drives the plot by introducing a new obstacle for Jordana to overcome, adding tension and anticipation to the story.

The withheld information, in this case, refers to Jordana's father avoiding telling her that her finger is broken and she would have to miss the gymnastics meet. This has a significant impact on both the characters and the plot of the story.

Firstly, the withheld information affects Jordana, the main character. She has been eagerly anticipating this gymnastics meet for months, and all her routines are perfect. The fact that her father, who is also a physician, knows her finger is fractured creates suspense and adds anticipation for the reader. Additionally, Jordana's father's avoidance of her gaze and mumbled response indicates that he feels guilty about delivering the bad news. This may build a sense of sympathy for both Jordana and her father, as they are both dealing with the disappointment of missing the meet.

Secondly, the withheld information impacts the plot of the story. Up until this point, the story has been centered around Jordana's excitement and preparation for the gymnastics meet. The revelation that her finger is fractured throws a wrench into the plot, as it introduces a conflict and a potential setback for Jordana. This creates tension and raises questions in the reader's mind about how Jordana will react, if she will find out about her injury, and what she will do next.

Overall, the withheld information of Jordana's fractured finger affects both the characters and the plot of the story by introducing suspense, adding emotional depth to the characters, and creating a conflict that drives the narrative forward.