1. How does the detail about Ernie crushing ants help you understand Ernie’s mood?
2. Read the
Key Literary Element
on page 259 concerning Sandra’s character. What else do you learn about Sandra?


3. How does Alsonso first approach the problem of convincing Ernie to let him
borrow his bike?





4. Are you surprised that Raul would charge Alfonso for borrowing his bike? Raul
is Alfonso’s best friend. In your opinion,
should best friends do things like this?


5. Do you think Raul is a person Alfonso can count on? Why or why not?
_




6. How does Alfonso decide to handle his latest conflict of
not having a bike? What do his thoughts and actions about
this conflict reveal about his character?



7. Read
“Determining the Main Idea”
on page 265. Do you
agree that this is the main idea of the story? Why or why
not?