Amorning not soon forgotten

during the frosty november night, a brutal winter storm roars across the pacific northwest, blanketing the washington countryside with fresh snow and sending temperatures plummeting. filled with excitement and anticipation, 15-year-old hal pavaleck leaps from his warm double bed, pulls on his warmest winter clothing, and heads down the cold dark stairs. running over the cold hardwood floors in the hallway, he becomes conscious of wonderful smells and sounds wafting from the welcoming kitchen where mom already has a delicious hot breakfast on the table. robin ann, his bothersome younger sister, is already in the comfortable kitchen finishing her breakfast. hal hurriedly gulps down the nourishing food. then he quietly whispers to mom that as soon as his work is finished, he is going to the pond to practice his latest hockey moves. robin ann listens to this news with a sparkle in her eye. she asks, “can i go with you? mom, make him take me along, ! ” then, with the shrewdness and wisdom of youth, robin ann adds, “besides, it’s not smart for someone to go skating alone on the millpond. what if something should happen? ”

before his mom can agree with robin ann and adamantly insist that he take her along, hal shouts, “no way! i don’t need a young kid like you out there bothering me. i want to practice hockey, not babysit! ” then, snatching his coat off the hook by the back door, he races outside into the bitterly cold morning air. he hastily completes the odd jobs his parents have assigned him. grabbing a shovel, his skates, and his hockey stick, he shoves several worn pucks into his coat pocket. he heads to the small pond where he will practice the latest hockey moves of the professionals he watches on television. along the way he dreams of the day he will be a famous hockey player just like wayne gretsky. as he trudges through the fresh snow, a future conversation whirls in his head.
question 40 of 46
why is hal so excited about practicing hockey?

the weather is perfect for hockey practice.

he is tired of the daily chores assigned by his parents.

he wants to get away from his family.

he wants to become a professional hockey player.