In the "The Pencil's Story'

why the pencil find his life weary?

Read the excerpt from "broken chain." alfonso studied the magazine pictures of rock stars for a hairstyle. he liked the way prince looked—and the bass player from los lobos. alfonso thought he would look cool with his hair razored into a v in the back and streaked purple. but he knew his mother wouldn’t go for it. and his father, who was puro mexicano, would sit in his chair after work, sullen as a toad, and call him "sissy.” what details from the passage would best support a paragraph about conflict between characters?

Read the passage. when mother’s fever persisted for a week, father summoned our family doctor. dr. blakemore applied leeches to mother’s skin in hopes of reducing the amount of blood in her body. despite the doctor’s efforts, she languished in bed for three more days before her appetite returned and she requested a thin broth. our dear cook, mrs. davis, prepared the broth and delivered it to my mother directly, eager to ease her discomfort. what can readers infer about the time period of the passage?

Is expression of words or ideas opposed to what is literally meant or expected called.