1. While-reading
Which of the following words would you use to describe Billings?
Reliable aggressive arrogant cunning false reliable evil sincere heartless hostile truthful obstinate headstrong domineering heroic
lively timid sensible foolish cheerful depressed shattered mad anxious nervous tense peaceful psychopathic
1. Find examples of how Lester Billing is described. In particular you should pay attention to the description of his body language – please write down your examples and page number(s)
2. Try to describe the marriage of the Billings – are they happy? Use text examples and page number(s)!
3. Describe the relationships Billings has with his 3 children
4. What is your interpretation of the ending of the story? Who do you think is the killer?
5. Can the incidence with the boogeyman and the shrink in the end be explained?
Where did Billing's first child think a monster hid?
In the bathroom.
The closet.
Under the bed.
Behind the dresser.
What did Billings' wife want?
More children.
Another house.
A divorce.
More money.
What does the psychiatrist tell Billings to do when he finishes his story?
Fight the boogeyman.
Nothing.
Make more appointments with the nurse.
Go to the police station and confess.
What did Billings do differently with Andy than with his other children?
Hire a guard for Andy while he slept.
Have Andy sleep in the room with Billings and his wife.
Nothing.
Keep Andy's bedroom lights on when he slept.
1. Describe Lester Billings from the information given on page 93.
2. Why is Billings at Dr. Harper’s office? See the lines: “I want to tell you about it” (93). “Just to tell will be enough” (94).
3.Infer, from statements made by Billings, what Billings’s views on children are.
4. What are Billings’s views on marriage?
5. Which child does Billings most love? Why does he prefer this child?
6. Describe Lester Billings’s version of the Boogeyman.
7. Who or what is the Boogeyman in the story? Who killed Lester's kids?