2. What is the compromise between Ben and Dr. Wagner concerning Ben wanting to keep his illness a secret and what does the person tell him he goes to see?

3. What does the doctor tell Ben and what does the doctor do to be certain about his information?

4. How does Lambeer find out what Ben is reading and what does he say about it?

5. What does Hey-Soos say to Ben about Dallas's sharing, and why is Ben worried?

6. What does Ben do about the Horseshoe Bend game, and why?

7. What do Ben and Cody find when they get home, what does it tell them and what does their father say about the situation?

8. What do they find out on the day of the Horseshoe Bend game, and how will this information affect the game?

9. Where does Ben go after he leaves Dallas's house and what is bothering him?

10. What does Ben do after he leaves the doctor's office upon receiving the bad news and what does he say to the doctor when he returns to his office?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The day after Rudy dies, Ben goes to the courthouse. His conversation with the sheriff gets him thinking about the value of life. The man seemed more interested in talking about the football game than he did in dealing with the life of the town drunk. That day Ben has a hard time concentrating because the events of the past few months have Ben really thinking about people and their lives. He thinks about factors in their lives that contributed to the way each person ended out.

1. Do you think Ben handled the situation with Rudy correctly? Do you think he should have called the police right after Rudy told him? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Why do you think people devalue a human life if it is someone like the town drunk? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Chose either Ben, Rudy, Dallas or Sooner and discuss how the factors in his or her life contributed to how that person became who he or she is. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Ben doesn't question his choice to avoid treatment, but he's starting to realize that life is bittersweet. Every time he enjoys something, he realizes that the experience comes along with a bit of sadness since it won't last. Since there are so few people in the town, everyone in town is invited, and the music is played to please everyone. Ben looks at everything with a new light and wants to be around longer. He is very aware that this might be the best night of his life. He feels the clash of mortality and immortality as he enjoys the pleasures of the evening while knowing that it won't last and he will soon be gone.

1. Do you think life is balanced by joy and sorrow? Why or why not? Do you think Ben's life has more sorrow than joy? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. What do you think are ways one might be able to see life in a new light even if one is not dying? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think something pleasurable is even more so if you know it will last only a short time? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.