1. Early in the story, Dahl describes the Bed and Breakfast. What words and imagery are used to describe the Bed and Breakfast? What inference does Billy make about the Bed and Breakfast based on the look of the place?
The Bed and Breakfast is described with warm, cozy imagery: green curtains, yellow chrysanthemums, a bright fire, a sleeping dachshund, and a parrot. Billy infers it's a comfortable and decent place to stay.
2. Dahl emphasizes the speed at which the Landlady answers the door. What might this foreshadow about the Landlady?
The Landlady's immediate response suggests eagerness and premeditation, foreshadowing her possible sinister intentions.
3. When should Billy have been suspicious of the Landlady and why? When would you have been suspicious and why?
Billy should have been suspicious when he noticed the absence of other guests' belongings. This unusual detail hints at the isolation and potential danger.
4. Why does Dahl include the following text: "There were no other hats or coats in the hall. There were no umbrellas, no walking sticks - nothing." ?
The lack of other hats, coats, umbrellas, or walking sticks emphasizes the isolation and implies that previous guests did not leave, creating an eerie atmosphere.
5. When Billy is in the living room, what first alerts you that something may be wrong and why?
The first alert is the unnatural stillness of the dachshund and parrot, which Billy realizes are stuffed, signaling something is very wrong.
6. As Billy is remembering the connection between the two boys, what effect did the interruptions from the Landlady have on the story?
Her interruptions distract Billy from making connections about the missing boys, increasing suspense and danger.
7. What can the reader infer, using evidence from the text, about the two boys that are missing? Does this help us figure out what happens to Billy?
The reader can infer that Christopher Mulholland and Gregory Temple met a fatal end, hinting that Billy will face a similar fate.
8. What other evidence from the story suggest a possible, fatal demise for Billy?
The Landlady's fixation on Billy, her strange comments, the stuffed animals, and the tea tasting of bitter almonds all suggest a fatal outcome for Billy.