Refer to a wrinkle in time for a complete version of this text.

read the excerpt from chapter 3.

“i don’t know why i call her when i don’t come home,” calvin said, his voice bitter. “she wouldn’t notice.” he sighed and dialed. “ma? ” he said. “oh, hinky. tell ma i won’t be home until late. now don’t forget. i don’t want to be locked out again.” he hung up, looked at meg. “do you know how lucky you are? ”

she smiled rather wryly. “not most of the time.”

“a mother like that! a house like this! gee, your mother’s gorgeous! you should see my mother. she had all of her upper teeth out and pop got her a plate but she won’t wear it, and most days she doesn’t even comb her hair. not that it makes much difference when she does.” he clenched his fists. “but i love her. that’s the funny part of it. i love them all, and they don’t give a hoot about me. maybe that’s why i call when i’m not going to be home. because i care. nobody else does. you don’t know how lucky you are to be loved.”

meg said in a startled way, “i guess i never thought of that. i guess i just took it for granted.”

question 1
part a

what theme is developed in the excerpt?

the bond between children and their mothers is very strong.

people return home to feel the most welcome and safe.

it is difficult to love people who do not love themselves.

people often fail to appreciate the good things in life.
question 2
part b

which detail from the text best supports the answer to part a?

“‘but i love her. that’s the funny part of it. i love them all, and they don’t give a hoot about me.’”

“meg said in a startled way, ‘i guess i never thought of that. i guess i just took it for granted.’”

“‘a mother like that! a house like this! gee, your mother’s gorgeous! you should see my mother.’”

“maybe that’s why i call when i’m not going to be home. because i care. nobody else does.’”