Rotting sardines
The simile "Leonardo the Silent sitting like rotting sardines in the back of a Hills Village Police Department cruiser" offers a vivid and horrible picture of the situation. It compares Leonardo's situation and manner to decaying sardines crammed into the back of a police car. This simile portrays the feelings of pain, imprisonment, and decay. Leonardo is probably packed in the cruiser like rotten sardines with little freedom of movement and a sense of being confined. The word "rotting" denotes a bad odor and decay, implying that Leonardo's silence may feel suffocating to people around him. The contrast emphasizes the cruiser's stress and unease, setting the tone for the approaching calamity revealed by the narrator.
Wingmen
The simile "They just walk beside me—like wingmen" compares the way Pierce and Gaynor accompany the narrator to the role of wingmen. Wingmen are people who offer someone support and aid in a certain environment, most often in social or romantic situations. By utilizing this comparison, the narrator underlines how Pierce and Gaynor's presence alongside them is more like loyal companions who offer unshakable support and direction. The phrase "wingmen" implies that they are actively assisting the narrator just like wingmen assist pilots in battle or social settings. This simile highlights the strong bond and reliability of the friendship between the narrator and their friends, emphasizing how Pierce and Gaynor go beyond the norm to ensure the narrator's comfort and inclusion.
Three feet taller
The metaphor "When I started using the chair, the whole world seemed to grow three feet taller" indicates a profound shift in the speaker's viewpoint and sensation of empowerment. It implies that sitting in the chair lifts them both physically and metaphorically, allowing them to perceive the world from a fresh perspective. The speaker may have felt small, unnoticed, or overshadowed by others before using the chair. When people sit in a chair, their perspective shifts radically as if the world itself has grown higher. The speaker obtains a new sense of authority, confidence, and visibility, according to this metaphor. It highlights the transformative effect of the chair, symbolizing the importance of finding one's voice and perspective to navigate and engage with the world on an equal footing with others.
A Race car at Talladega Superspeedway
The simile "the little guy drops to the ground—and takes off like a race car at Talladega Superspeedway" effectively captures the small kid's abrupt and speedy movement as he falls to the ground and begins sprinting away. The comparison to a race car at Talladega Superspeedway adds dimension to the image by underlining the child's extraordinary speed and acceleration. Talladega Superspeedway is famous for its high-speed NASCAR races where cars reach incredible speeds on the long straightaways. The comparison emphasizes the astounding speed with which the toddler escapes the situation. It underscores the notion that the child's escape is not just quick but almost awe-inspiring, leaving the reader with a strong visual impression of the rapidity of his departure.
A couple of zombies
The simile "Jeanne and I walked away like a couple of zombies" powerfully depicts the characters' mental and physical state following their experience with Mrs. Stricker. Comparing people to zombies offers a vivid picture of their behavior and emotional state. Jeanne and Rafe's motions are languid and lacking energy much like zombies who are sometimes characterized as lifeless, monotonous, and devoid of expression. The analogy implies that they are exhausted and numb, possibly overwhelmed by the unfairness of the situation and the approaching arrest. Furthermore, the simile conveys a lack of agency and a sensation of being manipulated as zombies are frequently depicted as mindless and under someone else's direction.
