Making others happy (Metaphor)
Ray’s job wasn’t highly paid, but it was rewarding. Every day he climbed into his jeep to deliver mail and “say a little something” to addressees. He knew “everybody’s name”, making people a little bit happier with his mere presence and sheer interest. As they got near Judd’s house and Marty got his mail ready, the boy couldn’t help but wonder what kind of magazines Judd had ordered. What could “warm his heart?” Marty wasn’t too surprised when he saw Ammo and Shooting Times.
Misbehaving (Metaphor)
Dara Lynn was usually an obedient child; she didn’t cause much trouble and was quite easy to handle. Unfortunately for Marty, that girl “got the devil” in her tonight. She did everything to irk him, but the worst part was that she was following him wherever he went. Shiloh could stay hungry that night because of her silly games! Owing to the fact that the boy knew his sister too well, he used an old trick and told her that he was looking for a snake that could easily bite her. That scared her off and allowed Marty to get rid of her.
Stinking (Simile)
If you dislike a person, you notice every little flaw in him or her. That was what had happened to Marty. To say that he wasn’t too fond of Judd would be a huge underestimation. That unpleasant man evoked only negative emotions in the boy. Marty suspected that the man mistreated his dogs and that made him a monster in the boy’s eyes. Every time they met Marty could Judd’s feel Judd’s smell - thanks to the tobacco that the man was constantly chewing - that was “strong as coffee” but horribly unpleasant. Judd was his least favorite person in the whole state.
Fragile (Simile)
Marty couldn’t believe his eyes, for there was Shiloh in front of him! The poor dog had escaped and came to him. The boy gathered the beagle up into his arms. The poor creature was “shaking all over,” but he didn’t try to “get away,” didn’t creep from Marty the way he had done “that first day.” The boy held him “as close and careful” as he carried Becky when she was “asleep.” He knew that it was his task to save Shiloh and protect him from Judd’s wrath. The dog had chosen Marty as his owner and protector.
Dearly (Simile)
Marty starved himself to feed Shiloh. Their family wasn’t poor, but the grandmother was ill and his Ma and Dad sent almost all their money to Marty’s aunt, so that she could pay for a nurse and expensive treatment. Consequently, their fridge wasn’t filled to the brim with food. Marty started eating only half of his portion to save the other half for the dog. The boy didn’t mind hunger; he was happy to share that little that he had with Shiloh, for he loved that dog “as much” as he loved his Ma.
