"The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst

Sandy (United States of America)
In James Hurst's 1960 tragic short story, a boy remembers his younger, disabled brother, Doodle, whom he helped learn to walk.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. grindstone
    a device for sharpening metal tools
    A grindstone stands where that bleeding tree stood, and sometimes, like right now, as I sit in our cool parlor, the grindstone begins to turn—and I remember—Doodle.
  2. imminent
    close in time; about to occur
    With success so imminent, we decided not to tell anyone until he could actually walk.
  3. infallibility
    the quality of never making an error
    Now that I had taught Doodle to walk, I began to believe in my own infallibility.
  4. sultry
    characterized by oppressive heat and humidity
    It was a hot, sultry day and Daddy, Mama, Doodle and I were seated at the dining table having lunch.
  5. mar
    cause to become imperfect
    Even death Did not mar its grace, for it lay on the earth Like a broken vase Of red flowers.
  6. skiff
    a small boat propelled by oars or by sails or by a motor
    Later that day, Doodle and I hurried off to Horsehead Landing and got into a skiff and floated down the creek with the tide.
  7. descend
    come as if by falling
    When we reached Horsehead Landing, the sun disappeared and darkness descended, almost like night.
  8. naught
    a quantity of no importance
    The knowledge that my plans had come to naught was bitter, and a streak of cruelty within me awakened.
  9. bitter
    very difficult to accept or bear
    The knowledge that my plans had come to naught was bitter, and a streak of cruelty within me awakened.
  10. realization
    coming to understand something clearly and distinctly
    He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red. “Doodle!!!!!” (Shock & Realization) “Oh, Doodle—Oh, Doodle!”
Created on Fri Apr 24 20:19:09 EDT 2026 (updated Fri Jun 05 15:38:46 EDT 2026)

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