The Running Dream: Part III

by Wendelin Van Draanen
Track star Jessica is devastated when her leg must be amputated after a terrible car accident — but she is determined to run again.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V
35 words 175 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. scrawl
    write carelessly
    There’s a single line scrawled beneath the checked REPORT TO OFFICE IMMEDIATELY box: Dr. appt.
  2. prod
    push against gently
    He inspects my stump, prods it, measures it, then says, “Outstanding!”
  3. pothole
    a pit or cavity in a road produced by wear or weathering
    The asphalt parking lot is full of potholes and there’s trash blown up against the building.
  4. linoleum
    a floor covering made from linseed oil, cork, and resin
    The waiting room is set up like a doctor’s office, only the chairs are plain molded plastic, and instead of carpeting there’s chipped linoleum.
  5. sullen
    showing a brooding ill humor
    He just sits there, sullen.
  6. smock
    a loose coverall that protects the clothes
    She’s not wearing a nurse-type smock or shoes, just regular clothes—jeans, a knit top, and flats.
  7. accost
    approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
    “I don’t usually come out and accost the patients, sorry! It’s just that Hank told me about you and...and I can relate.”
  8. gauzy
    so thin as to transmit light
    He dunks one of the gauzy rolls into the bowl of water, and when it’s wet, he starts wrapping it around my leg, spiraling from the knee down to the end of the stump and back up.
  9. exothermic
    occurring or formed with the release of heat
    “The water creates an exothermic reaction—do you feel it warming up?”
  10. instinctive
    unthinking
    Instinctively, I place her work on top of mine.
  11. convey
    make known; pass on, of information
    The look lasts maybe two seconds, but in that time she manages to convey disappointment, doubt, and resentment.
  12. resentment
    a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
    The look lasts maybe two seconds, but in that time she manages to convey disappointment, doubt, and resentment.
  13. iterate
    run or be performed again
    “Okay. To find the first three iterates of this function, here’s what you do....”
  14. default
    an option that is selected automatically
    It would probably be a lot easier for me to go over to her house...but again, my mind is defaulting to relying on Fiona for help.
  15. cyborg
    a person whose body is partially mechanical
    These people look like cyborgs.
  16. oblige
    provide a service or favor for someone
    If the mind says it would be better to rest or recover or cut practice, the body will be glad to oblige.
  17. heady
    marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
    I was heady and happy and I could feel myself—a future me—running.
  18. reverence
    a feeling of profound respect for someone or something
    “There it is,” Shandall says with mock reverence.
  19. paradigm
    the generally accepted perspective of a discipline
    He laughs again, then gives his chin scruff a thoughtful scratch. “That’s a whole new paradigm, isn’t it?”
  20. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
    “Why not?” she asks, incredulous.
  21. karma
    effects of one's actions that determine his or her destiny
    “So...I think it’s...you know...bad karma.”
  22. mantra
    a commonly repeated word or phrase
    I try telepathing my mantra over to Annie and Giszelda.
  23. funk
    a state of nervous depression
    I’m still in a complete funk the next day, and in no mood for icy Ms. Rucker.
  24. conspiratorial
    relating to or characteristic of a secret plot or agreement
    She says it quietly. Conspiratorially. Like she’s sharing a secret.
    Like we’re friends.
  25. chagrin
    cause to feel shame
    She looks chagrined, but he says, “I laughed my head off, Jessica. I might even change the name of my business to Hankenstein’s, but unfortunately, most of my clients aren’t in the frame of mind for such humor.”
  26. suspension
    the act of hanging something from above so it moves freely
    He pushes and twists the socket, and when he’s sure it’s okay, he pulls the leg off and says, “We’re going to use a suspension sleeve to hold the leg in place.”
  27. competent
    properly or sufficiently qualified, capable, or efficient
    Hank has given me a cane, so I use it for stability, and although I’m not entirely confident, or even very competent, I want to walk and Hank tells me that’s ninety percent of the battle won.
  28. gait
    a person's manner of walking
    I try hard to make my gait even as we walk down the hallway.
  29. elation
    a feeling of joy and pride
    Laughter, pain, victory, defeat, friendship, fatigue, elation...they’re all there, but only to the person who’s worn the uniform.
  30. concede
    admit or acknowledge, often reluctantly
    My mother prompts, “You said, ‘Gavin did?’ to Fiona.”
    I concede with a little nod. “He’s in our class, but I don’t really know him.”
  31. incoherent
    unable to express yourself clearly or fluently
    I hang up the first couple of times, but on my third try I leave a message. It’s a pretty lame one. Incoherent, really.
  32. blithely
    in a joyous, carefree, or unconcerned manner
    I try to be cool and blithely witty as we talk, but me making him laugh makes me laugh, and when he finally goes back to Merryl, I realize that my eyes are shining and my cheeks ache from smiling so much.
  33. goodwill
    a disposition to kindness and compassion
    “I don’t understand it,” he says, raking his long fingers along his hair. “I was sure there would be an outpouring of goodwill.”
  34. abyss
    a bottomless gulf or pit
    “Let’s hope. Unfortunately there’s often a deep, wide abyss between good intentions and concrete action. And as unfair as it is, after a few days any story becomes old news.”
  35. inversion
    turning upside down; setting on end
    He makes lots of little adjustments with his Allen wrench, twisting it inside the little holes in the pipe couplings as he throws around words like adduction and abduction, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, inversion and eversion.
Created on Wed Aug 15 11:13:24 EDT 2018 (updated Wed Aug 15 13:01:39 EDT 2018)

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