Ninth Ward: List 3: Saturday–Still Sunday

by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Twelve-year-old Lanesha and her caretaker, both endowed with supernatural gifts, must fight to survive when Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1: Sunday–Tuesday; List 2: Wednesday–Friday; List 3: Saturday–Still Sunday; List 4: Monday–Monday Isn't Over; List 5: Tuesday

Here are links to our lists for other books by Jewell Parker Rhodes: Towers Falling, Ghost Boys
40 words 26 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. mandatory
    required by rule
    “Leave New Orleans. This is a mandatory evacuation. Mandatory.”
    Mama Ya-Ya bites her lip, shakes her head, muttering, “How can it be mandatory if I don’t have a way to go?”
  2. relieve
    free from a burden, evil, or distress
    I say, “Go on, Mrs. Watson. My people are coming for me and Mama Ya-Ya.”
    “Truly?” Mrs. Watson says, relieved.
  3. calico
    having patches colored differently and usually brightly
    She’s got a calico cat that sometimes lives with them—it comes and goes.
  4. kin
    a person related to another or others
    TaShon squeezes me so tight I can barely breathe. We are kin. Both lonely.
  5. billow
    rise up as if in waves
    The motorbike billows smoke.
  6. evacuation
    the act of leaving a dangerous place in an orderly fashion
    “Even though it’s a mandatory evacuation, the mayor is allowing those who don’t have the money to leave to spend the night in the Superdome.”
  7. chaos
    a state of extreme confusion and disorder
    I see chaos. Another good word. I see Mama Ya-Ya’s truly scared. She hasn’t combed her hair again, and it’s standing on end, every which way.
  8. transparent
    so thin as to allow light to pass through
    She’s so light. Seems like a big wind could blow her away. She isn’t solid flesh like me. Everything about her is transparent.
  9. resemblance
    similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
    For the first time, I really see the resemblance between us—me, being twelve, and her, seventeen.
  10. plead
    appeal or request earnestly
    “Please,” I say, bothered that I’m pleading.
  11. crochet
    make needlework by interlocking thread with a hooked needle
    I put the crocheted sofa shawl over Mama Ya-Ya.
  12. baptize
    administer a sacrament signifying spiritual rebirth
    “I kept praying Delores would bring you to be baptized. She never did.”
  13. indigent
    poor enough to need help from others
    “St. Louis Cemetery, number 2. They have a section for indigents.”
  14. content
    satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
    For a minute, I feel pride. Mama Ya-Ya is still upstairs trying to dream and I have taken care of things. I’m satisfied. Content. Our house is ready for Katrina.
  15. intent
    giving or marked by complete attention to
    She can barely keep her eyes open. I don’t know if she’s so tired or so intent on dreaming.
  16. fidget
    move restlessly
    Mama Ya-Ya fidgets and turns in her sleep as Spot and I head outside.
  17. horizon
    the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
    I see darkness on the horizon.
  18. loiter
    linger, remain, or wait around for no apparent reason
    Ghosts are LOITERING. I like that word. STANDING IDLY, LINGERING AIMLESSLY.
  19. idle
    lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
    Ghosts are LOITERING. I like that word. STANDING IDLY, LINGERING AIMLESSLY.
  20. linger
    remain present although waning or gradually dying
    Ghosts are LOITERING. I like that word. STANDING IDLY, LINGERING AIMLESSLY.
  21. omen
    a sign of a thing about to happen
    Seeing so many ghosts scares me. Before they just were—now they seem like an OMEN: OF BAD THINGS TO COME.
  22. devastating
    wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
    The weatherman says, “Katrina is headed directly for New Orleans. If you haven’t gotten out, buckle down. It’s going to be a wild ride. Perhaps devastating.”
  23. skitter
    move about or proceed hurriedly
    Nothing’s moving. No mice—they skitter at night. Not even fat water bugs that come out when you turn down the lights.
  24. vacuum
    the absence of matter
    The quiet makes me think I’m going to die. Like Mother Nature has sucked up everything—all sounds, winds, human talk and cries. A VACUUM. ABSENCE OF MATTER.
  25. stampede
    a wild headlong rush of frightened animals
    It’s the end of the world. Sounding like the explosions and screams in the D-day movies Mr. Gregg made us watch in history. It’s a herd of elephants. Wild cackling hyenas let loose. A stampede of all the jungle animals.
  26. keen
    express grief verbally
    Crackling, keening, bursting, pounding, the wind screeching like banshees.
  27. screech
    make a high-pitched noise
    Crackling, keening, bursting, pounding, the wind screeching like banshees.
  28. siren
    a woman who is considered to be dangerously seductive
    Sirens dooming sailors at sea.
  29. teeter
    move unsteadily, with a rocking motion
    The house shakes, teetering, in the wind and rain's violent game.
  30. shudder
    shake, as from cold
    The house shudders and groans, creaks and complains like it’s alive.
  31. slump
    assume a drooping posture or carriage
    Her feet are on the floor; her body, slumped over. I grip her waist and pull her upright.
  32. eerie
    inspiring a feeling of fear; strange and frightening
    Then, there’s quiet—like the world outside has disappeared. A pocket of deep silence. It’s EERIE. INSPIRING FEAR. DREAD.
  33. dread
    fearful expectation or anticipation
    Then, there’s quiet—like the world outside has disappeared. A pocket of deep silence. It’s EERIE. INSPIRING FEAR. DREAD.
  34. glint
    a momentary flash of light
    The chair, the bed, the mirror, picking up glints of moonlight, seem to move, shuddering, trembling with spirits making them jerk, come alive.
  35. trickle
    run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
    I feel sweat trickle down my back.
  36. ragged
    worn out from stress or strain
    Her breathing is ragged. She can’t seem to get enough air.
  37. fling
    throw with force or recklessness
    I hear pounding—doors flung open by wind; shutters slapping against windows; glass cracking, breaking like a thousand bottles.
  38. buck
    move in a jerky or violent manner
    The tub starts to buck. Slight. Real. Its claw-feet straining up, trying to escape wood.
  39. strain
    become stretched or tense or taut
    The tub starts to buck. Slight. Real. Its claw-feet straining up, trying to escape wood.
  40. patter
    make light, rapid and repeated sounds
    I hear Spot leap from the tub and patter until his fur is beneath my fingertips.
Created on Sat Dec 30 10:08:51 EST 2017 (updated Mon Jun 25 16:39:13 EDT 2018)

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