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The Bridge Home: Chapters 1–12

After running away from home, Viji and her sister Rukku join up with a group of orphans struggling to survive in the city of Chennai, India.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–12, Chapters 13–20, Chapters 21–26, Chapters 27–44
40 words 2049 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. stern
    serious and harsh in manner or behavior
    Crinkly lines softened her stern face. “I don’t like giving up,” she said.
  2. snub
    unusually short
    You always felt like a younger sister, Rukku. You looked younger, too, with your wide eyes and snub nose.
  3. halting
    proceeding in a fragmentary, hesitant, or ineffective way
    You spoke haltingly, and you hunched your shoulders, which made you seem smaller than me, though you were born a year before.
  4. elope
    run away secretly with one's beloved
    They were ashamed, she told me, ashamed and angry with her for eloping with someone from an even lower caste than the one she’d been born into.
  5. caste
    a hereditary social class among Hindus
    They were ashamed, she told me, ashamed and angry with her for eloping with someone from an even lower caste than the one she’d been born into.
  6. waft
    be driven or carried along, as by the air
    I inhaled the sweet scent of milk rice that wafted through our apartment.
  7. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
    He ripped open one of the packages and dangled a pair of bangles in front of you. But before your fingers could close over them, he jerked them away.
  8. taut
    pulled or drawn tight
    “How bad both our girls are at catching!” Amma’s voice was high-pitched and tense as a taut string.
  9. serene
    not agitated
    She gazed at the pictures of the Gods and Goddesses smiling down serenely from our kitchen wall. As if they’d suddenly leap into life and start helping.
  10. placidly
    in a quiet and tranquil manner
    In front of the bus stop sign, a woman was already waiting, chewing tobacco as placidly as a cow chewing its cud.
  11. rove
    move about aimlessly or without any destination
    “Aamaam,” she confirmed. Her eyes roved across my face, which was smarting with pain, and then settled on your cut lip, but she didn’t comment.
  12. shrill
    having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
    I’d never have caught up to that bus if it hadn’t been for the conductor’s shrill whistle, calling the driver to a stop.
  13. fare
    the sum charged for riding in a public conveyance
    My hand was shaking as I opened the drawstring purse at my waist, partly because I was nervous, partly from shock at how high the fare was.
  14. rummage
    search haphazardly
    “Marapachi?” You rummaged in your bag, pulled out your wooden doll, and talked to her for a while. Then you stuck her back in your bag and slumped against my shoulder.
  15. vise
    a holding device attached to a workbench
    “Come with me." His hand came down on my arm and formed a vise.
  16. pedestrian
    a person who travels by foot
    I’d never seen such an endless flood of vehicles and pedestrians.
  17. rickshaw
    a small two-wheeled cart for one passenger
    Holding you close, I stepped into the gap between a three-wheeled rickshaw and a motorbike.
  18. ford
    cross a river where it's shallow
    A great white cow was fording through the river of traffic, vehicles parting to let it through.
  19. sari
    a draped dress worn primarily by Hindu women
    Towels, underwear, and faded saris flapped on clotheslines hung across the balconies.
  20. rickety
    inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
    Turning the corner, we found ourselves on an even narrower street, lined with shacks selling food. In one of them, a man stood behind a rickety counter.
  21. tumbler
    a glass with a flat bottom but no handle or stem
    You watched, fascinated, as he poured steaming tea from one glass tumbler into another, until a layer of froth bubbled across the rim.
  22. sulky
    sullen or moody
    “Owwa,” you echoed sulkily.
  23. incense
    a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
    Though it was clear that the Goddess hadn’t yet showered the teashop couple with riches, she was well looked after: a fresh jasmine garland was tucked across the picture, and a lighted incense stick was placed beneath it.
  24. billow
    rise up as if in waves
    Smoke billowed up from the hot oil, and Teashop Aunty turned back to the stove.
  25. tender
    having or displaying warmth or affection
    At the sound of my voice, the puppy thumped its tail. You stroked it tenderly, with just one finger.
  26. beckon
    summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
    “Come.” You stood and beckoned to the puppy. “Come, Kutti.”
  27. secluded
    hidden from general view or use
    We headed to the deserted bridge. Concrete lions stood on either side of what must have once been the grand entrance, and a crumbling concrete wall ran along its sides. The perfect spot to stay overnight, I decided. Probably the most secluded spot we could get in this city.
  28. makeshift
    done or made using whatever is available
    Halfway across the bridge, I saw a makeshift shelter.
  29. tarpaulin
    waterproofed canvas
    Someone had made a tent with a tarpaulin.
  30. matted
    tangled in a dense mass
    It was beginning to get dark, but I could make out a boy marching up the bridge. He reminded me of a sunflower. Matted hair that looked like it had never met a comb stuck out like petals around a face that seemed much too large for his skinny body.
  31. tentatively
    in a hesitant manner
    He patted Kutti tentatively.
  32. spare
    give up what is not strictly needed
    “We have no money to spare, Rukku.”
  33. sprawling
    spreading out in different directions
    Near the temple we found a house set in the middle of a sprawling garden.
  34. mangy
    affected with a skin disease causing itching and hair loss
    “I just told you I’m looking for work. I can do housework and—”
    “You think rich people are going to give you jobs if you wander into their compounds with a mangy dog tagging along?” the old man said.
  35. brisk
    quick and energetic
    I took your hand and walked briskly out the gate.
  36. pretense
    the act of giving a false appearance
    Something whizzed by my head. I ducked, shocked the gardener would go so far as to throw a stone just to keep up his pretense.
  37. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
    “Might as well eat it. It’s not big enough to share with the boys,” I mused.
  38. gnarled
    old and twisted and covered in lines
    We sat in the shade of a gnarled rain tree. Kutti settled his head on his forepaws and watched us.
  39. noble
    having high or elevated character
    He gave me his fruit to save for you for the next morning. Ashamed that I was too selfish and hungry to be so noble, I downed my fair share.
  40. flit
    move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
    “When we grow up, I want to be a teacher,” I told you. This dream had flitted through my mind before.
Created on Thu May 09 14:53:53 EDT 2019 (updated Thu May 09 15:05:10 EDT 2019)

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