4. What assets did the Judge list in his will for his sons to split? About how much are his listed assets worth?
5. Who is Harry Rex Vonner? What connection does he have to the Atlee family?
6. What do they decide to do for the Judge’s wake?
Chapter 8
1. Why doesn’t Forrest stay the night at the house?
2. How does Ray react to the noises he hears during the night? What does he think they are?
3. Explain, “frightened…ready to jump out of his skin” (74).
4. Explain, “This was also Mississippi, where guns were expected to be used for protection” (74).
5. Why is the money Ray found such a mystery?
Chapter 9
1. What is the “important decision” that Ray makes at the beginning of Chapter 9?
2. Ray decides that the money needs to be _____________, but the boxes won’t fit
______________________________. So he puts the money into
_______________________, which he stuffs into the __________________.
3. On p. 80, Forrest explains to Ray what makes him “crash.” What does this mean, and what reason does Forrest give?
4. Explain the idiom in this sentence: “They haven’t designed a wagon that can hold me” (80).
5. When was the last time Forrest saw his father before he died?
6. Why is it odd that the Judge left a will on his desk, dated Saturday?
7. Ray “knew in an instant that he would have to see the other will and see it soon” (83). Why?
8. Explain the idiom in this sentence: “Only a tongue lashing by Harry Rex got him to Pope’s” (85).
9. “Ray was slowly realizing that his speedy exit from Clanton after the funeral would only be temporary. He would be forced to return very soon” (87). Explain why.
10. Who spoke at the wake for Judge Atlee?
Chapter 10:
1. What is Mississippi’s “newest industry”? (91)
2. When Ray carefully counts the money, what is the exact total?
3. Does Ray have any previous experience with gambling?
4. What two questions does Ray want answered about the money?
5. How well does Ray do gambling?
6. Ray wonders if the Judge won his money gambling. But what three questions come into his mind about this at the end of Ch. 10? (99) What do you think the answers might be?
Chapter 11
1. The next morning back at Maple Run, Claudia comes to visit. Who is she and what was her relationship with the judge? Write down 5 important facts.
2. Describe the relationship between Claudia Gates and Judge Atlee. What did that show about the judge?
3. What happened to a lawyer named Turley? What did that show about the judge?
4. Why didn’t Ray and Claudia like each other?
5. Why do you think that the judge did not marry Claudia? What did that show?
6. Claudia and Ray become “friends” at the end. What does that really mean?
