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HONORS FRESHMEN ENGLISHSHORT STORIESTHERE WILL COME SOFT RAINSRAY BRADBURYIN THE LIVING ROOM THE VOICE-CLOCK SANG, TICK-TACK,SEVEN O'CLOCK, TIME TO GET UP , TIME TO GET UP , SEVENO'CLOCK! AS IF IT WERE AFRAID NOBODY WOULD. THEMORNING HOUSE LAY EMPTY . THE CLOCK TICKED ON,TO WHOM IS THE HOUSE SPEAKING? WHO IS IN THEHOUSE?REPEATING AND REPEATING ITS SOUNDS INTO THE EMPTINESS.SEVEN-NINE, BREAKFAST TIME, SEVEN-NINE!IN THE KITCHEN THE BREAKFAST STOVE GAVE A HISSING SIGHAND EJECTED FROM ITS WARM INTERIOR EIGHT PIECES OFPERFECTLY BROWNED TOAST, EIGHT EGGS SUNNYSIDE UP,SIXTEEN SLICES OF BACON, TWO COFFEES, AND TWO COOLGLASSES OF MILK."TODAY IS AUGUST 4, 2026," SAID A SECOND VOICE FROMTHE KITCHEN CEILING, "IN THE CITY OF ALLENDALE ,CALIFORNIA." I T REPEATED THE DATE THREE TIMES FORMEMORY 'S SAKE. "TODAY IS MR. FEATHERSTONE 'SBIRTHDAY . TODAY IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF TILITA'SMARRIAGE. INSURANCE IS PAYABLE, AS ARE THE WATER,GAS, AND LIGHT BILLS."WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE ON AUGUST 4, 2026?WHAT DOES THE HOUSE RECOMMEND?SOMEWHERE IN THE WALLS, RELAYS CLICKED, MEMORY TAPESGLIDED UNDER ELECTRIC EYES.EIGHT-ONE, TICK-TOCK, EIGHT-ONE O'CLOCK, OFF TOSCHOOL, OFF TO WORK, RUN, RUN, EIGHT-ONE ! BUT NODOORS SLAMMED, NO CARPETS TOOK THE SOFT TREAD OFRUBBER HEELS. IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE . THE WEATHER BOXON THE FRONT DOOR SANG QUIETLY : "RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY;RUBBERS , RAINCOATS FOR TODAY ." AND THE RAIN TAPPEDON THE EMPTY HOUSE, ECHOING.OUTSIDE, THE GARAGE CHIMED AND LIFTED ITS DOOR TOREVEAL THE WAITING CAR. AFTER A LONG WAIT THE DOORSWUNG DOWN AGAIN.AT EIGHT-THIRTY THE EGGS WERE SHRIVELED AND THE TOASTWAS LIKE STONE . AN ALUMINUM WEDGE SCRAPED THEM DOWNA METAL THROAT WHICH DIGESTED AND FLUSHED THEM AWAYTO THE DISTANT SEA. THE DIRTY DISHES WERE DROPPED INTOA HOT WASHER AND EMERGED TWINKLING DRY.WHICH CONVENIENCES IN THIS PASSAGE ALREADYEXIST IN TODAY' S SOCIETY?NINE-FIFTEEN, SANG THE CLOCK, TIME TO CLEAN.1OUT OF WARRENS IN THE WALL, TINY ROBOT MICE DARTED.THE ROOMS WERE ACRAWL WITH THE SMALL CLEANINGANIMALS, ALL RUBBER AND METAL. THEY THUDDED AGAINSTCHAIRS, WHIRLING THEIR MUSTACHED RUNNERS, KNEADING THERUG NAP, SUCKING GENTLY AT HIDDEN DUST.1. WARRENS. TUNNELEDHOMES PRODUCED BY SMALL MAMMALS SUCH AS MICE OR RABBITSPAGE 1OF7

THEN, LIKE MYSTERIOUS INVADERS , THEY POPPED INTO THEIRBURROWS. THEIR PINK ELECTRIC EYE FADED. THE HOUSE WASCLEAN.WHAT IS UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WAY THE HOUSESPEAKS?WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT ITS USE OFLANGUAGE?TEN O'CLOCK. THE SUN CAME OUT FROM BEHIND THE RAIN.THE HOUSE STOOD ALONE IN A CITY OF RUBBLE AND ASHES.THIS WAS THE ONE HOUSE LEFT STANDING. AT NIGHT THE2RUINED CITY GAVE OF A RADIOACTIVE GLOW WHICH COULD BESEEN FOR MILES .TEN-FIFTEEN. THE GARDEN SPRINKLERS WHIRLED UP INGOLDEN FOUNTS, FILLING THE SOFT MORNING AIR WITHSCATTERINGS OF BRIGHTNESS. THE WATER PELTEDWINDOWPANES, RUNNING DOWN THE CHARRED WEST SIDEWHERE THE HOUSE HAD BEEN BURNED EVENLY FREE OF ITSWHITE PAINT. THE ENTIRE WEST FACE OF THE HOUSE WASBLACK, SAVE FOR FIVE PLACES. HERE THE SILHOUETTE INPAINT OF A MAN MOWING A LAWN. HERE, AS IN APHOTOGRAPH , A WOMAN BENT TO PICK FLOWERS . STILLFARTHER OVER, THEIR IMAGES BURNED ON WOOD IN ONETITANTIC INSTANT, A SMALL BOY , HANDS FLUNG INTO THE AIR;HIGHER UP , THE IMAGE OF THROWN BALL, AND OPPOSITE HIMA GIRL, HAND RAISED TO CATCH A BALL WHICH NEVER CAMEDOWN. THE FIVE SPOTS OF PAINT-THE MAN, THE WOMAN, THECHILDREN, THE BALL- REMAINED. THE REST WAS A THINCHARCOALED LAYER .WHAT RECORD IS LEFT OF THE FAMILY? HOW WASTHE RECORD CREATED?THE GENTLE SPRINKLER RAIN FILLED THE GARDEN WITHFALLING LIGHT.UNTIL THIS DAY, HOW WELL THE HOUSE HAD KEPT ITS PEACE.HOW CAREFULLY IT HAD INQUIRED, 'WHO GOES THERE? WHAT'STHE PASSWORD?" AND, GETTING NO ANSWER FROM THELONELY FOXES AND WHINING CATS, IT HAD SHUT UP ITSWINDOWS AND DRAWN SHADES IN AN OLD-MAIDENLYPREOCCUPATION WITH SELF-PROTECTION WHICH BORDEREDON A MECHANICAL PARANOIA .IT QUIVERED AT EACH SOUND, THE HOUSE DID. IF A SPARROWBRUSHED A WINDOW , THE SHADE SNAPPED UP. THE BIRD,STARTLED, FLEW OFF! NO, NOT EVEN A BIRD MUST TOUCH THEHOUSE!WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE OTHER HOUSES IN THECITY?THE HOUSE WAS AN ALTAR WITH TEN THOUSAND ATTENDANTS,BIG, SMALL, SERVICING, ATTENDING, IN CHOIRS. BUT THEGODS HAD GONE AWAY, AND THE RITUAL OF THE RELIGIONCONTINUED SENSELESSLY , USELESSLY.TWELVE NOON.A DOG WHINED, SHIVERING, ON THE FRONT PORCH.THE FRONT DOOR RECOGNIZED THE DOG VOICE AND OPENED.THE DOG, ONCE LARGE AND FLESHY, BUT NOW GONE TO BONEPAGE 2 OF 7THERE WILL C OME SOFT RAINSRAY BRADBURY2. RADIOACTIVE. CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ENERGY IN THE FORMOF RAYS (ALPHA, BETA, AND GAMMA ) GIVEN OFF BY THEDISINTEGRATION OF ATOMIC NUCLEI, AS IN URANIUM AND PLUTONIUM

HONORS FRESHMEN ENGLISHSHORT STORIESTHERE WILL COME SOFT RAINSRAY BRADBURYTWELVE NOON.A DOG WHINED, SHIVERING, ON THE FRONT PORCH.THE FRONT DOOR RECOGNIZED THE DOG VOICE AND OPENED.THE DOG, ONCE LARGE AND FLESHY, BUT NOW GONE TO BONEAND COVERED WITH SORES, MOVED IN AND THROUGH THEHOUSE, TRACKING MUD. B EHIND IT WHIRRED ANGRY MICE,ANGRY AT HAVING TO PICK UP MUD, ANGRY ATINCONVENIENCE.FOR NOT A LEAF FRAGMENT BLEW UNDER THE DOOR BUTWHAT THE WALL PANELS FLIPPED OPEN AND THE COPPERSCRAP RATS FLASHED SWIFTLY OUT. THE OFFENDING DUST,HAIR, OR PAPER, SEIZED IN MINIATURE STEEL JAWS, WASRACED BACK TO THE BURROWS . THERE , DOWN TUBES WHICHFED INTO THE CELLAR , IT WAS DROPPED INTO THE SIGHING34VENT OF AN INCINERATOR WHICH SAT LIKE EVIL BAAL IN ADARK CORNER.THE DOG RAN UPSTAIRS , HYSTERICALLY YELPING TO EACHDOOR , AT LAST REALIZING, AS THE HOUSE REALIZED, THATONLY SILENCE WAS HERE.IT SNIFFED THE AIR AND SCRATCHED THE KITCHEN DOOR.BEHIND THE DOOR, THE STOVE WAS MAKING PANCAKESWHICH FILLED THE HOUSE WITH A RICH ODOR AND THE SCENTOF MAPLE SYRUP.THE DOG FROTHED AT THE MOUTH, LYING AT THE DOOR,SNIFFING, ITS EYES TURNED TO FIRE. IT RAN WILDLY IN CIRCLES ,BITING AT ITS TAIL, SPUN IN A FRENZY , AND DIED. IT LAY IN THEPARLOR FOR AN HOUR .TWO 'CLOCK, SANG A VOICE.DELICATELY SENSING DECAY AT LAST, THE REGIMENTS OFMICE HUMMED OUT AS SOFTLY AS BLOWN GRAY LEAVES IN ANELECTRICAL WIND.TWO-FIFTEEN.THE DOG WAS GONE.IN THE CELLAR, THE INCINERATOR GLOWED SUDDENLY AND AWHIRL OF SPARKS LEAPED UP THE CHIMNEY .TWO THIRTY-FIVE.5BRIDGE TABLES SPROUTED FROM PATIO WALLS. PLAYING6CARDS FLUTTERED ONTO PADS IN A SHOWER OF PIPS .MARTINIS MANIFESTED ON AN OAKEN BENCH WITH EGG SALADSANDWICHES. MUSIC PLAYED.3. INCINERATOR. FURNACE DESIGNED TO BURN WASTE PRODUCTS4. BAAL. PRE-C HRISTIAN GOD OF THE S EMITIC PEOPLE5. BRIDGE T ABLES. TABLES WHERE FOUR PLAYERS CAN SIT TOPAY BRIDGE, A CARD GAME INVOLVING TEAM STRATEGY.6. PIP. S UIT-INDICATING FIGURES ON PLAYING CARDSBUT THE TABLES WERE SILENT AND THE CARDS UNTOUCHED.PAGE 3OF7

AT FOUR O'CLOCK THE TABLES FOLDED LIKE GREATBUTTERFLIES BACK THROUGH THE PANELED WALLS.FOUR-THIRTY.THE NURSERY WALLS GLOWED.ANIMALS TOOK SHAPE: YELLOW GIRAFFES, BLUE LIONS, PINKANTELOPES, LILAC PANTHERS CAVORTING IN CRYSTALSUBSTANCE. THE WALLS WERE GLASS. THEY LOOKED OUTUPON COLOR AND FANTASY . HIDDEN FILMS CLOCKED THOUGH7THE WELL-OILED SPROCKETS , AND THE WALLS LIVED. THENURSERY FLOOR WAS WOVEN TO RESEMBLE A CRISP CEREALMEADOW . OVER THIS RAN ALUMINUM ROACHES AND IRONCRICKETS, AND IN THE HOT STILL AIR BUTTERFLIES OFDELICATE RED TISSUE WAVERED AMONG THE SHARP AROMA8OF ANIMAL SPOORS! THERE WAS THE SOUND LIKE A GREATMATTED YELLOW HIVE OF BEES WITHIN A DARK BELLOWS, THELAZY BUMBLE OF A PURRING LION. AND THERE WAS THE9PATTER OF OKAPI FEET AND THE MURMUR OF A FRESHJUNGLE RAIN, LIKE OTHER HOOFS FALLING UPON THE SUMMERSTARCHED GRASS. NOW THE WALLS DISSOLVED INTODISTANCES OF PARCHED WEED, MILE ON MILE, AND WARMENDLESS SKY . THE ANIMALS DREW AWAY INTO THORN BRAKESAND WATER HOLES.IT WAS THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.FIVE O'CLOCK. THE BATH FILLED WITH CLEAR HOT WATER.SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT O'CLOCK. THE DINNER DISHESMANIPULATED LIKE MAGIC TRICKS, AND IN THE STUDY A CLICK.IN THE METAL STAND OPPOSITE THE HEARTH WHERE A FIRENOW BLAZED UP WARMLY, A CIGAR POPPED OUT, HALF ANINCH OF SOFT GRAY ASH ON IT, SMOKING, WAITING.NINE O'CLOCK. THE BEDS WARMED THEIR HIDDEN CIRCUITS,FOR NIGHTS WERE COOL HERE .NINE-FIVE. A VOICE SPOKE FROM THE STUDY CEILING:"MRS . MCC LELLAN, WHICH POEM WOULD YOU LIKE THISEVENING?"THE HOUSE WAS SILENT.THE VOICE SAID AT LAST, "SINCE YOU EXPRESS NOPREFERENCE , I SHALL SELECT A POEM AT RANDOM," QUIETMUSIC ROSE TO BACK THE VOICE . "SARA TEASDALE. AS IRECALL, YOUR FAVORITE 7.8.9.CLOCKED THROUGH LIKE WELL- OILED SPROCKETS.M OVED REGULARLY THROUGH HOLES LINEDUP IN A ROW, AS FILM IN A CAMERASPOORS. T RACKS, TRAILS, OR DROPPINGS OF A HUNTED ANIMALOKAPI. AFRICAN ANIMAL WITH A ZEBRA -LIKE STRIPES AND A GIRAFFE-LIKE NECKPAGE 4 OF 7THERE WILL C OME SOFT RAINSRAY BRADBURYWHAT IS IRONIC ABOUT THE LIFELIKE IMAGES IN THENURSERY?

HONORS FRESHMEN ENGLISHSHORT STORIESTHERE WILL COME SOFT RAINSRAY BRADBURY'THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS AND THE SMELL OF THEGROUND, AND SWALLOWSCIRCLING WITH THEIR SHIMMERING SOUND;AND FROGS IN THE POOLS SINGING AT NIGHT, ANDWILD PLUM TREES IN TREMULOUS WHITE;WHAT EFFECT HAS THE DEATH OF THE FAMILY HADON THE HOUSE?WHAT EFFECT DO YOU THINK THEEND OF HUMANKIND HAS HAD ON THE WORLD?ROBINS ""ILL WEAR THEIR FEATHERY FIRE, WHISTLINGTHEIR WHIMS ON A LOW FENCE-WIRE .AND NOT ONE WILL KNOW OF THE WAR, NOT ONE WILLCARE AT LAST WHEN IT IS DONE.NOT ONE WOULD MIND, NEITHER BIRD NOR TREE, IFMANKIND PERISHED UTTERLY ;AND SPRING HERSELF, WHEN SHE WOKE AT DAWNWOULD SCARCELY KNOW THAT WE WERE GONE."THE FIRE BURNED ON THE STONE HEARTH AND THE CIGAR FELLAWAY INTO A MOUND OF QUIET ASH ON ITS TRAY. THE EMPTYCHAIRS FACED EACH OTHER BETWEEN THE SILENT WALLS, ANDTHE MUSIC PLAYED.AT TEN O'CLOCK THE HOUSE BEGAN TO DIE.THE WIND BLEW. A FALLING TREE BOUGH CRASHED THROUGH10THE KITCHEN WINDOW . C LEANING SOLVENT , BOTTLED,SHATTERED OVER THE STOVE. THE ROOM WAS ABLAZE IN ANINSTANT!"FIRE!" SCREAMED A VOICE. THE HOUSE LIGHTS FLASHED,WATER PUMPS SHOT WATER FROM THE CEILINGS. 'BUT THESOLVENT SPREAD ON THE LINOLEUM, LICKING, EATING, UNDERTHE KITCHEN DOOR, WHILE THE VOICES TOOK IT UP IN CHORUS :"FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!"WHAT PART OF THE HOUSE DOES THE FIREATTACK?WHAT CONSEQUENCE WILL THIS ATTACKHAVE FAR THE HOUSE?THE HOUSE TRIED TO SAVE ITSELF. DOORS SPRANG TIGHTLYSHUT, BUT THE WINDOWS WERE BROKEN BY THE HEAT AND THEWIND BLEW AND SUCKED UPON THE FIRE.THE HOUSE GAVE GROUND AS THE FIRE IN TEN BILLION ANGRYSPARKS MOVED WITH FLAMING EASE FROM ROOM TO ROOMAND THEN UP THE STAIRS . WHILE SCURRYING WATER RATSSQUEAKED FROM THE WALLS , PISTOLED THEIR WATER, ANDRAN FOR MORE . AND THE WALL SPRAYS LET DOWN SHOWERSOF MECHANICAL RAIN.BUT TOO LATE. SOMEWHERE, SIGHING, A PUMP SHRUGGED TOA STOP. THE QUENCHING RAIN CEASED. THE RESERVE WATERSUPPLY WHICH FILLED THE BATHS AND WASHED THE DISHESFOR MANY QUIET DAYS WAS GONE .10. CLEANINGSOLVENT.CHEMICALSUBSTANCE THAT DISSOLVES ANOTHER SUBSTANCE SUCH ASSOILPAGE 5OF7