Two men, Alan and Henry, both seriously ill, shared a hospital room. Alan was allowed to sit up in his bed and his bed was next to the room's only window. Henry had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours, of their wives, families, their homes and their jobs. And every afternoon when Alan, in the bed next to the window, could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm among flowers. Trees and skyline could be seen in the distance. As he described all this, Henry, on the other side of the room, would close his eyes and imagine the scene.

One warm afternoon Alan described a parade passing by. Although Henry could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind. Unexpectedly, an _ though: entered his head: why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never got to see anything? It doesn't seem fair. Henry felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sight, his envy grew and soon let him down. He began to find himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window ---- and that thought now controlled his life.

Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling. Alan began to cough. He was choking. Henry watched in the dim room as the struggling man tried hard to reach for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence ---- deathly silence.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, Henry asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he struggled to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He looked out, but faced a black wall.

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. What two men are sharing a hospital room in the story?
2. Who was allowed to sit up in his bed?
3. What did they talk about?
4. How did they pass the time every afternoon?
5. Was Henry envious of Alan's view?
6. What could Henry hear, but not see, one warm afternoon?
7. Who began to cough late one night?
8. Did Henry help Alan call for a nurse?
9. What did Henry call the nurse for?
10. Did Henry hear Alan talk after the choking stopped?

Numbered answers:
1. Alan and Henry,
2. Alan
3. their wives, families, their homes and their jobs.
4. Alan would describe what he could see from the window
5. Yes
6. a band
7. Alan
8. no
9. move next to the window.
10. deathly silence.