IN: The most complicated thing I ' ve ever changed in my car has been a cassette tape , so I really did need my brother 's help . We went to AutoZone ( after attempting to go to the Arlington Napa , which was CLOSED when they were supposed to be OPEN ) and bought a new alternator , then spent the next several hours trying to get the old one out . Despite our best efforts , we were unsuccessful at this , so we put the car back together ( we had to pull one of the front wheels off just to get to the alternator ) .
Why did the narrator need assistance from their brother ?

OUT: The narrator is inexperienced at cars .

IN: The phone rings far away . I ignore it . I left the radio playing in the other room but I can barely hear it . At a muffled distance from the day 's upsetting political and economic news I feel isolated , alone , silenced .
What is the narrator 's view of politics and the news ?

OUT: They feel it is a downer .

IN: He could smell him - Jack , his lover - on the shirt , and he took a deep breath , knowing that in about an hour or so he 'd be smelling the real thing . " Well , look who 's back , " came a voice , and Ennis whirled around . There stood Todd , the 20-year - old stick boy , who handled the team 's equipment and made sure the sticks were out on the ice for games .
Why was Ennis startled by Todd ?

OUT:
Ennis was scared because he felt embarrassed for anticipating his tryst .