Q: i realize this is your first time doing this , and i enjoy your curiosity , so i shall favor you in that . '' i nodded , and then i realized something . something important , too . a shift in thinking , abrupt and all-encompassing . this was n't a punishment . lucent said it was , and i knew it probably was under different circumstances , but this , right now and right here , was n't a _ ... Fill the blank.
A: blank is punishment

Q: mrs. aguirre 's eyes were locked onto alejandro as she and mr. horace walked over . she pushed her glasses back up onto her nose and demanded , '' what exactly is going on here , alejandro ? '' he was scared and would not look at mrs. aguirre . '' nothing , '' he said . '' it do n't look like nothing to me , '' said mr. _ ... Fill the blank.
A: blank is horace

Q: a low groan of pain reverberated off braith 's teeth as he stood with his head bowed and his shoulders heaving . his fingers dug into the bark of the tree as he fought against the bellow that wanted to erupt from him . aria rested her hand on his arm , but it was a few moments before he could open his eyes to look at her . ducking under his arm she stepped in between him and the _ ... Fill the blank.
A:
blank is tree