Read the paragraph from "Sixteen" and answer the question. And that was last Thursday. Tonight is Tuesday. Tonight is Tuesday and my homework is done and I darned some stocking that really didn't need it, and I worked a crossword puzzle and I listened to the radio and now I'm just sitting. I'm just sitting because I can't think of anything else to do. I can't think of anything, anything but snowflakes and ice skates and a yellow moon and Thursday night. The telephone is sitting on the corner table with its old black face turned to the wall. I don't even jump when it rings any more. My heart still prays but my mind just laughs. Outside the night is still—so still I think I'll go crazy. And so I'm sitting here and I'm not feeling anything. I'm not even sad because all of a sudden I know. I can sit here now and forever and laugh and laugh while the tears run salty in the corners of my mouth. For all of a sudden, I know, I know what the stars knew all the time—he will never, never call—never.

Discuss the author's use of phrases and clauses. Begin by identifying the prepositional phrases and any noun, adjective, and adverbial clauses. How do these phrases and clauses add to or detract from the story being told? Then write at least one sentence evaluating how well the author has varied the sentence structure in the paragraph and the structure's impact on the reader. Your answer should be at least 100 words.