Question

“sssssh, listen!” said terry. “i can hear her coming down the hallway.” everyone hid behind the couches or in corners. they tried to stifle their giggles and make no sound at all. there was only the sound of a key in the lock as sheila, the birthday girl, came in for the evening. what word gives the reader a clue that what is happening is going to be funny?

Answer 1

The word that suggests a humorous moment is coming has to be "giggles" as if this was replaced by "screams" for example, the meaning would be very different. The apprehension created by a literary device such as this is an important technique to keep writing exciting for the reader.