Sheila Turnage

“I'm Baptist. So far, Fast or Never is the only speeds I got with forgiving.”

“We can't change the past, Soldier. We can only be grateful for the life of a new day, and move on.”

“I never forgive. I like revenge too much.”

“Dale can choose not to worry like he chooses not to wear socks.”

“Never underestimate the power of stupid.”

“The Colonel says all attorneys should be named for blood sucking insects so we know up front who we are dealing with.”

“There's no limit to what some people will say, and what others will believe.”

“Yes ma'am," I said, "Anna Celeste's party is Saturday, but I don't need a ride.... No ma'am. It's because Anna Celeste is my Sworn Enemy for Life and I'd rather go face-down in a plate of raw chicken entrails than go to her party. Plus I'm not invited....”

“Dale can't tolerate other people throwing up. He gets what's known as the Synchronized Heaves.”

“My heart leaped like the cheerleader I will never be.”

“You what?" Dale yelped, looking like I'd handed him something dead. "You ain't writing during summer vacation, are you? I'm pretty sure that's against the rules.”

“For me, it was a Gold Star day. I'd identified an enemy, and I'd made a life decision: I might come home tore up from fighting or late from being punished, but I'd never come home crying. So far, I ain't.”

“Except for that, everything's going great. Well....there's been a murder and we're out of soup.”

“Dale's family is like that. Let the Law come within twenty yards of them, and every male over the age of six--uncles, brother, father, cousins--starts lying his fool head off. Dale says it's genetic. Miss Lana says that's poppycock.”