“An eternity of wishing to speak directly to my Creator - I thought in despair - and this is how He finally contacts me? Through AOL Instant Messenger?”

“That was the Jason most people never noticed. The one who made an effort to spare someone else's feelings. He was being kind to my darling. I cast an affectionate glance at his back.”

“It’s the glitches and twists, I thought, that make this universe unique and compelling. Without flaws, there would beno depth, no substance.”

“It pleased me to think of his being happy.It really pleased me to think that I might have influenced another being's emotions.”

“He didn't look back or wave, although I watched. He just assumed Shaun was there, and would always be there.Humans take so much for granted.”

“Then he smiled—a lovely sunbeam of a grin.”

“I see what's going on," I said. "You're confusing beauty with this society's current idea of perfection of visual form.”