“Were you even aware that one could rent clothes, Vasile? Does it not seem a bit...cringe inducing?”

“Is it just me or does the fact that you live in the same building you were abducted into seem a bit morbid?""Pffft. It’s just you," I said, discounting the entire bizarre ghoulish thing.”

“She said I would find Oswald out in the grounds, and such is a mother's love that she spoke as if that were a bit of a boost for the grounds and an inducement to go there.”

“Her eyes, however, were every bit as hard and shiny as the varnish on Dad's desk."Sophie, there you are! Where have you been the past few days? We've hardly seen you.""A-around?" I stuttered, inwardly cringing. Oh,that was an awesome alibi.”

“They skimped on clothing and entertainment, and, with rents tightly controlled, spent a major percentage of their income on food.”

“People could push and pull at you, and poke you, and probe as deep as they could go. They could even tear you apart, bit by bit. But at the heart and root and soul of you, something would remain untouched.”