“We were of thirteen minds, like a tree, in which there is one Red-tail and eleven squirrel parts.”

“It was evening and would be when I woke. No matter. From the maple tree the Red-tail spoke.”

“We were typical, happy thirteen-year-olds who were going out - which meant we never talked or really acknowledged one another. It was wonderful.”

“So what did you think the devil would look like? If he were red with a tail, horns, and cloven hooves, any fool could say no.”

“When facing a single tree, if you look at a single one of its red leaves, you will not see all the others. When the eye is not set on one leaf, and you face the tree with nothing at all in mind, any number of leaves are visible to the eye without limit. But if a single leaf holds the eye, it will be as if the remaining leaves were not there.”

“What makes people between the ages of eleven and fifteen such mean jerks? I’d rather be ninety-five than thirteen again.”