“There are things I want in life - things I need, things I mean to do,' Olivia went on. 'I just don't know what they are.”

“As long as a man has two hands and a strong back, he can make things happen. It's no good being fearful. Worry won't change the future a whit, and it misses the joy of this glad day.”

“What would Jesus do with this gift of writing, this God-given love of writing? What would He write?”

“You've made a god of your fear and jealousy, Sister. For what is a god but what we go to again and again?”

“No, Mo," Miss Watkins said, turning to Nesta who was crying with laughter. "Nesta Williams, seeing as you clearly find it so funny. What do you think the name of God might be?""Er, not sure," said Nesta, looking caught out. "What do you think?""I don't think," said Miss Watkins."I know.""I don't think I know either," giggled Nesta. The whole class got detention, but it was worth it. I felt like i'd spent the whole morning laughing my head offWe never did get to know what God's name was.”

“I can’t just open myself up the way some people can. And down here, you’re raised a certain way. You’re taught to keep some things private, family matters especially. It’s just the way it’s done.""Everyone worships the past but no one really wants to talk about it.”

“Personally I thought you had to go into something like this with your eyes closed. If you thought about it too much you’d almost certainly not do it because there were just too many reasons not to. Rather the only thing to do was jump in and then take a peek at where you’d landed.”