“Life goes on,” she says, like a dare.”

“Your family should be there. Your family should always be there. What does it say about you if they aren't?”

“This is the saddest place on Earth," I say."Take it from a rat, kid--there are lots of saddest places on Earth.”

“We have a piano in this house that exists solely for the purpose of supporting her photograph.”

“Fate is a bitch, but there you go.”

“I hate it hen people I love refuse to speak to me.”

“The stupidity of a well-placed "dude" can really defuse a situation”