“Bubba said something about Willowdean having a stalker,” Miz Demetrice said.“A stalker?” Aunt Caressa repeated as if she was unfamiliar with the word.“You know, someone who follows you around, sends you cards, dead flowers, and turns up unwanted,” Miz Demetrice said. “Oh, you mean kind of like a Republican,” Aunt Caressa Concluded.”

“My, I was scared!" Said Billy with a deep breath.Scared?" Questioned Elnora.Yes, sir-ee! Aunt Margaret scared me. May i ask you a question?"Of course, you may!"Is that man going to be you beau?"Billy! No! What made you think such a thing?"Aunt Margaret said likely he would fall in love with you, and you wouldn't want me around any more. Oh, but I was scared! It isn't so, is it?"Indeed, no!"I am your beau, ain't I?"Surely you are!" said Elnora, tightening her arm.I hope Aunt Kate has ginger cookies," said Billy with a little skip of delight.”

“He said someday I would come home and regret ever leaving."She murmured something, perhaps her own remembrance of a place lost. "Do you?" she said after some time."Yes . . . I mean to say, no," he corrected. "Oh, bother, I don't know.""Don't fret over it. You can't get back the time you've lived, and all you have is what is before you," she said sagely."Egads, I find myself betrothed to a bluestocking," he teased. "Who was that, Aristotle?"She laughed. "No, Aunt Bedelia.”

“Oh Cecelia, you would have loved my grandmother, Miz Goodpepper said, dunking a cookie into her wine. She was so alive and full of original ideas, especially for that era. While other women were busy being proper, she was busy cultivating her spirit.”

“A cold dismay creeps over me. Oh okay, maybe I did once kind of pretend I had a stalker. Which I shouldn't have done. But I mean, just because you invent one tiny stalker - that doesn't make you a complete nut case, does it?”

“The door opened."We're here," said Mrs. Rogers.Aunt Myra came in."Now!" said Amelia Bedelia."Greetings, greetings, greetings,"said the three children."What's that about?" said Mrs. Rogers."You said to greet Aunt Myra with Carols," said Amelia Bedelia."Here's Carol Lee, Carol Green, and Carol Lake.""What lovely Carols," said Aunt Myra."Thank you.”