“The two circled around the back of the house, making sure that nobody saw them. Once inside, they found Patrick right where they had left him, sitting in front of Mark's computer. The only difference was that he was surrounded by bags of Doritos and cans of Mountain Dew. He looked up at them with wild eyes.You okay?" Courtney asked. I'm fantastic!" Patrick exclaimed. "This sugary drink is incredible!"Swell," Courtney remarked sarcastically. "He's wired on Dew.”

“Courtney came over to me and touched my cheek. I winced. It hurt.You look like hell," Courtney said.I shrugged.She looked at Saint Dane, then back at me. "He looks worse." She smiled. "Awesome.”

“With Catty and Patrick's images in he side mirror waving from the steps of that house like Jethro and Ellie Mae, it occurred to me that something extraordinary had happened. I had effortlessly found a place of acceptance -- a place where people had taken me for me, not for what I could give them -- and I had left it.”

“I love you Mark..." Courtney, PoR.I love you too Courtney..." Mark, PoR.”

“Courtney leans into Andrea, buries her face in Andrea’s shoulder. Andrea pats her daughter’s back. Courtney blubbers. Courtney sobs. Courtney wails. It is the best thing that has happened in months.”

“My father looked like he was having a stroke— notthat Mel seemed to notice because he just kept talking.“Patrick needs a ride. No car, you know, and so I figured,hey, I can pick up some gas money.” He laughed. No oneelse did, and now Patrick looked like he was trying topush himself inside the door and hide.”