“The little Durands were there, I conclude," said she, "with their mouths open to catch the music; like unfledged sparrows ready to be fed. They never miss a concert.”

“Wait a minute,” Sandra said, sounding skeptical. “You were really stuck?”Things were starting to get worse.Her mouth dropped open and she began to laugh—the kind of laugh that would have been music to his ears if she were laughing with him and not at him.Things were definitely worse.”

“I never liked writing concluding paragraphs to papers - where you repeat what you've already said with phrases like 'In summation', and 'To conclude'.”

“Shiny musical instruments wailed, their mouths open like lilies.”

“I stood up and kissed the top of Beth’s head. “You ready, bro?”“I’ve been waiting for you to catch up, man.” Isaiah opened the front door, his eyes cold and deadly. Beth’s one good eye widened. “No,” she whispered. “I ain’t bailing you boys out,” said Dale.“Never asked you to,” I said and walked for the door.”

“it's a little girl named anna, and she doesn't know if she's ready to say good-bye to a father she's never really said hello to.”