“I held it over my heart. Mrs. Worth smiled. "That's where a book should be carried.”

“She stamped the book and gave it to me. "You bring it back in three weeks."I held it over my heart. Mrs. Worth smiled. "That's where a book should be carried.”

“But through it all I held Mrs. Pettibone's words in my heart-the ones she spoke to me after the funeral when she took my hand, looked into my face and said, "You've got your father's eyes.”

“Wes held my hand in front of Dad, who played it real easy, like I had boys around all the time. JoAnn said I was lucky, and she should know. Her father specialized in fear, being a life insurance salesman, and could bring a boy to his knees.”

“But then Macon smiled at me. "Just be yourself, Foster. That's the best thing in the world.”

“When you can carry five full dinner platters on your left arm, you should be able to vote, even if you're not eighteen.”

“I had expected the well to be full for some reason.Not that it had ever been before.I kept looking for signs of water in the dark insides.I heard my bucket clank as it hitAgainst the walls that held nothing.I look at the bucket that came up emptyAnd made a decision that changed my life.I will keep my bucket and find another well.”