“I have so much to say to you. I want to begin at the beginning, because that is what you deserve. I want to tell you everything, without leaving out a single detail. But where is the beginning? And what is everything?”

“I have so much to say to you. I want to begin at the beginning, because that is what you deserve. I want to tell you everything, without leaving out a single detail. But where is the beginning? And what is everything?”

“He asked what was wrong. "It's just that why would you have one for him and not one for my dad?" "What do you mean!" "It isn't fair." "What isn't fair!" "My dad was good. Mohammed Atta was evil." "So!" "So my dad deserves to be in there." "What makes you think it's good to be in here!" "Because it means you're biographically significant." "And why is that good!" "I want to be significant." "Nine out of ten significant people have to do with money or war!”

“I wanted to pull the thread, unravel the scarf of my silence and start again from the beginning.”

“It was late, and we were tired.We assumed there would be other nights.Anna’s breathing started to slow, but I still wanted to talk.She rolled onto her side.I said, I want to tell you something.She said, You can tell me tomorrow.I had never told her how much I loved her.She was my sister.We slept in the same bed.There was never a right time to say it.It was always unnecessary.The books in my father’s shed were sighing.The sheets were rising and falling around me with Anna’s breathing.I thought about waking her.But it was unnecessary.There would be other nights.And how can you say I love you to someone you love?I rolled on my side and fell asleep next to her.Here is the point of everything I have been trying to tell you, Oskar.It’s always necessary.”

“I said, I want to tell you something.She said, you can tell me tomorrow.I had never told her how much I loved her. She was my sister. We slept in the same bed. There was never a right time to say it. It was always unnecessary. The books in my father's shed were sighing. The sheets were rising and falling around me with Anna's breathing. I thought about waking her. But it was unnecessary. There would be other nights. And how can you say I love you to someone you love? I rolled onto my side and fell asleep next to her. Here is the point of everything I have been trying to tell you ... It's always necessary.”

“Cher Marcel,Allô. I am Oskar's mom. I have thought about it a ton, and I have decided that it isn't obvious why Oskar should go to French lessons, so he will no longer be going to go see you on Sundays like he used to. I want to thank you very much for everything you have taught Oskar, particularly the conditional tense, which is weird. Obviously, there's no need to call me when Oskar doesn't come to his lessons, because I already know, because this was my decision. Also, I will keep sending you checks, because you are a nice guy.Votre ami dévouée,Mademoiselle Schell.”