“His skin is black as a struck match, cracked and oozing liquid metal heat, like he's covered by a cooling layer of lava. The eyes stand out bright white. I can't make out from this distance if they have corneas. God I hope they have corneas. I hate that creepy weird-eye shit.”

“I was having a little vision problem.”“Oh no.” Creigh leaned in closer to him and peered intentlyinto his eyes, as if her supermom powers could see rightthrough his corneas and to the issue at hand. “What‟s wrong?” “I couldn‟t see myself going to work today.”

“And I can't die easy thinking maybe the menfolks white or black is making a spit cup out of you. Have some sympathy for me. Put me down easy, Janie, I'm a cracked plate.”

“I am left alone with the beautiful dark coal black eyes, pale white skin, dark wavy hair man and I CAN'T BREATHE!”

“Back then I was still appalled that God would set down his barefoot boy and girl dollies into an Eden where, presumably, He had just turned loose elephantiasis and microbes that eat the human cornea. Now I understand, God is not just rooting for the dollies.”

“I sort of like you," she said. "God knows why. You're weird as anything, and I hate the creepy way you lurk around following me. You could just ask me to go somewhere, you know.""Like you'd go." Dion said."Not if I didn't want to.""Then I'd have to try.""What?" She looked him sharply in the eye."To make you want to.”