“That's Chinese, not Japanese”

“But you have to live in the present. You have to take the old and make it new -- that's my point.”

“I didn't like being alone. Being alone was slightly better than having to deal with people, that's all. Or so I'd convinced myself.”

“Tobin turned to Angie. "I'm such an idiot. Why didn't you remind me?"She smiled drowsily. "That you're an idiot? Okay: you're an idiot.""Oh that's great, thanks," he said. She giggled.”

“So, as a seventh grader,no, you weren't friends with people you didnt like. But sometimesyou also werent friends with people you did like, which was complicated, and which didnt make any sence if you tried to explain it. Sometimes things just changed. Thats where the sadness came in.”

“So as a seventh grader, no, you weren't friends with people you didn't like. But sometimes you also weren't friends with people you did like, which was complicated, and which didn't make any sense if you tried to explain it. Sometimes things just changed. That's where the sadness came in.”

“He leans forward seriously. "Bliss. At work and at play, let safety lead the way."Of course," I say. "Silly me."Danger never takes a vacation."That's right. Expect the unexpected."And never, never -"Yes?"He wags his finger. "Check a gas tank with a lighted flare."A laugh snorts out. "Good to know.”