“I thought I'd pay you a visit, my dear. Since you're so interesting."My mouth shifted into high gear, leaving my brain behind. "You know, you're the second guy in a few days to call me that. You should be more creative.”

“You should always know when you're shifting gears in life. You should leave your era; it should never leave you.”

“My dear, you are a mathematician. You're even more, you're a philosopher of mathematics. So do this for me: Tell me the final number.”

“You know who you should ask about this? My pal Ray, who works with me. He could tell you all about this." Lily's dad nodded. "Except he was taken out of the office a few days ago with his hands tied behind his back and a bandanna tied as a gag on his mouth." Her father thought for a second. "Huh. He hasn't been in to work since. I wonder if he has the flu.”

“You're good for me," I say. "The light to my shade.""Then you're the night to my day. A person needs both, you know.”

“Good. Now the first thing you do is press in the clutch and slide the gear into reverse."She placed his hand on the gear shift in the center of her car, and showed him how to move it up and down."You know, you really shouldn't fondle that in front of me, Grace. It's cruel.""Julian! Do you mind? I'm only trying to show you how to shift my gears."He snorted. "I wish you'd shift my gears like that.”