“I leaned closer to look at it, at all those empty squares that represented the days of summer ahead.”

“Still, even without the country or a lake, the summer was a fine thing, particularly when you were at the beginning of it, looking ahead into it. There would be months of beautifully long, empty days, and each other to play with, and the books from the library.”

“I spent my day as I normally spend my days: threatening suppliers, bullying those who are not in line with my expectations, and generally creating havoc in the lives of others. The square across the street is empty of all but the pigeons. I find myself resenting them.”

“He'll get what he deserves one day." Leaning even closer to me, Natalie whispers, "We all fucking will.”

“This is the definition of happiness: a whole day stretching out ahead of me, beautiful in its emptiness and simplicity.”

“A magpie, seeing some light-colored object conspicuous on the empty slope, flew closer to look. but all that lay there was a splintered peg and a twisted length of wire.”