“During the fire:'Some of the drunker ones don't move. Some of them laugh. One person says, "Where's the marshmallows?" Mark slaps him across the face. "GET OUT!" he screams.”

“During the first firing a dozen or so numbers from the dock neglected to get out of the way - nothing remained of them except some crumbs and soot.”

“You know, there are just some things you never expect to face even on this job. A flying primate that shoots fire out its nose is one of them.”

“We've got to face the fact that some people say you fight fire best with fire, but we say you put fire out best with water. We say you don't fight racism with racism. We're gonna fight racism with solidarity.”

“If it weren’t for public transportation,” Sam said, “my brother wouldn’t be getting married today. He and Maggie fell in love along the ferry routefrom Bellingham to Anacortes … which brings to mind the old saying that life is a journey. Some people have a natural sense of direction. You couldput them in the middle of a foreign country and they could find their way around. My brother is not one of those people.” Sam paused as some of theguests started laughing, and his older brother gave him a mock-warning glance. “So when Mark by some miracle manages to end up where he wassupposed to be, it’s a nice surprise for everyone, including Mark.” More laughter from the crowd. “Somehow, even with all the roadblocks anddetours and one-way streets, Mark managed to find his way to Maggie.” Sam raised his glass. “To Mark and Maggie’s journey together. And toHolly, who is loved more than any girl in the whole wide world.”

“It's often said that a traumatic experience early in life marks a person forever, pulls her out of line, saying, "Stay there. Don't move.”