“Oh, Papa. My heart’s broke.”

“Oh Papa. I always felt like I had a hold on things when there was Papa to turn to.”

“Things started to fall apart at home when my brother, Jaja, did not go to communion and Papa flung his heavy missal across the room and broke the figurines on the etagere.(Opening page, 3)”

“Oh, for heaven's sake, Harper, I didn't just pee on the floor. My water broke.''What water?' He blinked, then went pale as a corpse. 'That water. Oh, God. Oh, Jesus. Oh, shit. Sit. Sit, or... I'll get-'An ambulance. The marines.'My mother.”

“. “Manman tells papa, you cannot let them kill somebody just because you are afraid. Papa says, oh yes, you can let them kill somebody because you are afraid. They are the law. It is their right.”

“‎"It almost felt like the dolphin of my heart’s desire playing in the ocean of my life." - on writing”