“Dale's family is like that. Let the Law come within twenty yards of them, and every male over the age of six--uncles, brother, father, cousins--starts lying his fool head off. Dale says it's genetic. Miss Lana says that's poppycock.”

“Dale can choose not to worry like he chooses not to wear socks.”

“You what?" Dale yelped, looking like I'd handed him something dead. "You ain't writing during summer vacation, are you? I'm pretty sure that's against the rules.”

“Dale can't tolerate other people throwing up. He gets what's known as the Synchronized Heaves.”

“There's no limit to what some people will say, and what others will believe.”

“The Colonel says all attorneys should be named for blood sucking insects so we know up front who we are dealing with.”

“For me, it was a Gold Star day. I'd identified an enemy, and I'd made a life decision: I might come home tore up from fighting or late from being punished, but I'd never come home crying. So far, I ain't.”