“But they wrote like little old men and little old ladies, all purseymouthed and ooo, don't slip on that icy patch, Mildred.”

“Because who would ever want to get close to another person if they knew how hard the letting-go part was? In your heart they only die a little at a time, don't they? Like a plant when you go away on a trip and forget to ask a neighbor to poke in once in awhile with the old watering-can, and its so sad—”

“Hey, Trash, what did old lady Semple say when you torched her pension check?”

“I don't want Church to be like all those dead pets! she burst out, suddenly tearful and furious. I don't want Church to ever be dead! He's my cat! He's not God's cat! Let God have all the damn old cats He wants, and kill them all! Church is mine!”

“I’ll be back as quick as I can,” I said awkwardly.“Sure.”“Stay cool.”“Don’t worry, I’m not going to punch anybody.”I trotted to my car. As I slipped behind the wheel I heard the little girl ask Arnie loudly, “Why is your face all messy like that, mister?”

“We're like old acquaintances on trains going in different directions.”

“Allie sighed. It was an old, yellow sound, like turning pages.”