“The Cinderella story in reverse. I only wish there were ashes in the fireplace so I could order you to sweep them out.”
“I thought my fireplace dead and stirred the ashes. I burned my fingers.”
“I wish success could be ordered like delivery pizza, because I’d order take out.”
“Sometimes I wish they'd ask for my wisdom more often - there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they don't want change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable - so painless. It's what they've chosen.”
“Snowflakes of ash fell so lovelily you were tempted to stretch out your tongue to catch them, taste them. Only, they would have scorched your lips. They would have cooked your mouth.”
“Oh, I'm burning! I wish I were out of doors! I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free... and laughing at injuries, not maddening under them! Why am I so changed?”