“As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved in her laughter and being part of it, until her teeth were only accidental stars with a talent for squad-drill.”

“she laughed I was aware of becoming involvedin her laughter and being part of it, until herteeth were only accidental stars with a talentfor squad-drill. I was drawn in by short gasps,inhaled at each momentary recovery, lost finallyin the dark caverns of her throat, bruised bythe ripple of unseen muscles. An elderly waiterwith trembling hands was hurriedly spreadinga pink and white checked cloth over the rustygreen iron table, saying: "If the lady andgentleman wish to take their tea in the garden,if the lady and gentleman wish to take theirtea in the garden ..." I decided that if theshaking of her breasts could be stopped, some ofthe fragments of the afternoon might be collected,and I concentrated my attention with carefulsubtlety to this end.”

“He leaned down until his lips brushed her ear. “I told you to stop flinching.” And then he bit her. A slow, painless nip but there were definitely teeth involved.”

“She laughs, and her laughter is rich and full, deeper and bolder than her speaking voice. I want to wrap myself in her laugh and wear it as a scarf.”

“Most of all, I remember her laughing. It filled my ears. Her smile, her sparkling eyes, and her infectious laughter, along with the vistas, were limitless and unending and powerful.”

“As Isabel acted out her date, both of them laughing, I stayed in the kitchen, out of sight, and pretended she was telling me, too. And that, for once, I was part of this hidden language of laughter and silliness and girls that was, somehow, friendship.”