“ Suddenly, the double doors of the parlor whooshed open. A large fleshy woman stood before me in full regalia. Her eyes were all made up, earrings and bracelets jangling. The sign in the window said Mi… Clare Vanderpool
“ You're right," Early said. "Those are two different things.""What are?", I asked, surprised that he thought I was right about ANYTHING."Dying and sleeping. A person should be able to do one without th… Clare Vanderpool
“ As the ocean tugged me at my feet, i realized that Early Auden, that strangest of boys, had saved me from being swept away. Clare Vanderpool
“ What would you rather be, Jackie? Angry mad or crazy mad? I think I'd rather be crazy mad, because you can be crazy and still happy. Clare Vanderpool
“ But my mom shook her head at him and said to me, "Yes, you made your bed, but for heaven's sakes, don't just lie in it! Clare Vanderpool
“ And in the background of Early's story was her voice. Her soul. Her sadness and longing. Because when it's raining, it's always Billie Holiday. p. 81 Clare Vanderpool
“ We’d all agreed that we’d outgrown jumping rope, but Shady had given me such a nice gift of a skipping rope, and when there’s nothing better to do, I guess you go back to what once felt good. Clare Vanderpool
“ My mother was like sand. The kind that warms you on a beach when you come shivering out of the cold water. The kind that clings to your body, leaving its impression on your skin to remind you where yo… Clare Vanderpool
“ If there is such a thing as a universal--and I wasn't ready to throw all of mine out the window--it's that there is power in a story. And if someone pays you such a kindness as to make up a tale so yo… Clare Vanderpool
“ Eustasia Johannsen was ready. Anyone could see that. Everything about her ancient self gave evidence to it: Her skin, wrinkled and transparent... But mainly, it was her eyes. They were drawn into her… Clare Vanderpool
“ Maybe that was how I found comfort just then, even with him being so far away. By remembering the flavor of his words. Clare Vanderpool
