“This was it. Together. Forever. As we left it all behind, the sun warmed my back, lighting the way before us. I knew of no better omen.”

Or, if you decide you want to sleep at my place, on opposite sides of my bedroom with a do not cross line drawn down the middle, i’ll do it. I won’t like it, but i’ll do it.

I love you more than i think i should.

The guy i’ve got my eye on happens to be hot. Off-the-charts hot. Hotter-than-patch hot.’ she paused. ‘well maybe not that hot. Nobody’s that hot.

I needed him like i’d never needed anyone.

You smell good, too, said patchit’s called a shower. I was staring straight ahead. When he didn’t answer, i turned sideways. Soap. Shampoo. Hot water.Naked. I know the drill.

He tasted deeper, holding himself over me, and suddenly he was everywhere; his knee trapping my leg, his lips grazing warm, rough, sensuous. He splayed his hand at the small of my back, holding me tightly, driving me to sink my fingers deeper into him, clinging to him as if letting go would mean losing part of myself.

The archangel.” i murmured. Looking back over my shoulder at the ride, which had started its next ascent. “it means high-ranking angel.” there was a definite smugness to his voice. “the higher up, the harder the fall.

Let me show you, he said in my ear. Like this. Feel that? Relax. Now pivot your hipsits all in the hips.

Are you defending marcie? He shook his head. I dont need to. She handled herself. You, on the other hand i pointed at the door. Out.

Did i really want to stay on this road longer, knowing it was only going to end in devastation?

The subjects pulse increased on contact, he said. Dont write that.

Vee: and i’m not going to let you sit at home all afternoon with your sour face on. Nora: i don’t have a sour face. Vee: yes, you do. And you’re wearing it right now. Nora: this is my annoyed face. You woke me up at six in the morning!

I could get you to smile like that, and without sales tax.

My legs are falling asleep, i blurted. It wasnt a total lie. I was experiencing tingling sensations all through my body, legs included. I could solve that. Patchs hands closed on my hips.

Any happiness, no matter how brief, seemed better than the long, simmering torture of waking up day after day, knowing i could never have him.

That’s really eco-friendly of you,” vee told marcie. “recycling nora’s old trash.

One of the simple but genuine pleasures in life is getting up in the morning and hurrying to a mousetrap you set the night before.

Before you get married you should meet your fiance’s parents. It is not enough that you like his parole officer.

Long before many of us were even conscious of our own degradation, these men [Marcus Garvey and W. E. B. DuBois] fought for African national and racial equality.

If your husband wants to lick the beaters on the mixer, shut them off before you give them to him.

Photographers stop photographing a subject too soon before they have exhausted the possibilities.

Be generous before you are just. Do not temper mercy with justice.

Compare the cinema with theatre. Both are dramatic arts. Theatre brings actors before a public and every night during the season they re-enact the same drama.

I’ve been told to be skinny before – it’s already happened, but it’s up to you to either listen or say no. I’m not listening.