“Laughing, I stood up and got her a Coke from the fridge. When I handed it to her, Raven stared at my flat belly then leaned her face against it. Youre so lucky, she whispered. Your mommy will make ...”

“Say youre beautiful, I whispered, stroking her. Im beautiful. Good, I murmured, kissing her jaw then moving south. Say it again.”

“Where did you get your tat? Aarons shop. You want to get a tat? he asked, grinning as if this was hilarious. I have one, I said, rolling the ball into the gutter. Its not finished though. How come?...”

“Say you’re beautiful,” I whispered, stroking her. “I’m beautiful.” “Good,” I murmured, kissing her jaw then moving south. “Say it again.”

“I cant believe Ive missed this sport. Its all about fingering holes and caressing balls.”

“People get stuck a lot because they're afraid to act; in the worst case,...we get so attached to some end result that we can't function. We need help just to move on, only life doesn't wait.”

“Part of the art of bowling spin is to make the batsman think something special is happening when it isn't.”

“He shook his head in wonder. "You are magnificent.""I keep telling everyone that," she said with a nonchalant shrug, "But you seem to be the only one to believe me.”

“For a long moment the butler sat in silence, his jaw hanging open. I . . . my lord, I simply don't feel qualified to advise you about such matters.Don't tell me that, Saint protested. Tell me wheth...”

“He was still thoughtful. 'Do you think any of us ever really knows anyone?' 'Philosophy, Lord Dryden? And yet it's daylight and everyone is still sober.”

“Rise with the lark and with the lark to bed.”

“Hail to thee blithe Spirit! Bird thou never wert That from Heaven or near it Pourest thy full heart In profuse strains of unpremeditated art.”

“Rise with the lark and with the lark to bed.”