Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

by Fannie Flagg

You know, a heart can be broken, but it keeps on beating, just the same.

No, it wasn’t death she was afraid of. It was this life of hers that was beginning to remind her of that gray intensive care waiting room.

Evelyn asked Mrs. Threadgoode if she ever got depressed. Mrs. Threadgoode answered truthfully. “No honey, I cain’t say I have been lately, I’m too busy being grateful for His blessings—why, I’ve had so many blessings I cain’t even count them. Now, don’t get me wrong, everybody’s got their sorrows, and some more than most.” “But you seem so happy, like you never had a care in the world.” Mrs. Threadgoode laughed at the thought. “Oh honey, I’ve buried my share, and each one hurt as bad as the last one. And there have been times when I’ve wondered why the good Lord handed me so many sorrowful burdens, to the point where I thought I just couldn’t stand it one more day. But He only gives you what you can handle and no more…and I’ll tell you this: You cain’t dwell on sadness, oh, it’ll make you sick faster than anything in this world.”

They just stood there, looking at each other, and in that moment Ruth wished more than anything in the world that she could just grab her and hold her as tight as she could; but if she had, she knew she would never let go. So Ruth did the hardest thing she had ever done in her life; she just turned around and left, and closed the door behind her.

You never know what’s in a person’s heart until they’re tested, do you?”

“I just wonder how many people never get the one they want, and wind up with the one they’re supposed to be with.

I’m just living from day to day. Just doing the best I can, and that’s all I can do.”

“That’s what I’m living on now, honey, dreams, dreams of what I used to do.”

‘Oh honey, it does no good to hate. It’ll do nothing but turn your heart into a bitter root. People cain’t help being what they are any more than a skunk can help being a skunk. Don’t you think if they had their choice they would rather be something else? Sure they would. People are just weak.’

“Yeah, but sometimes I just need to take off for a while. I feel like I need my freedom. You know.”

“If you cage a wild thing, you can be sure it will die, but if you let it run free, nine times out of ten it will run back home.”

But for the first time in her life, she had felt joy. Real joy.

The ones that hurt the most always say the least.