The One and Only Bob

by Katherine Applegate

humans meant the possibility of living, just as much as they meant the possibility of dying.

There are so many ways the world can find to fail you.

Students of stink.

Then I head to the bathroom for a good, long drink from the water bowl of power.

Humans love it when we get silly. I think they’re so weighed down by people problems that sometimes they need to be reminded what happy looks like.

Peeing without a potential audience is like talking to yourself.

homework, which smells like frustration with a hint of eraser.

I hate that I’m not the guy my friends think I am.

There’s a certain freedom that comes with owning your faults.

“All I know is, I’ve done lots of bad stuff in my life, Bob. I’ve had to forgive myself plenty, just, you know, to get through the day.” Boss gazes at me with her wise, weary eyes. “And I figure if I’m going to forgive myself, I’d better be ready to cut everyone else some slack, too.”

It’s exhausting, all this responsibility, this worry. This love.