From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler

by E.L. Konigsburg

She was the oldest child and the only girl and was subject to a lot of injustice. Perhaps it was because she had to both empty the dishwasher and set the table on the same night while her brothers got out of everything.

Claudia loved the city because it was elegant; it was important; and busy.

His first instruction was to forget his homework; get ready for the trip instead.

Claudia appointed him treasurer; he would not only hold all the money, he would also keep track of it and pass judgment on all expenditures.

And his money and radio were not the only reasons. Manhattan called for the courage of at least two Kincaids.

If you think of doing something in New York City, you can be certain that at least two thousand other people have that same thought.

Both Jamie and Claudia had acquired a talent for being near but never part of a group. (Some people, Saxonberg, never learn to do that all their lives, and some learn it all too well.)

Some people spend all their time on a vacation taking pictures so that when they get home they can show their friends evidence that they had a good time. They don’t pause to let the vacation enter inside of them and take that home.”

“Boloney, boloney! That’s it, Jamie. She bought Angel in Bologna, Italy. The paper said so. Look up Bologna.” Both ran back to the files and pulled out a file folder fat with papers and documents. It was labeled: BOLOGNA, ITALY.

Happiness is excitement that has found a settling down place, but there is always a little corner that keeps flapping around.

I think you should learn, of course, and some days you must learn a great deal. But you should also have days when you allow what is already in you to swell up inside of you until it touches everything. And you can feel it inside you. If you never take time out to let that happen, then you just accumulate facts, and they begin to rattle around inside of you. You can make noise with them, but never really feel anything with them. It’s hollow.”