The Last House on Needless Street

by Catriona Ward

I judge people two ways—on how they treat animals, and on what they like to eat. If their favorite food is some kind of salad, they are definitely a bad person. Anything with cheese, they are probably OK.

Recording stuff is the bug man’s idea. He told me to keep a “feelings diary.” Those words make me feel alarmed. He made it sound simple. Talk about what happens and how it affects you. Well, that’s out of the question.

Killing things is hard, sure, but keeping them safe and alive is much more difficult. Oh boy, do I know about that.

Everything in life is a rehearsal for loss. Only the smart people know it.”

Breaking me, then mending me, over and over—that was my mother.

You are supposed to add lemon juice but people who like lemon juice are the same kind of people who love salad. I won’t have it in the house.