Beatrix

“Being somewhere but not completely: that was home for Danny, and it sure as hell was easier to land than a decent apartment. All he needed was a cell phone, or I-access, or both at once, or even just a plan to leave wherever he was and go someplace else really really soon. Being in one place and thinking about another place could make him feel at home.”
― Jennifer Egan, The Keep

“She said she was breaking up with me because I didn't know how to express my emotions. The thing is, I didn't have that many. As far as I was concerned, it was pretty simple. I was in love with her and I liked our life and we laughed a lot and it felt so good to be in bed with her and have her touching me. I liked what we had.”
― M.J. Hyland, This Is How

“You are driving home.
You listen to ‘Tongue Tied’ by Grouplove.
Someone side-swipes the Ferrari.
You almost strike three pedestrians and crash into a Dunkin’ Donuts.
This is somewhere near the Brooklyn Bridge and you find out—later—the lady who hit you, she died.
She was old.
“Wasn’t wearing her glasses,” someone on the street says.
“She was basically driving blind,” the police officer says. “I’m surprised this didn’t happen earlier.”
An EMT examines you.
You try and act normal.
“Am I hurt?” you ask.
“You’re not hurt,” the EMT says.
You talk to the cops.
“Am I in trouble?” you ask.
“You’re not in trouble,” a young cop says.
You freak out a little.
You can smell pomade in your sweat.
“Everything is under control,” someone says—another police officer.
You freak out some more.”
― Mike Kleine, Mastodon Farm

“Practise your confidence tricks on the street and you risk getting shot by trigger-happy security guards; do it in the office and you get put on the board.”
― James Scudamore, Heliopolis