Kristin Johnson’s Reviews > Sweet Cider > Status Update

I just finished Bad Apple 1: Sweet Cider and gave it 5 stars.

“I’ll just shoot him in the leg and then I can say what he said to me. ‘You’ll never walk normal again.’” “Don’t ruin your life over him,” Emily said from behind me.

“You wouldn’t shoot me, you don’t have what it takes.” I leveled the shotgun at him. “You’re a gambling man. Would you bet your life on it?” “Yeah. There are two kinds of people in the world. Victims and victors. You’re not a victor.”

“Janie must be flipping out.” “She did and they took her to the hospital.” “Good. Maybe they’ll help her this time,” I said without thinking. “That sounded mean, didn’t it?” “It seems to me that if she had done a little more mothering instead of being so self-involved, none of us would be in this position tonight,” Truly replied.

“Your entire childhood must have been a nightmare for you. I keep telling you the bad part’s over, and I feel like I’m lying.” “Not lying. You’re just mistaken because nothing in your past could prepare you for them.” Truly put his arms around me. “Joe will have to go through me to get to you.” “God, don’t say that.”

“It’s a story arc. Yes, I agree, it starts out badly but by the end there’s all the hope in the world.” “Hope is a frail foundation to base a life on.” “It may be, but it got me here.”

“Is the point that you don’t close out a day with a problem?” “Yes. Should we be expecting a conference tonight?” “No.” “You’re braver than I thought you would be.” I smiled. “You don’t survive the Kents by being a coward.”

“I’m used to living in a state of perpetual dread. The expectation of something awful happening is always present.” “What would be awful for you tonight?” The glider creaked back and forth, as the springs made their metallic chirp. “Waiting.” “The bad things are nameless and formless. You’re always blindsided by them. You never know what they’re going to be.”

I grabbed Shannon’s arm. “Do not go back for any reason.” “What about Mom?” I wanted to slap some sense into her. “Mom isn’t going to protect you now when she never did before. Save your life or you’ll wind up with the kittens.”

Emily put her arm around me. “Are you happy?” “Very.” It was a surprise to me that I could say that without thinking. “So am I.”