Shiny! Quotes

“Why would I what?” Will asked, wanting another bite of his burger. “Why would you risk your job teaching some stupid fantasy book?” “Because alternative universe literature promotes critical thinking, imagination, empathy, and creative problem solving. Children who are fluent in fiction are more able to interpret nonfiction and are better at understanding things like basic cause and effect, sociology, politics, and the impact of historical events on current events. Many of our technological advances were imagined by science fiction writers before the tech became available to create them, and many of today’s inventors were inspired by science fiction and fantasy to make a world more like the world in the story. Many of today’s political conundrums were anticipated by science fiction writers like Orwell, Huxley, and Heinlein, and sci-fi and fantasy tackle ethical problems in a way that allows people to analyze the problem with some emotional remove, which is important because the high emotions are often what lead to violence. Works like Harry Potter tackle the idea of abuse of power and—” Will stopped himself and swallowed. Everybody at the table, including Kenny, was staring at him in openmouthed surprise. “Anyway,” he said before taking a monster bite of his cooling hamburger on a sudden attack of nerves, “iss goomfer umf.” “It’s good for us,” Kenny translated, sounding a little stunned”
― Amy Lane, Shiny!

“Because right now, leaning against Kenny's counter, he was fully, painfully erect, for maybe the first time in months.

He backed away and tried to think about something else - anything else. Losing his job, his mother's cat, Denise - oh, there you go. Limp as a politician's moral code.”
― Amy Lane, Shiny!

“You don't look gay," Joey said suspiciously.
Will blinked. Well, that was new. "Maybe I'm just really, really happy inside," Will responded with a bright smile.”
― Amy Lane, Shiny!

“Twenty-eight years, Kenny,” Will panted. “Twenty-eight years thinking sex was for the lucky and the brave. Then I find out I can close my eyes, think of you, and become a frickin’ god—now c’mon and make me a god!”
― Amy Lane, Shiny!

“I will always take you home,” he whispered, and Will framed his face with both hands and kissed him again.”
― Amy Lane, Shiny!

“Will, my darling, my angel, the light of my life - I'm actually relieved you're gay. You really weren't all that excited about women, and I don't like to think about you lonely."

Aw. Will's mommy loved him. Even big boys needed to know that. ....

"How long have you known?" his mom asked curiously, and he smiled and looked at the clock.
"About three hours now," he said dreamily, "Best three hours of my life."
Was it possible to hear silent laughter?

"Well then," his mother said, her voice choked, "you obviously still have things to do!"

"Well, no, I'm sort of done now-"

"I gotta go, sweetheart!" She hung up before he even had the time to tell her about the job.”
― Amy Lane, Shiny!

“You're gay!" she shrilled, and he pulled the phone away from his ear. "How in the hell do you know you're gay?"

He smiled a little to himself. It was sort of private information, but he figured he owed her a little after the last four months. "Because when I look at pictures of naked men, my penis goes off like a roman candle," he said frankly, and that was when she hung up.”
― Amy Lane, Shiny!

“Surprisingly, their next kiss generated some heat, and the next, and the next, because touching Will without heat, without tenderness, without heart, turned out to be something Kenny absolutely could not do.”
― Amy Lane, Shiny!