Kalahari Quotes

“She said, 'People are like stars, but it's stories that turn us into constellations. If we don't tell our stories, we burn alone in the dark.”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari

“You mean you want me to throw rocks at a bunch of monkeys in a tree in order to compete for food and prove that I, man, am the superior species? Chica,” he said, clicking his tongue, “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this my whole life.”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari

“I chanced a shy look at Sam, and found he was already staring at me. When our eyes met, we both blushed but didn’t look away. His curiosity, his energy, his wonder for the world had reawakened the part of me I was so sure I’d lost.
“What now?” he asked.
I smiled. “Next stop the pyramids?”
He grinned, and impulsively I lifted my chin and kissed him. For a moment, the warmth of that kiss drove away the pain and the horrors of the last few days. I leaned into him as much as my bandages allowed, until at last I pulled my lips away and rested my forehead against his.
“The pyramids, the North Pole, the moon,” Sam replied, his voice a bit hoarse. “Next stop anywhere, as long as you’re there.”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari

“Your mother has the mind of a genius and the eyes of a child. You won't find better than that.”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari

“Joey, like an idiot, began clucking and calling to the calf, which only startled it into motion, and it raced off to join its parents.
“Moron,” said Avani in a low voice.
“Oh, come on. What’s the matter, Canada, did they confiscate your sense of humor at the airport?”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari

“Ladies. I’m fine,” said Sam.
“Mm-hm,” said Avani, her hands on her hips. “You be sure and tell me that when you wake up in the middle of the night and pus is leaking out of your stomach and your skin’s turning green.”
He looked a bit taken aback and studied his middle more closely.
“You’ll be fine,” I said. “At least for a little while.”
“Or we could cauterize it,” said Avani, her face lighting up.
“Cauterize?” Sam echoed, looking slightly panicked. “Like, with fire?”
“Yes!” She grinned even wider. “I’ve read how to do it. I definitely could.”
“I should’ve let the sexually frustrated elephant rip my guts out,” Sam muttered. “At least it had the decency not to smile while it contemplated my murder.”
Avani rolled her eyes. “Sam, you gonna put your shirt back on? Before Sarah here starts to hyperventilate?”
Looking thoroughly chastened, Sam shrugged his shirt on. I hissed at Avani through the corner of my mouth as he walked away. “Hyperventilate?”
She shrugged and inspected her nails. “You were studying him like you were prepping for an anatomy exam.”
“I was not!”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari

“He rolled onto his side, head resting on his elbow, and he grinned suggestively at Avani. “How about it, Canada? I kinda dig the whole nerd thing. Nerd is the new hot.”
“Dream on,” said Avani, rolling her eyes.
“Why are you here?” he asked. “Is this, like, the land of your people?”
“My dad’s parents are from Kenya,” she said, her eyes narrowed. “And my mom is from Delhi.”
“Where’s that?” asked Joey. “Arkansas?”
“India, you moron.”
“Do you, like, sit down and memorize dictionaries every day?”
“No,” she said. “Only on weekends.”
Joey stared at her, looking perplexed, then suddenly his face split into a grin. “Wait a minute . . . You made a joke!”
Avani’s lips curled into a small smile.
Sam caught my eye, then traced a heart in the sand between us. My throat tightened and I blinked at it, then looked at him in alarm.
He pointed at the heart, then made an exaggerated glance from Joey to Avani, and then wiggled his eyebrows at me.”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari

“Metal and madness and mirrors, that's all that I am.”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari

“Mm!” Joey rubbed his stomach. “I love me some root juice in the morning. Enlivens the senses!”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari

“She sobbed into her hands, tears winding down her arms and dripping onto her knees. We all stared uncomfortably at our shoes, the ground, anything except Avani.
I felt someone should say something, so I said gingerly, “You probably shouldn’t cry. You need to conserve your water.”
― Jessica Khoury, Kalahari