Everyday Hero Quotes

“Epilogue”
― Kathleen Cherry, Everyday Hero

“A hero?” I said in wonder. I had not thought I could be a hero. Just like I had not thought I could be a friend. I smiled, aware of a tingling, bubbling feeling in my body. I remembered going around and around on the carousel and how my chest had felt warm and full and fluttery. “But are heroes average in type, appearance, achievement, function and development?” I asked. “Huh?” “Is a hero average in type, appearance, achievement, function and development?” I repeated. “Heroes are not average. That’s what makes them special.” Megan looked at me. “You okay?” “Yes,” I said, even though I usually do not like questions. “Yes, definitely. I am…okay.”
― Kathleen Cherry, Everyday Hero

“Come on, move it,” someone said behind me. I felt hands on my back. I hate being touched. The crowd moved forward, propelling me through two wide doors and into the terminal. This was worse. The waiting room was smaller, more crowded, and the smell of smoke, onions and French fries was stronger. Harsh fluorescent lights hurt my eyes, and sounds bounced off the low ceilings, so loud they struck me with physical force. I saw a corner approximately ten feet away. I pushed through the crowd, holding my breath so that I would not inhale the air. At last I reached the corner. I squashed”
― Kathleen Cherry, Everyday Hero

“You swore,” I said. “Yeah, yeah. I’m sorry.” “Swearing is against the rules,” I said. I stopped. I stared at the TV. I stared at Don Cherry, who wore a scarlet coat embroidered with flowers. Dad’s swearing made me remember his earlier conversation, when he had used swearwords on the phone. “You swore on the phone,” I said. “What?” “Today,” I said. I remembered his words, and I realized something else. “You lied too.” “Huh?” “You said I didn’t need a special program and that I had never had an assessment. But I have been assessed. I have had an assessment.” “Alice,” Dad said. “Look. Sometimes adults—they have to tell—well—it wasn’t a lie, exactly.” I turned away from the TV and Don Cherry and his scarlet coat. “Who?” “What?” “Who were you talking to on the phone?” “I—” “Because—you did. You lied.”
― Kathleen Cherry, Everyday Hero

“I walked out of my room. I turned on the tap. The water splattered as I filled up my water glass. I took a drink and went into the living room. “Yeah!” Dad shouted at the TV. The Canucks had scored. “Do you lie?” I asked. “Huh?” “Do you lie?” “What’s with all the questions tonight?” “Megan says all adults lie.” Dad swore. “That girl has problems.”
― Kathleen Cherry, Everyday Hero

“She’s not. Maybe she and your dad had a fight.”
― Kathleen Cherry, Everyday Hero

“But I would also tell them that I was a friend and I was a hero.

I would tell them that I was not average in type, appearance, achievement, function and development.

But then, being average is highly overrated.

And, average or not, I was okay.

Totally, completely and absolutely okay.”
― Kathleen Cherry, Everyday Hero

“Your whole life is a great deed. You're always doing things even when you've freaked.”
― Kathleen Cherry, Everyday Hero