Better with Butter Quotes

“The whole class is counting on you. They voted for you and Butter,” Addie says. “They voted for Butter.” I bite on my lip, thinking. Most likely, no one really cares about my participation, except for Principal Huxx, and I have that worked out. If I can train Butter to follow someone else’s commands, then they won’t need me. Addie smiles. She thinks I’m going to crack. She doesn’t know who she’s dealing with. I’m a pro at manipulating technicalities. I have to be. Otherwise, I’d never survive my anxiety. “Have Mercedes cast Theo as Peter, and I’ll train him to work with Butter.” “But it’s your part.” “I don’t want it. I’m supposed to get a small one. Something tiny.” I hold two of my fingers a millimeter apart and show them to Addie so she knows exactly what I mean by tiny. “Give”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“chatter.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“If you decide not to, let it be for something else. Don’t let it be because you were afraid to try.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“You have to feel it all. Without feeling the bad, you close yourself off to the good—the joy, the excitement, the wonder. You have to let it all flow through you. You can’t bottle up the bad and think the good will somehow get in.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“the hard stuff has a way of catching up with us whether we want it to or not.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“Dad holds my face in his hands and kisses my forehead. “This is life, Marvel. Not everything has to be perfect all the time and neither do you.” His words are such a relief that a fresh flood of tears falls from my eyes. I bury my head in his shoulder, and he rubs my back. I hang on to him, not wanting to let go. Butter pushes her nose between Dad and me, making us both laugh a little bit. Dad gives Butter a pat, then asks Mr. J, “Do you think we could talk privately?” “Of course.” Dad and Mr. J leave to talk while I wait with Butter. I pull her in my lap and hug her close, smushing my face into her fur, terrified I’m going to have to get rid of her after what I did. After a few minutes, Mr. J and Dad come back with Principal Huxx. I know it’s time to hear the consequences of my actions, and my heart thuds with dread.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“I’m excited to go to school.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“Frosty the Snowman”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“Butter”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“Mr. J smiles. “Yes, I do.” He scribbles a note on his letterhead”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“The wheels in my brain start spinning,”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“therapy pig.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“Goth Girl”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“IS THAT A FAINTING GOAT?” Apparently Goth Girl has only one volume setting. Extra loud.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“OH! MY! GOSH! THE CUTEST”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“SOOOO frustrating.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“YouTube.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“phone”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“Theo says, “leave her alone.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“requirement for all sixth graders,” Principal Huxx finishes firmly.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“We’re not hurting the stupid thing. It’s a fainting goat, blockhead. That’s what it’s supposed to do,” Jamie says.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“My costume is a baggy sweater, old jeans, and a gray wig. Not exactly an attention grabber. Grandma Prisbrey’s actually pretty cool once you read about her, but I know I won’t get the same oohs and aahs and head-snapping attention as Addie Lucas. She chose Mrs. Fields and got special permission to pass out homemade chocolate chip cookies.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“I chose Grandma Prisbrey, an old lady who built a village out of recycled garbage in the seventies before upcycling was cool, so I figured no one would care enough about my Californian to really pay attention to me.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter

“Mom and Dad (and the school therapist) call my worries an anxiety disorder, but I call them armor.”
― Victoria Piontek, Better With Butter