What the Fireflies Knew Quotes

“All these words that other people use to label us, to decide who we are, who we gon’ be.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“It’s like I’m standing in a field full of fireflies, struggling to catch ’em all, when really, I just gotta slow down and catch one.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Our children don’t have to make the same mistakes we did.” Granddaddy speaks, calm. “Let ’em decide who to be for themselves.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“A daddy hug is something special that you don’t even know you need.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Sometimes, when you wanna speed up, you gotta slow down first.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“When we lose someone we love, it’s easy to just pretend they was never there. To try and make it easier. But it don’t work,”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Sometimes you gotta give up something you want to get something you need.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my family, it’s that when you hurt, you gotta ignore it and pretend it don’t exist; otherwise it’ll swallow you whole.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“In life, we’re going to get hurt. If we stay focused on that hurt, and nothing else, then we won’t ever be able to heal. But if we focus on the healing, well, then we’ll start to notice that hurt disappear. It’s all a matter of what you choose to focus on.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“It’s one of my favorite things, watching, cause it’s how I learn the stuff people don’t want me to know.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Momma always smiles, even in the bad times. Her smile is like a gigantic, dripping ice cream cone, after I stuff my belly full with dinner. Even with a stomachache, I want that smile.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“all a matter of what you choose to focus on.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“In life, we’re going to get hurt. If we stay focused on that hurt, and nothing else, then we won’t ever be able to heal. But if we focus on the healing, well, then we’ll start to notice that hurt disappear. It’s”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Granddaddy speaks, calm. “Let ’em decide who to be for themselves”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Our children don’t have to make the same mistakes we did.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“You gotta fill that hole with the memories, else you might lose ’em for good.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“cause they was there. And now you got a big ol’ hole where that person used to be.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Or maybe it did happen, cause God needed me to know happy just one time, so I would really feel it when He took it away.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Lansing is like staying up late on a school night, them times when Momma and Daddy would get in a fight.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“One day you gon’ realize, the truth ain’t always somethin’ good. And all them secrets—they there for a reason.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Cause sometimes it’s worth it to give something so you can get something. The first lesson I ever learned from Daddy.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Thank you,” I reply with a big grin. “What did you draw?” I point to the mystery picture that’s either a deformed doll or a wild animal. “It’s you.” She says it so sweet that I almost forget to be insulted. Almost. I look back down at the picture, at the too-big lips, thick nose, and nappy hair. Is this how I look to her? I force myself to smile cause I don’t want her to feel bad.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“I shrug. Truth is, Daddy never made us do much cleaning around the house. Whenever he was home, Daddy would do all the cleaning. He was the only person I ever saw who loved cleaning like it was something fun to do. He would always start by turning on music, and the music would always match his mood. When he was in a good mood, Michael Jackson or Prince would blare from the little CD player on top of the fridge, and Daddy would twirl around in the kitchen with his broom, trying out all his best moves on his favorite girls.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“get that Momma is sad, but her sad is so big that it takes away from other people. Sometimes it feels like Momma’s grief for Daddy keeps me from having my own grief for Daddy. I bet it’s hard to lose a husband, but it’s hard to lose a daddy, too. I guess she don’t get that, though, cause her daddy been right here this whole time, and she barely even sees him.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Daddy’s gone, Momma’s gone. Nia’s still here, but she might as well be gone, too.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“I ain’t scared of the dark, but the dark here feels different, like it’s wrapping my whole body in a hug that’s too tight. In my head, I count the piercing cricket chirps. I wanna fall asleep, so I count and count. Seventy-six, then I’m sleep.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Don’t be such a baby, KB. Momma ain’t coming back.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“And all grown-ups do is lie to me and treat me like a kid.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“Once I thought back to that movie, I figured out what the smell was, and what Daddy was doin’ on them stairs, and how Daddy died. At least I think I know, cause I ain’t ever ask nobody. But I think Daddy was doin’ drugs, and kinda like the crack addict Pookie from the movie, Daddy did too much til he died.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew

“The sky that night is like fire-burnt marshmallows, with some patches too dark to see, but some patches that glow. We sit on the big porch, me and Nia and Granddaddy, none of us speaking.”
― Kai Harris, What the Fireflies Knew