What did your mom say?””She said I better not be pregnant.”Janie snorts. “What the hell is wrong with our parents, anyway? Wait — you’re not, are you?” “Of course not! Sheesh, Janers! I may not...

Cabel flicks his fingers at her, spraying her with water. Grinning. “Sure. I think I’m pretty lucky. I bet blind people have great sex. I’ll even wear a blindfold so it’s fair.” He bumps his...

In the cool dark basement, she whispers, “It’s not Ralph, is it?”Cabel’s quiet for a moment, as if he’s thinking, “You mean like Forever Ralph? Uh, no.””You’ve read Forever?” Janie is incredulous. “There wasn’t much...

Then you must tell them that love isn’t something like a grindstone that’s the same thing everywhere and do the same thing to everything it touches. Love is like the sea. It is a moving...

And I can’t die easy thinking maybe the menfolks white or black is making a spit cup out of you. Have some sympathy for me. Put me down easy, Janie, I’m a cracked plate.

Be beautiful for yourself, Janie. And only if you want to. If a man is worthy of you, he’ll see more beauty in who you are than in what you look like.