Later

“Sweet dreams, pleasant repose, all the bed and all the clothes.”

floor. When the fickle finger of fate points at you, all roads lead to the same place, that’s what I think. I may change my mind when I’m older, but I really don’t think so.

“Books are a uniquely portable magic. I read that somewhere.

I happened to be your basic healthy teenager who could see dead folks, but I didn’t go into that.

I thought how natural she sounded, and what a smooth liar she was. I couldn’t decide if I was grossed out or admiring. I guess a little of both.

Moms know what kids are scared of, if they’re good moms.

You get used to marvelous things. You take them for granted. You can try not to, but you do. There’s too much wonder, that’s all. It’s everywhere.

it’s not bragging if it’s true

By then I suppose I was having the stroke. My thoughts would have been drowning in blood.”

Dead people look just like living people, except they’re always wearing the clothes they died in.