How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
They were both grinning like this was the funniest s*** in the world, and went on into tradition jokes about the sex lives of people who were mostly dead now. They'd talk about a time when some guy and girl got caught making out on the hayride, and then they'd suddenly be talking about how nice his funeral was, like fifty years later, or about how her family had to put her away because she couldn't take care of herself, and like that. (10.56)
Um, creepy. Or is it? Put yourself in Browning's and Rose's shoes—when you're in your 80s and most of your friends are dead, talking about the past as well as your dead friends' funerals probably becomes pretty normal.
Quote #2
I wanted to be around Dad all the time. I always begged to go to the council meetings with him, where I'd sit in the back and color or do the little bit of homework I had. I just liked hearing his voice; ever since kindergarten it had been a pleasant drone while he ran through all the stuff that needed to get done and asked who was doing it. (11.5)
Karl's dad wasn't perfect, but like every other boy his age, young Karl idolized him—even if it meant going to council meetings to deal with local politics. Now, that's love.
Quote #3
Mom and Dad started in yelling at each other about it, at the top of their lungs, the usual You-f***ed-it-up/No-you-f***ed-it-up thing they did whenever anything went wrong. It went on for awhile. I just sat at the table and thought about poor Dad not getting his cake, and how I had been looking forward to it, too, and it was all very sad. (11.20)
Karl shares a lot of memories about his past, and while there's some nice stuff about going to council meetings with his dad and getting ice cream afterward, most of it looks more like this—lots of alcohol, lots of throwing stuff. And, when your childhood looks like that, you're bound to have problems in high school.