Anything was better than nothing. Half-full was better than empty. Ignorance was the lowest form of humiliation and suffering.

I'm not good," he said, piercing me with eyes that absorbed all light but reflected none, "but I was worse.

I study her,” Patch said. “I figure out what she’s thinking and feeling. She’s not going to come right out and tell me, which is why I have to pay attention. Does she turn her body toward mine? Does she hold my eyes, then look away? Does she bite her lip and play with her hair, the way Nora is doing right now?” Laughter rose in the room. I dropped my hands to my lap. “She’s game,” said Patch, bumping my leg again. Of all things, I blushed.

Your name?” I repeated, hoping it was my imagination that my voice faltered. “Call me Patch. I mean it. Call me

Patch: "It's hard to concentrate on answers with you looking like that.

Being nice? He’s being horny.

Citizen's arrest," he said. "Well, that, and Patch told me to.