I liked, I admit, that we didnโt pretend there hadnโt been other girls. There was always a girl on you in the halls at school, like they came free with a backpack.
Daniel HandlerThere was something I was always very good at, however, and that was teaching myself not to be frightened while frightening things are going on. It is difficult to do this, but I had learned. It is simply a matter of putting oneโs fear aside, like the vegetable on the plate you donโt want to touch until all of your rice and chicken are gone, and getting frightened later, when one is out of danger. Sometimes I imagine I will be frightened for the rest of my life because of all of the fear I put aside during my time in Stainโd-by-the-Sea.
Daniel Handler