For some stories, it's easy. The moral of 'The Three Bears,' for instance, is "Never break into someone else's house.' The moral of 'Snow White' is 'Never eat apples.' The moral of World War I is 'Never assassinate Archduke Ferdinand.

Just because something is traditional is no reason to do it, of course.

This is love if it's not with you, a terrible fiery something that makes people look away, and it feels like a punch in the throat.

This knowledge sits in my heart, heavy as a paperweight.

I have produced things that I would say were sincerely cheerful. But then I am reminded by other people that no one else would see them that way.

How wrong to think I was anyone else, like thinking grass stains make you a beautiful view, like getting kissed makes you kissable, like feeling warm makes you coffee, like liking movies makes you a director. How utterly incorrect to think it any other way, a box of crap is treasures, a boy smiling means it, a gentle moment is a life improved.

A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them.