With blue vinyl-tile floor, pale-green wainscoating, pink walls, a yellow ceiling, and orange-and-white stork-patterned drapes, the expectant fathers' lounge churned with the negative energy of color overload. It would have served well as the nervous-making set for a nightmare about a children's-show host who led a secret life as an ax murderer. The chain-smoking clown didn't improve the ambience.

My life would be constrained by the horror and fierce rage that my appearance inspired, but I would know peace as well as fear, tenderness as well as brutality, and even love in a time of cruelty.

I really believe that everyone has a talent, ability, or skill that he can mine to support himself and to succeed in life.

Nothing is worse than being alone on the evening of the day when one's cow has exploded.

In the wind, the trees, like agitated lions preparing to roar, shook their great green manes.

His blue eyes were seas where sorrow sailed.

The world needed a little Evil, so Good had something to compare itself to, but you couldn't let it think it had the right-of-way on the road and an invitation to dinner.