It was almost funny. Life seemed downright accidental in its brevity, and death a punch line to a lousy joke.

Did I just kill someone?" "You can't kill a dead person," Callum said. "Makes no sense.

The truth was that she had managed to betray everyone by doing nothing. No one in history had ever done less and yet been so wrong. Not cheating on a non-boyfriend with the non-boyfriend of a friend. The pressure of thinking that one through made her swollen body ache.

A pause while my mother made high-pitched sisterly devotions of gratitude.

Can I tell you something you really don't want to hear? He's going to break up with you. - Stuart

Claim whatever you want. Say you only want a happy family or a successful career or a big house. I say: no, that's not what you want. You'll settle for those things, but you really want a monkey that does your evil bidding. Pullman is a genius just for this.

You don't know me yet," I said. "Rory was telling me she lives in a swamp," Charlotte said. "That's right," I said, turning up my accent a little. "These are the very first shoes I've ever owned. They sure do pinch my feet." Jerome gave a little snort.