Ask for the impossible, then settle instead for what you really wanted in the first place.

I couldn't see who swam in the darkness, who wore shadows like a second skin.

I'd just stepped out of the kiddie pool and into the deep end, with no floaties. And drowning was not an option.

Leave the door open," my dad said, the second most common warning in his arsenal. Right behind, "Nash, go home.

Hang on, Pa, don't reach for yer shotgun just yet," I said, grinning over the protective streak I found funny, when there wasn't actually anything to shelterme from. "We were just circlin' the wagons, not having an orgy." My dad suddenly looked like he might be sick. "Please don't ever say that word again." "Wagons?

Wow. What would you do if I said I was angry?' 'I would make fire rain from the heavens to smite your enemies with the flames of our shared rage.

So, 'reaper' is really just a nice word for 'covert pervert?' Is that what you're saying?