Why did everything always change when all you wanted, all you had ever humbly asked of whatever God there might be, was that certain things be allowed to stay the same?
Richard Yates...his job was the very least important part of his life, never to be mentioned except in irony.
Richard YatesHe couldn't even tell whether he was angry or contrite, whether it was forgiveness he wanted or the power to forgive.
Richard YatesShe was calm and quiet now with knowing what she had always known, what neither her parents nor Aunt Claire nor Frank nor anyone else had ever had to teach her: that if you wanted something to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.
Richard Yates