Most of the people are homesick anyway, and a little lonely, and they hide themselves in their hair and are turned into flowers.

A very long time ago, Grandmother had wanted to tell about all the things they did, but no one had bothered to ask. And now she had lost the urge.

...now and then a giggling trail of mermaids appeared in our wake. We fed them oatmeal.

It's funny about love', Sophia said. 'The more you love someone, the less he likes you back.' 'That's very true,' Grandmother observed. 'And so what do you do?' 'You go on loving,' said Sophia threateningly. 'You love harder and harder.

One makes a trip by day, but by night one sets out on a journey.

You must go on a long journey before you can really find out how wonderful home is.

Why are you in such a rush?" Sophia asked, and her grandmother answered that it was a good idea to do things before you forgot that they had to be done.