Sources of Light Quotes

“Seems like nothing's getting safer or better," I said. "Seems like everything's getting worse."
"Maybe that's what's gotta happen," Willa Mae said.
"Maybe everything's gotta break lose and fall apart before we can put it back together again right.”
― Margaret McMullan, Sources of Light

“Sit on the truth too long and you mash the life right out of it.”
― Margaret McMullan, Sources of Light

“Why did you marry Dad, Mom?"
My mother sniffled through her nose, looked at me, then smiled.
"I wanted something more and he was it. We both had big dreams."
"That must have taken a lot of courage," I said. "To marry Dad. He was so different from you."
"It was hardly courageous. It was just the only thing to do. We were in love.”
― Margaret McMullan, Sources of Light

“Don't be scared," Willa Mae said.
I looked at her. "Aren't you scared?"
Willa Mae looked at me and said, "Shoot. Only thing I'm afraid of is that I'm going to do something I'll regret."
"Being scared is just one more thing to turn into what you want it to be," Willa Mae said. "The thing with fear is, it's like anger. You've got to change it into something else. Make it your weapon. Some can just turn it into smarts. The best of 'em can turn fear and anger into love." She looked out toward our neighborhood. "I'm not there yet.”
― Margaret McMullan, Sources of Light

“She loved him, even though it was so hard to love anybody else after loving my dad. I think I knew this before she did.”
― Margaret McMullan, Sources of Light

“We stayed all day long. We closed our eyes and paryed, which we had not doen together in a long time. The nurse came in and out of the room. Everything felt awful and I wondered why the whole world didn't seem to notice how bad things really were. I thought of how I'd gotten used to awful, how after my dad died the planets kept on spinning and I got up and ate breakfast every morning and kept going to school. Something happens and it's terrible and you think you can't live another day, but then your mother gets used to it and you get used to it and you both keep on living, and you're not sure if that getting-used-to-things is good or the way life should be.”
― Margaret McMullan, Sources of Light

“Perry was leaning into my mother as he listened to what she said. They talked so close. He only leaned closer, his hands on the table, his leg touching hers.
"It's so risky," my mother said. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I'm human being. Because we're all human beings."
My mother closed her eyes and winced. Maybe her hearing aid was ringing and bothering her, but as I watched her turn down the volume, I wanted to tell her right then that she couldn't quiet all those outside voices forever.”
― Margaret McMullan, Sources of Light