“
I will love you as a thief loves a gallery and as a crow loves a murder, as a cloud loves bats and as a range loves braes. I will love you as misfortune loves orphans, as fire loves innocence and as justice loves to sit and watch while everything goes wrong. I will love you as a battlefield loves young men and as peppermints love your allergies, and I will love you as the banana peel loves the shoe of a man who was just struck by a shingle falling off a house. I will love you as a volunteer fire department loves rushing into burning buildings and as burning buildings love to chase them back out, and as a parachute loves to leave a blimp and as a blimp operator loves to chase after it.
I will love you as a dagger loves a certain person’s back, and as a certain person loves to wear dagger proof tunics, and as a dagger proof tunic loves to go to a certain dry cleaning facility, and how a certain employee of a dry cleaning facility loves to stay up late with a pair of binoculars, watching a dagger factory for hours in the hopes of catching a burglar, and as a burglar loves sneaking up behind people with binoculars, suddenly realizing that she has left her dagger at home. I will love you as a drawer loves a secret compartment, and as a secret compartment loves a secret, and as a secret loves to make a person gasp, and as a gasping person loves a glass of brandy to calm their nerves, and as a glass of brandy loves to shatter on the floor, and as the noise of glass shattering loves to make someone else gasp, and as someone else gasping loves a nearby desk to lean against, even if leaning against it presses a lever that loves to open a drawer and reveal a secret compartment. I will love you until all such compartments are discovered and opened, and until all the secrets have gone gasping into the world. I will love you until all the codes and hearts have been broken and until every anagram and egg has been unscrambled.
I will love you until every fire is extinguised and until every home is rebuilt from the handsomest and most susceptible of woods, and until every criminal is handcuffed by the laziest of policemen. I will love until M. hates snakes and J. hates grammar, and I will love you until C. realizes S. is not worthy of his love and N. realizes he is not worthy of the V. I will love you until the bird hates a nest and the worm hates an apple, and until the apple hates a tree and the tree hates a nest, and until a bird hates a tree and an apple hates a nest, although honestly I cannot imagine that last occurrence no matter how hard I try. I will love you as we grow older, which has just happened, and has happened again, and happened several days ago, continuously, and then several years before that, and will continue to happen as the spinning hands of every clock and the flipping pages of every calendar mark the passage of time, except for the clocks that people have forgotten to wind and the calendars that people have forgotten to place in a highly visible area. I will love you as we find ourselves farther and farther from one another, where we once we were so close that we could slip the curved straw, and the long, slender spoon, between our lips and fingers respectively.
I will love you until the chances of us running into one another slip from slim to zero, and until your face is fogged by distant memory, and your memory faced by distant fog, and your fog memorized by a distant face, and your distance distanced by the memorized memory of a foggy fog. I will love you no matter where you go and who you see, no matter where you avoid and who you don’t see, and no matter who sees you avoiding where you go. I will love you no matter what happens to you, and no matter how I discover what happens to you, and no matter what happens to me as I discover this, and now matter how I am discovered after what happens to me as I am discovering this.
”
”
Lemony Snicket
“
...Je n’ai pas cessé de l’être si c’est d’être jeune que d’aimer toujours !... L’humanité n’est pas un vain mot. Notre vie est faite d’amour, et ne plus aimer c’est ne plus vivre."
(I have never ceased to be young, if being young is always loving... Humanity is not a vain word. Our life is made of love, and to love no longer is to live no longer.)
”
”
George Sand (The George Sand-Gustave Flaubert Letters)
“
I will love you as a drawer loves a secret compartment, and as a secret compartment loves a secret, and as a secret loves to make a person gasp, and as a gasping person loves a glass of brandy to calm their nerves, and as a glass of brandy loves to shatter on the floor, and as the noise of glass shattering loves to make someone else gasp, and as someone else gasping loves a nearby desk to lean against, even if leaning against it presses a lever that loves to open a drawer and reveal a secret compartment. I will love you until all such compartments are discovered and opened, and until all the secrets have gone gasping into the world. I will love you until all the codes and hearts have been broken and until every anagram and egg has been unscrambled. I will love you until every fire is extinguished and until every home is rebuilt form the handsomest and most susceptible of woods, and until every criminal is handcuffed by the laziest of policemen. I will love you until M. hates snakes and J. hates grammar, and I will love you until C. realizes S. is not worthy of his love and N. realizes he is not worthy of the V. I will love you until the bird hates a nest and the worm hates an apple, and until the apple hates a tree and the tree hates a nest, and until a bird hates a tree and an apple hates a nest, although honestly I cannot imagine that last occurrence no matter how hard I try. I will love you as we grow older, which has just happened, and has happened again, and happened several days ago, continuously, and then several years before that, and will continue to happen as the spinning hands of every clock and the flipping pages of every calendar mark the passage of time, except for the clocks that people have forgotten to wind and the calendars that people have forgotten to place in a highly visible area. I will love you as we find ourselves farther and farther from one another, where once we were so close that we could slip the curved straw, and the long, slender spoon, between our lips and fingers respectively. I will love you until the chances of us running into one another slip from skim to zero, and until your face is fogged by distant memory, and your memory faced by distant fog, and your fog memorized by a distant face, and your distance distanced by the memorized memory of a foggy fog. I will love you no matter where you go and who you see, no matter where you avoid and who you don’t see, and no matter who sees you avoiding where you go. I will love you no matter what happens to you, and no matter how I discover what happens to you, and no matter what happens to me as I discover this, and no matter how I am discovered after what happens to me happens to me as I am discovering this. I will love you if you don’t marry me. I will love you if you marry someone else – your co-star, perhaps, or Y., or even O., or anyone Z. through A., even R. although sadly I believe it will be quite some time before two women can be allowed to marry – and I will love you if you have a child, and I will love you if you have two children, or three children, or even more, although I personally think three is plenty, and I will love you if you never marry at all, and never have children, and spend your years wishing you had married me after all, and I must say that on late, cold nights I prefer this scenario out of all the scenarios I have mentioned. That, Beatrice, is how I will love you even as the world goes on its wicked way.
”
”
Lemony Snicket (The Beatrice Letters)
“
I began to wonder if writers don’t choose to love long-distance, a sure way of blending passion and prose. The love letter seems perfectly suited to the contradiction of a writer’s life... the love letter may be the emblem of a vocation that demands solitude but desires communication.
”
”
Cathy N. Davidson
“
He thinks I'm an angel. What would an angel say?
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (The Write Stuff (Love Letters, #3))
“
Begin at the beginning," Miss Perkins urged. "And when you get to the end, stop.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Mixed Messages (Love Letters, #2))
“
What would you say to a loved one if you had only a few seconds to impart a last message? What language does love speak?
Some of you speak love with wine and roses. For other, "I love you," is best said by breakfast in bed, carefully set aside sport sections, or night out at the movies, complete with buttered popcorn.
Children spell love T-I-M-E. So, I think, do older folks.
Teenagers spell it T-R-U-S-T. Sometimes parents spell love N-O.
But no matter what the letters, the emotion beneath the wording must be tangible, demonstrable, and sincere.
”
”
Angela Elwell Hunt (The Note)
“
He punished the naughty and rewarded the nice. Just like someone else who wore a lot of red. Scramble the letters in S-A-N-T-A and you get S-A-T-A-N.
”
”
Stephanie Perkins (My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories)
“
It reminds me of those carefree days in elementary school," Adam said, taking a sop of milk. "Where the only thing you worried about was being first on the swings, or being picked last for kickball.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Anne had wandered down the the Dryard's Bubble and was curled up among the ferns at the root of the n=big white birch where sher and Gilbert had so often sat ion summers gone by. Hew had gone into the newspaper office again when college was closed, and Avonlea seemed very dull without him. He never wrote to her, and Anne missed the letters that neer came. To be sure, Roy wrote twice a week; his letters were exquisite compositions which would have read beautifully in a memoir or biography. Anne felt herself more deeply in love with him that ever when she read the; but her heart never game that queer, quick, painful bound at sight of his letters which had given one day when Mrs. Hiram Sloane had handed her out an envelope addressed in Gilbert's black, upright handwriting. Anne had hurried home to the east gable and opened it eagrly--to find a typewritten copy of some college society report--"only that and nothing more." Anne flung the harmless screed across her room and sat down to write and especially nice epistle to Roy
”
”
L.M. Montgomery (Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables, #3))
“
Sometimes people have come to a crisis of conscience, perhaps having lived much of their lives without any time for God, and have then tried to twist God’s arm to be nice to them after all. That’s a poor substitute for genuine worship and love of God – though God remains gracious and merciful, and ready to welcome people however muddled they may be.
”
”
N.T. Wright (Paul for Everyone: The Pastoral Letters: 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus (The New Testament for Everyone))
“
Kyle agreed. "It would be too weird to see you in makeup and heels and all that hot stuff."
"But you just said guys like that," Hannah said.
"Right," Paul agreed. He stuck his fork back up his nose and added, "But guys are idiots.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (The Write Stuff (Love Letters, #3))
“
First, Paul is anxious that everyone who professes Christian faith should allow the gospel to transform the whole of their lives, so that the outward signs of the faith express a living reality that comes from the deepest parts of the personality. Second, he is also anxious that each Christian, and especially every teacher of the faith, should know how to build up the community in mutual love and support, rather than, by the wrong sort of teaching or behaviour, tearing it apart.
”
”
N.T. Wright (Paul for Everyone: The Pastoral Letters: 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus (The New Testament for Everyone))
“
The wrath of God is simply the shadow side of the love of God for his wonderful creation and his amazing human creatures. Like a great artist appalled at the way his paintings have been defaced by the very people who were supposed to be looking after them, God’s implacable rejection of evil is the natural outflowing of his creative love. God’s anger against evil is itself the determination to put things right, to get rid of the corrupt attitudes and behaviors that have spoiled his world and his human creatures. It is because God loves the glorious world he has made and is utterly determined to put everything right that he is utterly opposed to everything that spoils or destroys that creation, especially the human creatures who were supposed to be the linchpins of his plan for how that creation would flourish. That’s why, as Paul’s argument progresses in this same letter, he frames its central passage not with God’s anger but with his powerful, rescuing love (Rom. 5:1–11; 8:31–39).
”
”
N.T. Wright (Simply Good News: Why the Gospel Is News and What Makes It Good)
“
A une époque de sa vie, il y avait de cela de nombreuses années, elle avait perdu sa foi en Dieu. Elle l'avait maudit, haï, accusé d'être responsable de tous les maux de la terre. Mais le mal n'était pas une création de Dieu. L'homme avait inventé le mal. Finalement, elle avait réussi à pardonner à Dieu.
”
”
Barbara Taylor Bradford (Letter from a Stranger)
“
but all he can think is a supercut of other people’s letters they’ve quietly sent to each other. Words that went down in history. “Meet you in every dream … Keep most of your heart in Washington … Miss you like a home … We two longing loves … My young king.”\n\nOne day, he tells himself. One day, us too.
”
”
Casey McQuiston (Red, White & Royal Blue)
“
Le Vieillissement sera mon adieu à l'adolescence, mon renoncement à ce que Deleuze-Guattari appelleront « l'illimitation du désir » et que Georges Bataille appelait « l'omnitude du possible » que l'on n'approche que par le refus indéfini de toute détermination : la volonté de n'être Rien se confond avec celle d'être Tout. À la fin du Vieillissement se trouve cette auto-exhortation : "Il faut accepter d'être fini : d'être ici et nulle part ailleurs, de faire ça et pas autre chose, maintenant et non jamais ou toujours […] d'avoir cette vie seulement.
”
”
André Gorz (Letter to D: A Love Story)
“
Dylan, my man!" Kyle Martinez jogged up from the direction of the parking lot and slapped Dylan on the back. "Is Hannah giving you the 4-1-1 on Red Rocks? This girl knows it all."
"Yeah," chimed in Paul Hume, who had appeared on Dylan's other side. "It's hard to believe that someone so hot could have brains, too!"
Kyle made an over exaggerated point at Hannah from behind his hand as he whispered to Dylan, "Major hottie."
"Hottie!" Colby repeated as he joined the gang gathered on the front lawn. "Are you guys talking about Hannah Banana? She, like, defines the word babe.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (The Write Stuff (Love Letters, #3))
“
TO MY BELOVED,
Its neither a piece of paper nor a letter, rather it's my small heart which I'm gifting it to you darling.It seems time stood still without ur presence around me. My days and nights have gone worthless. All my heart could do is to recall the memories of time which we have spend together. My heart gets rejoiced whenever your beautiful face comes before my eyes. Your mesmerizing eyes drive me to another world. Your flowing hair looks tantalizing and your rosy lips seems to be meant only for saying lovely words.
While having a cup of coffee yesterday, numerous moments striked my heart. Our first meeting, when you were looking like a fairy in white salwar-suit. Still fresh in my mind, your pretty smile and bowing your head down to laugh with your hand on your lips. I confess that your every action was stealing my heart and I couldn't withdraw myself from lookig you.
The gift you presented me on my birthday gives me a sigh of relief that you are always there with me. Sweetheart, In the classroom, I cracked useless jokes and PJ's just to see your charming smile. Kept gazing your lips, just to heat some golden words. You had stolen my heart.
Dedicated '' I don't know when and how you arrived in my life,
Don't know when my heart star beating for you, day n night....
My eyes kept staring the window pane,
Wishing one day u'll come in my lane....
Darling you're the only one whom I admire,
It's you whom my heart desperately desires...
Being with you is my only need,
You are now the medicine of my heartbeat...
I Craved your name on my heart,
The day when I decided not to loose you ever,
And I promise you sweetheart that,
I love you & i'll love you for ever, ever n ever......
It's true my baby that, i love you like anything. Miss you from very morning 2 the night. MY senses are active to feel you, to hear you, to see you, to taste every sorrow and happiness of your life. Jaana, get embedded in me, in my soul so that i can live with you, for you........
Dying to have your reply.....
Truly Your's
PK
”
”
Prabhat Kumar
“
My friend is not "mistrustful" of me, no, because she don't fear I shall make mainprize of the stray cloaks & umbrellas down-stairs, or turn an article for "Colburn's" on her sayings & doings up-stairs--but, spite of that, she does mistrust . . . so mistrust my common sense; nay, uncommon and dramatic-poet's sense, if I am put on asserting it!--all which pieces of mistrust I could detect, and catch struggling, and pin to death in a moment, and put a label on, with name, genus & species, just like a horrible entomologist; only I wo'n't, because the first visit of the North wind will carry the whole tribe into the Red Sea--and those horns and tails and scalewings are best forgotten altogether.
”
”
Robert Browning (The Love Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning & Robert Browning: Romantic Correspondence between two great poets of the Victorian era (Featuring Extensive Illustrated Biographies))
“
harbinger, n.
When I was in third grade, we would play that game at recess where you’d twist an apple while holding on to its stem, reciting the alphabet, one letter for each turn. When the stem broke, the name of your true love would be revealed. Whenever I played, I always made sure that the apple broke at K. At the time I was doing this because no one in my grade had a name that began with K. Then, in college, it seemed like everyone I fell for was a K. It was enough to make me give up on the letter, and I didn’t even associate it with you until later on, when I saw your signature on a credit card receipt, and the only legible letter was that first K. I will admit: When I got home that night, I went to the refrigerator and took out another apple. But I stopped twisting at J and put the apple back. You see, I didn’t trust myself. I knew that even if the apple wasn’t ready, I was going to pull that stem
”
”
David Levithan (The Lover's Dictionary)
“
When other birds are still, the screech owls take up the strain, like mourning women their ancient u-lu-lu. Their dismal scream is truly Ben Jonsonian.( Wise midnight hags! It is no honest and blunt tu-whit tu-who of the poets, but, without jesting, a most solemn graveyard ditty, the mutual consolations of suicide lovers remembering the pangs and the delights of supernal love in the infernal groves. Yet I love to hear their wailing, their doleful responses, trilled along the woodside; reminding me sometimes of music and singing birds; as if it were the dark and tearful side of music, the regrets and sighs that would fain be sung. They are the spirits, the low spirits and melancholy forebodings, of fallen souls that once in human shape night-walked the earth and did the deeds of darkness, now expiating their sins with their wailing hymns or threnodies in the scenery of their transgressions. They give me a new sense of the variety and capacity of that nature which is our common dwelling. Oh-o-o-o-o that I never had been bor-r-r-r-n! sighs one on this side of the pond, and circles with the restlessness of despair to some new perch on the gray oaks. Then — that I never had been bor-r-r-r-n! echoes another on the farther side with tremulous sincerity, and — bor-r-r-r-n! comes faintly from far in the Lincoln woods.
I was also serenaded by a hooting owl. Near at hand you could fancy it the most melancholy sound in Nature, as if she meant by this to stereotype and make permanent in her choir the dying moans of a human being — some poor weak relic of mortality who has left hope behind, and howls like an animal, yet with human sobs, on entering the dark valley, made more awful by a certain gurgling melodiousness — I find myself beginning with the letters gl when I try to imitate it — expressive of a mind which has reached the gelatinous, mildewy stage in the mortification of all healthy and courageous thought. It reminded me of ghouls and idiots and insane howlings. But now one answers from far woods in a strain made really melodious by distance — Hoo hoo hoo, hoorer hoo; and indeed for the most part it suggested only pleasing associations, whether heard by day or night, summer or winter.
I rejoice that there are owls. Let them do the idiotic and maniacal hooting for men. It is a sound admirably suited to swamps and twilight woods which no day illustrates, suggesting a vast and undeveloped nature which men have not recognized. They represent the stark twilight and unsatisfied thoughts which all have. All day the sun has shone on the surface of some savage swamp, where the double spruce stands hung with usnea lichens, and small hawks circulate above, and the chickadee lisps amid the evergreens, and the partridge and rabbit skulk beneath; but now a more dismal and fitting day dawns, and a different race of creatures awakes to express the meaning of Nature there.
”
”
Henry David Thoreau (Walden)
“
I still felt a little bit sick for needing the help of a Librarian. It was frustrating. Terribly frustrating. In fact, I don’t think I can accurately—through text—show you just how frustrating it was. But because I love you, I’m going to try anyway. Let’s start by randomly capitalizing letters. “We cAn SenD fOr a draGOn to cArry us,” SinG saId As we burst oUt oF the stAirWeLL and ruSHED tHrough ThE roOm aBovE. “ThAT wILl taKe tOO Long,” BaStiLlE saiD. “We’Ll haVe To graB a VeHiCle oFf thE STrEet,” I sAid. (You know what, that’s not nearly frustrating enough. I’m going to have to start adding in random punctuation marks too.) We c! RoS-Sed thrOu? gH t% he Gra## ND e ` nt < Ry > WaY at “A” de-aD Ru) n. OnC $ e oUts/ iDE, I Co* Uld sEe T ^ haT the suN wa + S nEar to s = Ett = ING—it w.O.u.l.d Onl > y bE a co@ uPle of HoU[ rs unTi ^ L the tR} e} atY RATiF ~ iCATiON ha, pPenEd. We nEeDeD!! to bE QuicK?.? UnFOrTu() nAtelY, tHE! re weRe no C? arriA-ges on tHe rOa ^ D for U/ s to cOmMan > < dEer. Not a ON ~ e ~. THerE w + eRe pe/\ Ople wa | lK | Ing aBoUt, BU? t no caRr# iaGes. (Okay, you know what? That’s not frustrating enough either. Let’s start replacing some random vowels with the letter Q.) I lqOk-eD arO! qnD, dE# sPqrA# te, fRq? sTr/ Ated (like you, hopefully), anD aNn | qYeD. Jq! St eaR& lIer, tHqr ^ E hq.d BeeN DoZen! S of cq? RrIqgEs on The rQA! d! No-W tHqRe wA = Sn’t a SqnGl + e oN ^ q. “ThE_rQ!” I eXclai $ mqd, poIntIng. Mqv = Ing do ~ Wn th_e RqaD! a shoRt diStq + + nCe aWay < wAs > a sTrANgq gLaSs cqnTrAPtion. I waSN’t CqrTain What it wAs >, bUt It w! qs MoV? ing—aND s% qmewhat quIc: =) Kly. “LeT’s G_q gRA? b iT!
”
”
Brandon Sanderson (Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia (Alcatraz, #3))
“
NEVER INDEX YOUR OWN BOOK
As for the life of Aamons, Mona, the index itself gave a jangling, surrealistic picture of the many conflicting forces that had been brought to bear on her and of her dismayed reactions to them. “Aamons, Mona:” the index said, “adopted by Monzano in order to boost Monzano’s popularity, 194–199, 216 n.; childhood in compound of House of Hope and Mercy, 63–81; childhood romance with P. Castle, 72 f; death of father, 89 ff; death of mother, 92 f; embarrassed by role as national erotic symbol, 80, 95 f, 166 n., 209, 247 n., 400–406, 566 n., 678; engaged to P. Castle, 193; essential naïveté, 67–71, 80, 95 f, 116 n., 209, 274 n., 400–406, 566 n., 678; lives with Bokonon, 92–98, 196–197; poems about, 2 n., 26, 114, 119, 311, 316, 477 n., 501, 507, 555 n., 689, 718 ff, 799 ff, 800 n., 841, 846 ff, 908 n., 971, 974; poems by, 89, 92, 193; returns to Monzano, 199; returns to Bokonon, 197; runs away from Bokonon, 199; runs away from Monzano, 197; tries to make self ugly in order to stop being erotic symbol to islanders, 80, 95 f, 116 n., 209, 247 n., 400–406, 566 n., 678; tutored by Bokonon, 63–80; writes letter to United Nations, 200; xylophone virtuoso, 71.” I showed this index entry to the Mintons, asking them if they didn’t think it was an enchanting biography in itself, a biography of a reluctant goddess of love. I got an unexpectedly expert answer, as one does in life sometimes. It appeared that Claire Minton, in her time, had been a professional indexer. I had never heard of such a profession before.
”
”
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Cat's Cradle)
“
- Tu sais, bien souvent, les mots ne suffisent pas. Mais ce n'est pas une raison pour ne pas essayer..
”
”
Ava Dellaira (Love Letters to the Dead)
“
crosskisses FW 111.17 n. xxx’s at the end of a letter to signify touches with the lips as a sign of love or kisses. (“must now close it with fondest to the twoinns with four crosskisses for holy paul holey corner holipoli whollyisland pee ess from”) These “crosskisses” come at the end of one of a number of versions of the famous letter from Boston that the hen pecks out of the kitchen midden and even appear much later in Finnegans Wake with “X.X.X.X.” (See anomorous.) cruelfiction FW 192.19 n. 1. Fiction that delights in causing pain and suffering to to the extent that readers feel they have been put to death by being fastened to a cross, becoming victims of the cruel torture of crucifixion. Most critics have labeled Finnegans Wake as a prime example of “cruelfiction.” Readers will have their own candidates for this label, usually novels they were assigned to read for a book report in high school. 2. Fiction that’s subject is cruelty, such as almost any novel by the Marquis de Sade or short stories and novels that deal honestly with the treatment of Native Americans by the government of the United States. (“O, you were excruciated, in honour bound to the cross of your own cruelfiction!”)
”
”
Bill Cole Cliett (A "Finnegans Wake" Lextionary: Let James Joyce Jazz Up Your Voca(l)bulary)
“
respect those who labor among you and n are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. o Be at peace among yourselves. 14[✞] And we urge you, brothers, admonish p the idle, 1 q encourage the fainthearted, r help the weak, s be patient with them all. 15[✞] See that t no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always u seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 v Rejoice always, 17 w pray without ceasing, 18 x give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19[✞] y Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise z prophecies, 21 but a test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23[✞] Now may b the God of peace himself c sanctify you completely, and may your d whole e spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at f the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 g He who calls you is faithful; h he will surely do it. 25 i Brothers, pray for us. 26 j Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27[✞] I put you under oath before the Lord to have k this letter read to all the brothers. 28 l The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
”
”
Reformation Trust Publishing (ESV Reformation Study Bible)
“
J'ai compris avec toi que le plaisir n'est pas quelque chose qu'on prend ou qu'on donne. Il est manière de se donner et d'appeler le don de soi de l'autre.
”
”
André Gorz (Letter to D: A Love Story)
“
n a smell it all came back..that autumn rain, the scent of a love that once was ripe, that immense hunger to touch the tender wound for it is still so raw and fresh. The scent of those quiet evenings still smells in the breeze ...Love letters..how they hold the memories of yesterday!...
”
”
Jayita Bhattacharjee
“
Peeking at him where he sat perusing the stock market on his phone while chewing on some crisp bacon, she blurted out the momentous news. “I love you.”
“I know.” Smugly said.
She blinked. “What do you mean you know?”
“Because of the letter A.”
“What does A have to do with anything other than being the first letter in your name?”
“Because it also stands for awesome.”
“And arrogant.”
“Are we back to alphabetizing my attributes? B is for brave.”
She laughed. “Don’t you dare start again. Besides, there’s only one set of four letters that interest me.”
“Oh?” he said, putting down his phone and ignoring his meal. “And what might those be?”
“M.I.N.E.” The only word she needed to have him drag her onto his lap for a scorching kiss.
A whispered, “I love you,” vibrated against her lips, his softly growled admission fueling her passion.
And after they were done, panting, glowing, and cradled together, ignoring the pounding at the door, she held still as she tried to figure out what she heard.
It should have been impossible. Arik was a lion, and yet he was— “Purring?” Indeed, he was.
And when an alpha purrs, pleasure is sure to follow.
”
”
Eve Langlais (When an Alpha Purrs (A Lion's Pride, #1))
“
Madison! This is too perfect. Join us.”
Reed stood coolly in the middle of the hall, oblivious to the swarm of kids around him.
“Reed, I’d love to join you,” Madison shouted above the bustle. “But I told Piper I’d meet her in the parking lot.”
“This’ll just take a minute,” Reed insisted.
Madison hesitated. Much as she wanted to avoid talking to Jeremy, she didn’t want to look like a rude jerk. She maneuvered her way around Jeremy and stood next to Reed.
“Of course you know Jeremy,” Reed said, not letting her off the hook.
Jeremy answered for her. “We’re like this,” he said, holding up two fingers at arm’s length.
“Funny,” Madison replied without a smile.
Reed seemed oblivious to their awkwardness. “Listen up. My mom’s a marketing specialist and she might be able to get us some airtime on some of the local radio stations. What do you think?”
Jeremy nodded. “That would be extremely cool.”
“Would the interviews be separate?” Madison asked, not wanting to spend any time in close proximity to Jeremy. “I’d prefer to do mine alone--or with you, Reed.”
Jeremy scowled. “What is it with you, Madison? Can’t you at least be civil?”
“Not to you,” Madison said with an angry toss of her head.
“Give me a break,” Jeremy snapped.
“Whoa! Time out! Truce!” Reed quickly stepped between them and draped his arms around their shoulders. “Look, this is just an election. You don’t need to get so malignant.”
“Save the lecture for someone who needs it,” Jeremy grumbled. “Like Miss Stuck-up.”
Madison clutched her chest as if she’d been shot in the heart. “Oh, you got me,” she said melodramatically. “I’m mortally wounded.”
Jeremy’s cheeks flared a deep red. Clenching his fists at his sides, he took several deep breaths. Clearly he was trying not to say anything back to Madison. At last he turned to Reed and said evenly, “The radio station idea is a good one. I’ll catch you later to discuss it.” He turned on his heel and strode away.
Madison felt the heat creep into her own face. Most of the students nearby had witnessed the entire exchange. Madison felt pretty certain that, at this moment, she looked like a complete, raving idiot.
Reed shook his head in amazement. “Wow. I don’t need to do a thing to win this election,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ll just stand back and let you two destroy each other.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Jeremy, wait!” she called, bending over to catch her breath.
When Jeremy saw her, he picked up his pace and hurried toward the crosswalk.
Madison threw her head back and moaned, “I can’t keep up! Please stop.”
At the intersection, he had to stop to wait for the traffic light, and she stumbled off the curb and stood in front of him, clutching her side.
“Please listen for one minute,” she gasped. “I know that the Homecoming disaster wasn’t your fault. I know you didn’t put up those awful photos. And I am so ashamed for jumping to conclusions about you, and not ever giving you a chance to explain.”
Jeremy opened his mouth to speak, and she help up her palm. “Just a minute. I’m not finished.” She bent over once more and took a couple of deep breaths. “I know you’ll never accept my apology because you think I’m heartless and self-centered. But just to prove to you that I’m sincere, I’m withdrawing from the race and throwing all my support behind you.”
Madison waited for Jeremy to respond. As she looked into his eyes, he continued to say nothing.
She felt her throat tighten painfully. Tears pooled in her eyes. Madison turned to leave before she embarrassed herself any further. But as she stepped into the crosswalk, Jeremy caught her by the arm. “Now hold it a minute, will you?” he said, gently pulling her back onto the curb. “You just dropped an awful lot of information in my lap. The least you can do is give me a moment to process it.”
Madison put a hand over her mouth, trying to hold herself together. Then she looked up into his pale blue eyes. They were no longer ice cold but filled with compassion.
“I guess I’ll begin by accepting your apology,” Jeremy said slowly. “And offer my own apology in return.”
Madison laughed. “You apologize to me? Whatever for?”
“Excuse me,” a man interrupted from behind them. He and a woman were walking with their tenspeeds. “This is a crosswalk. If you want to talk, there are plenty of places to do it over there.” He pointed back to the park, by the lake.
They shared an embarrassed laugh.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
I guess I’ll begin by accepting your apology,” Jeremy said slowly. “And offer my own apology in return.”
Madison laughed. “You apologize to me? Whatever for?”
“Excuse me,” a man interrupted from behind them. He and a woman were walking with their tenspeeds. “This is a crosswalk. If you want to talk, there are plenty of places to do it over there.” He pointed back to the park, by the lake.
They shared an embarrassed laugh. Then Jeremy led Ruby to a park bench and motioned for Madison to sit down. She perched on the edge of the bench, scratching Ruby behind the years.
Jeremy pushed the hair out of his eyes and said, “I’ve relived that moment at Homecoming a zillion times. I felt so awful about pushing you onto the field, I didn’t know what to do.”
Madison asked the question she’d wanted to ask for two and a half long years. “Did you really think I’d won? Did you confuse McKenzie Madsen’s name with mine?”
Jeremy shook his head. “I didn’t even hear the announcement. I was holding Reed’s place in the drinks line because he’d left to hear the announcement. When he came back, Reed told me you’d won. He ordered me to go tell you.”
Madison slapped her hands on her legs. “I knew it! When Reed called it a harmless joke, I knew it had to be him. But why would he do that to me?”
Jeremy shrugged helplessly. “It turned out it really was just a joke. He had me tell you that so he could get your hot chocolates.”
Madison’s jaw dropped. “That’s why he did it?”
“He was tired of standing in that long line.” Jeremy kicked at the ground with the toe of his sneaker. “But I didn’t know that at the time. When I pushed you onto the football field, Reed nearly fell over laughing. He thought he was so clever. I wanted to kill him!
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
I knew it! When Reed called it a harmless joke, I knew it had to be him. But why would he do that to me?”
Jeremy shrugged helplessly. “It turned out it really was just a joke. He had me tell you that so he could get your hot chocolates.”
Madison’s jaw dropped. “That’s why he did it?”
“He was tired of standing in that long line.” Jeremy kicked at the ground with the toe of his sneaker. “But I didn’t know that at the time. When I pushed you onto the football field, Reed nearly fell over laughing. He thought he was so clever. I wanted to kill him!”
Madison shook her head in amazement. “Hot chocolate! He was willing to totally humiliate me for a couple of hot chocolates? I thought it was because I didn’t go out with him.”
“That also may have had something to do with it,” Jeremy said, scratching his head. “He liked you, too.”
“Too?” Madison repeated, cocking her head.
Jeremy flashed an embarrassed smile. “Well, at the time, I had a major crush on you. I thought it was pretty obvious.”
Madison’s heart skipped a tiny beat. Maybe all wasn’t lost after all. “You did?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “That’s why I didn’t apologize right away. I just couldn’t face you.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Hi, Mad,” Piper’s voice sang out in her ear.
“Oh, it’s you,” Madison said, falling back on the pink brocade duvet covering her double bed.
“Of course it’s me. I always call you at this time,” Piper said. “Who’d you think it was?”
“I thought you were Blue,” she said with a giggle. “But that’s, of course, impossible, since Blue doesn’t even know my name.”
“Just what are you talking about?” Piper demanded. “And who is Blue?”
“Blue”--Madison grabbed one of her pink furry pillows that lined her headboard and hugged it to her chest--“is my Heart-2-Heart partner. And I think I’m in love.”
“What?” Piper screeched into the phone. “We were just assigned our partners yesterday. I have spent almost every spare minute with you, except for a few hours last night and the two hours since we left Giorgio’s. When could you possibly have found the time to fall in love?”
“Okay,” Madison said, rolling over onto her stomach. “Maybe not love with a capital L. But a very strong like. Blue is funny and smart--he knows how flies land on the ceiling upside down. And talented--he can do a backflip. Or at least he could when he was nine at his cousin’s house in Issaquah.”
“He put all that in one letter?” Piper asked.
Madison giggled. “Of course not. We’ve e-mailed several letters. In fact, I’m expecting one now.”
“Geez,” Piper said a little wistfully. “I haven’t even checked to see if my Heart-2-Heart pal wrote back.”
Madison plucked at the fuzzy strands of yarn on her pillow. “You should. I love this program! We can tell each other anything. It’s so great!”
“And this guy’s name is Blue?” Piper’s voice sounded doubtful. “I don’t remember any kid at school named Blue. There was that one guy we called Green in our chem lab, remember? But I think we called him that because his last name was Green and we could never remember his first name.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
I haven’t even checked to see if my Heart-2-Heart pal wrote back.”
Madison plucked at the fuzzy strands of yarn on her pillow. “You should. I love this program! We can tell each other anything. It’s so great!”
“And this guy’s name is Blue?” Piper’s voice sounded doubtful. “I don’t remember any kid at school named Blue. There was that one guy we called Green in our chem lab, remember? But I think we called him that because his last name was Green and we could never remember his first name.”
Madison giggled even more. She was feeling like a fizzy soda pop, bubbly all over. “Oh, Piper, his name isn’t really Blue. That’s just his nickname.”
“Do you have a nickname?”
“Of course,” Madison said. “But I don’t want to tell you what it is. You’ll think it’s ridiculous.”
“I can’t believe you won’t tell me,” Piper protested. “I’m your BFF. We share everything!”
“I know…””
“Come on, tell me!” Piper pleaded. “Look, I told you about the time I wet my pants in second grade, and that I had a total crush on Mr. Proctor, our fifth-grade teacher. And last year, when I--”
“This is different, Piper,” Madison tried to explain. “We can tell our deepest secrets to our Heart-2-Heart pal because they don’t know who we are.”
“I just can’t believe this,” Piper continued in a really hurt voice. “Didn’t I tell you about that D I almost got in Algebra I and the secret tutor I had to hire to bring up my grade? God, I even told you about that mole on my butt that I had to have removed. If that’s not a deep secret, I don’t know what is.”
“Okay, okay!” Madison sat up. “I’ll tell you. It’s Pinky.”
There was a long pause. “Pinky? That’s ridiculous.”
“See?” Madison shouted into the phone. “I knew you’d say that.” She got up and crossed to her vanity mirror. She tousled her hair with one hand to make it stand up. “It had to do with dyeing my hair pink.”
There was an even longer pause.
“You’re not going to do that, are you?” Piper asked quietly. “Because I don’t think it will help the campaign. Oh, it might steal a few votes from Jeremy--but do we really need them? I’m not sure.”
“Piper, relax,” Madison said. “I was just joking about doing it.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
With one minute to spare, Madison arrived at the Space Needle. Her rose was hastily clipped into her short dark hair. Her cheeks were red from all of the mad rushing around. But she had made it on time.
So had Jeremy. Once again he was waiting by the elevator that rode up to the top of the Space Needle. A somewhat faded blue carnation was pinned to the lapel of his jacket.
Madison, who usually overplanned everything, hadn’t taken one second to plan what she would say when she finally met “Blue” face-to-face. A man with a bouquet of balloons passed by, and she ducked out of sight behind them. As she ran alongside the vendor, she hastily tried to collect her thoughts. So much was riding on this meeting, and she didn’t want to blow it.
When the balloon man got close to the elevator tower, Madison jumped out from behind the balloons and hid by a corner of the tower. Her mind was still a complete blank. But she couldn’t leave Jeremy standing there for another minute. So she inched her way along the wall until she was safely hidden behind the post he was leaning against.
Madison checked the TechnoMarine watch she’d borrowed from Piper. It was nearly five minutes after four. Time was running out! She had to say something. But what?
Barely a foot away, she heard Jeremy exhale in frustration, and her heart sank. When he made a move to leave, her hand shot out from behind the pillar and caught hold of his.
“Blue?” she whispered. “Please don’t turn around.”
Jeremy didn’t move. “Okay,” he said warily.
“I’m trying to find the words to tell you what our letters have meant to me,” she whispered. “And how much your friendship means to me.”
Jeremy nodded. “It’s been important to me, too.” He started to turn around, but Madison tugged his arm, hard.
“Don’t look, yet. Please!”
Jeremy quickly turned his head away. “All right, but--”
Madison didn’t let him finish. She squeezed her eyes shut and started babbling. “I didn’t know who you were until last Friday--which, incidentally, turned out to be about the most important day of my life. And when I knew it was you, I just didn’t know how to tell you that I was me. You once told me I was cold and heartless, and I just couldn’t bear it if you said it again. Everything has been so perfect, I just don’t want to blow it, and now that we’re standing here holding hands, I don’t want to let go--”
“So don’t,” a voice whispered, very close to her cheek.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Blue?” she whispered. “Please don’t turn around.”
Jeremy didn’t move. “Okay,” he said warily.
“I’m trying to find the words to tell you what our letters have meant to me,” she whispered. “And how much your friendship means to me.”
Jeremy nodded. “It’s been important to me, too.” He started to turn around, but Madison tugged his arm, hard.
“Don’t look, yet. Please!”
Jeremy quickly turned his head away. “All right, but--”
Madison didn’t let him finish. She squeezed her eyes shut and started babbling. “I didn’t know who you were until last Friday--which, incidentally, turned out to be about the most important day of my life. And when I knew it was you, I just didn’t know how to tell you that I was me. You once told me I was cold and heartless, and I just couldn’t bear it if you said it again. Everything has been so perfect, I just don’t want to blow it, and now that we’re standing here holding hands, I don’t want to let go--”
“So don’t,” a voice whispered, very close to her cheek.
Madison’s eyes popped open, and she found herself staring into Jeremy’s sparkling baby blues. And for a moment, time seemed to stop. She noticed that Jeremy had very long eyelashes for a boy. She saw that there was a tiny freckle above his perfectly shaped lips. And he smelled delicious--like spicy soap. Slowly, she raised her hand and touched the lock of dark hair that fell forward over his forehead. It was as soft as she imagined it would be.
She tilted her face up to meet his, so close that their lips were almost touching, and asked, “You haven’t said anything. Are you mad?”
“I always have been,” Jeremy murmured. “Mad about you…”
Ever so slowly the distance between their lips disappeared. In that one tingling moment the past, with every painful memory of humiliation, melted completely away.
Jeremy slipped his arm around Madison’s waist and pressed her close against him. She wrapped her arms around his neck. They were a perfect fit, just as she had dreamed they would be.
Pinky and Blue--two hearts beating as one.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Ding! The computer sounded across the room, signaling the arrival of another e-mail.
“It’s him!” Madison squeaked, spinning to look at her computer. “Listen, Piper, I can’t talk now. Blue just wrote me a note.”
“Hold it! You’re hanging up on your best friend just so you can read an e-mail from some random guy named Blue?” Piper huffed. “You don’t really know anything about him. And he could be making all sorts of stuff up.”
“He’s nice,” Madison protested.
“Oh, yeah? What if you find out that ‘Blue’ is actually Leonard Watkins, number one freak-a-zoid at EHS?”
Madison winced at the thought. Leonard was certainly strange to look at--barely five feet tall, with oversized glasses, bad skin, and hair that looked like steel wool. But that was just looks. “Maybe Leonard is a nice guy. I know he lurks around the halls humming to himself, but you know, if he really was ‘Blue,” I’d give him a chance.”
“You’re certifiably insane,” Piper declared, “You have all these guys at Evergreen High drooling over you and you fall for some unknown named Blue. Hmm…I that’s the way to get guys, maybe I’d better hang up and check my e-mail. Some maniac named Lemon Yellow could have sent me a letter that will change my life.”
“Go for it, Piper!” Madison chuckled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Piper said. “Although I may have eloped to Vancouver with Lemon Yellow by then.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
As she cut across the parking lot, Madison was nearly mowed down by an ice blue BMW. Reed Rawlings was the madman behind the wheel. He screeched to a stop right in front of her.
“Reed, are you trying to kill the competition?” she shouted. “Is that your strategy?”
“Not a bad idea,” Reed said, laughing as he rolled down his window. “Wish I’d thought of it.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Time was running out! She had to say something. But what?
Barely a foot away, she heard Jeremy exhale in frustration, and her heart sank. When he made a move to leave, her hand shot out from behind the pillar and caught hold of his.
“Blue?” she whispered. “Please don’t turn around.”
Jeremy didn’t move. “Okay,” he said warily.
“I’m trying to find the words to tell you what our letters have meant to me,” she whispered. “And how much your friendship means to me.”
Jeremy nodded. “It’s been important to me, too.” He started to turn around, but Madison tugged his arm, hard.
“Don’t look, yet. Please!”
Jeremy quickly turned his head away. “All right, but--”
Madison didn’t let him finish. She squeezed her eyes shut and started babbling. “I didn’t know who you were until last Friday--which, incidentally, turned out to be about the most important day of my life. And when I knew it was you, I just didn’t know how to tell you that I was me. You once told me I was cold and heartless, and I just couldn’t bear it if you said it again. Everything has been so perfect, I just don’t want to blow it, and now that we’re standing here holding hands, I don’t want to let go--”
“So don’t,” a voice whispered, very close to her cheek.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Would you care to share with the rest of the class what is so funny?”
Madison gulped. Ms. Healy was staring hard at Madison’s PalmPilot, which was absolutely forbidden in class, along with cell phones, CD players, and any other distracting electrical equipment.
Madison instantly started vamping. “Well, Ms. Healy, I was just musing on how ridiculous a scarlet would be today, and who would have to wear one--senators, actors, teachers, even a few of our presidents. In fact, there would probably be more people wearing the scarlet letter than not wearing it.”
Ms. Healy’s cold blue eyes looked huge through her extra-magnified glasses. “This is funny?”
Madison swallowed hard. “I guess it’s really more ironic, wouldn’t you say?”
Ms. Healy, who knew Madison as a straight-A, straight-shooter kind of student, softened a little. “‘Ironic’ is indeed the perfect word for it,” she said with a brisk nod. “Now put the personal digital assistance away and pay attention, Ms. McKay.”
As Ms. Healy walked back to the front of the room, Henry Cooney, Madison’s partner in chem lab, mouthed the words, “Nice save.”
Madison wiped some imaginary sweat off her forehead with her hand and tried to focus once again on the lecture. She forced herself to keep her eyes glued to Ms. Healy and soon found herself wondering what had turned the teacher into such an old grump. She was clearly smart and sometimes very funny, in a droll sort of way. Take away those awful glasses, let her hair out of that tight metal barrette at her neck, and Ms. Healy could almost be considered attractive. Maybe she’d had some brush with failed love that had made her go sour. Or worse yet--what if she had never had any brush with love at all, and this dried-up old prune was what Ms. Healy had become?
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Madison had covered one side of the hall without success, and was just bending down to check the first locker on the other side, when a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Looking for lunch money?” Jeremy asked.
Madison’s face turned beet red. She slowly turned to look at Jeremy, who was standing with his hands in his pockets, watching her. “Of course not,” she said. “Lunch is over.”
“Then what are you looking for?” he asked, strolling toward her.
She folded her arms and stood her ground. “That’s none of your business.”
“Actually, it is my business,” Jeremy replied. “That’s my locker.”
“What?” Madison spun to look at the locker. There was no way she could have known.
“Well, it’s not what you think. I-I’m not planning on stealing from you,” she stammered. “I’m just…” Her voice trailed off as she tried to think of a logical explanation for why she was standing alone in the hall with her hand on his locker.
Jeremy leaned his shoulder against his locker and grinned. He looked like the cat who had eaten the canary. “You’re just what?”
Madison gulped and looked up at the I’M STUCK ON MADISON sticker on Jeremy’s locker door. A lightbulb went on in her brain, and she tilted her chin in defiance. “I’m just removing this sticker from your locker.” She reached up and tore the decal off the locker. As she did, she spotted the phone number on the back and screamed, “I found it!”
Jeremy jumped back two feet in alarm. “Could you shout a little louder?” he cracked. “I don’t think the hall monitor heard you.”
“So what are you doing lurking out here?” Madison asked, cradling the sticker with Blue’s number in her hand, so Jeremy wouldn’t see it.
Jeremy leaned in until his face was only inches from hers, and whispered, “That’s for me to know and you to find out.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
So what are you doing lurking out here?” Madison asked, cradling the sticker with Blue’s number in her hand, so Jeremy wouldn’t see it.
Jeremy leaned in until his face was only inches from hers, and whispered, “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
“Ahem!” a deep voice sounded behind them. “I hate to interrupt this little tete-a-tete, but don’t you have someplace else you ought to be right now?”
Madison and Jeremy sprang away from each other like startled pigeons. They turned and guiltily faced the principal. Madison spoke first. “Hello, Mr. Kaufman. I left some, um, material for my report for Mr. Dalberg’s class in my locker and I was just about to get it.”
“Is that your locker?” Mr. Kaufman asked.
Jeremy cut in. “Actually, it’s my locker. Madison forgot to mention that she had asked me to keep it for her.” Jeremy spun the combination on the lock to show Mr. Kaufman that he was actually getting the report. He swung open the locker and grabbed the first thing he could put his hands on--a MAD magazine.
Without skipping a beat, Madison took it and started talking. “You see, Mr. Kaufman, we’re studying the role that periodicals and newspapers have played in American historical events. For instance, um, Tom Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense helped start the American Revolution, and, well, Horace Greeley’s editorials in the New York Tribune sparked the great Westward migration and the idea of Manifest Destiny, and now MAD magazine has, um, er--”
“Redefined the concept of social satire in the twentieth century,” Jeremy jumped in. “Without MAD, there’d have been no National Lampoon. Without the National Lampoon, no Saturday Night Live. Without SNL, there’d be no Bill Murray. Eddie Murphy. Adam Sandler. The list goes on and on.”
“Really?” Mr. Kaufman raised one eyebrow. “Very interesting.”
Madison plastered a grateful smile on her face and extended her hand to Jeremy. “Thanks for keeping this, um, research material for me.”
Jeremy shook her hand politely. “Anytime, Madison. I have room in here for lots more of your, uh, reports.”
Before Mr. Kaufman could say anything, Jeremy shut his locker, and the two of them marched off in opposite directions away from the principal.
As she walked away, Madison held her breath waiting for Mr. Kaufman to call them back. But he didn’t. Madison couldn’t believe her luck. What a bizarre encounter! And yes, she had to admit it: Jeremy had really bailed her out when she’d run out of gas with her excuse.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Hot chocolate! He was willing to totally humiliate me for a couple of hot chocolates? I thought it was because I didn’t go out with him.”
“That also may have had something to do with it,” Jeremy said, scratching his head. “He liked you, too.”
“Too?” Madison repeated, cocking her head.
Jeremy flashed an embarrassed smile. “Well, at the time, I had a major crush on you. I thought it was pretty obvious.”
Madison’s heart skipped a tiny beat. Maybe all wasn’t lost after all. “You did?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “That’s why I didn’t apologize right away. I just couldn’t face you.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
That also may have had something to do with it,” Jeremy said, scratching his head. “He liked you, too.”
“Too?” Madison repeated, cocking her head.
Jeremy flashed an embarrassed smile. “Well, at the time, I had a major crush on you. I thought it was pretty obvious.”
Madison’s heart skipped a tiny beat. Maybe all wasn’t lost after all. “You did?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “That’s why I didn’t apologize right away. I just couldn’t face you. And later, when people like the Stafford twins and Piper Chang turned on me and started calling me names, I figured there was no way I could get anyone to believe my side of the story. You and everyone else seemed to have made up your minds.”
Madison winced. “We convicted you without a trial,” she said, repeating the words Kirk Boyd had said before.
Ruby chose that moment to lick Madison in the face, which made Madison burst into giggles instead of tears. “It’s funny how things work out,” she said, wrapping her arms around the dog and squeezing her tight. “All this time we spent hating each other when we could have spent it--”
“Together.” Jeremy kneeled beside the dog and looked directly at Madison.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
It’s funny how things work out,” she said, wrapping her arms around the dog and squeezing her tight. “All this time we spent hating each other when we could have spent it--”
“Together.” Jeremy kneeled beside the dog and looked directly at Madison. “I guess that’s irony to the tenth power.”
His mention of irony and math reminded her that he not only was Jeremy, but he was also her Heart-2-Heart pal, Blue. And only two hours before, she had stood him up. Madison didn’t know how to bring it up. If she confessed to being Pinky, would it look like another conspiracy to make a fool out of him? She couldn’t decide.
Jeremy’s face was inches from hers. She could see little gold flecks in his eyes. Yes, he definitely was weak-in-the-knees handsome. She managed to murmur, “I guess we’re older now and, well, you have that girlfriend.”
Jeremy’s face reddened, and he looked down at his dog. “Um, I’m not so sure about that,” he admitted, embarrassed. “I was supposed to meet her at the Space Needle today, but she never showed.”
Madison’s heart ached seeing him look so defeated. She wanted to blurt everything out right then, but something made her keep her secret. Instead, she said, “Well, it may have been a big misunderstanding. I mean, there I was, following you around and screaming like a lunatic. She may have thought we meant something to each other.”
Jeremy laughed. “That would be pretty ridiculous, wouldn’t it?”
“Maybe you should call her,” Madison said, knowing he didn’t know “Pinky’s” phone number. “Or write her and explain.”
Jeremy nodded briskly. “I’ll do that.”
They sat for a few moments in awkward silence. Finally, Madison clapped her hands together. “In the meantime, we have another big problem on our hands.”
“You’re right,” Jeremy agreed. “I’m thirsty. What do you say we go for a Coke at Ruby’s favorite watering hole? My treat.”
At the mention of her name, Ruby leaped to her feet, wagging her tail. Madison chuckled. “I’m up for that. And while we’re at it, we can figure out what to do about Reed Rawlings.
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
. What do you say we go for a Coke at Ruby’s favorite watering hole? My treat.”
At the mention of her name, Ruby leaped to her feet, wagging her tail. Madison chuckled. “I’m up for that. And while we’re at it, we can figure out what to do about Reed Rawlings.”
“How do you feel about Chinese water torture?” Jeremy asked as they walked over to a sidewalk café called Poodles on the Park.
Madison grinned wickedly. “That’s good for a start. And after we trash his locker, key his Beemmer, and pants him at lunch, let’s hit him where he lives
”
”
Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
“
Would you call me ‘excessive’?” Madison asked Piper.
“Not to your face,” Piper replied.
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Jahnna N. Malcolm (Perfect Strangers (Love Letters, #1))
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One and A Half Ex
(Sonnets 1429, 1430)
Once upon a time by the Bay of Bengal,
a naive tiger fell for a vain sheep.
The sheep had him eating out of her hand,
only to discard him for another sheep.
The tiger's world was turned upside down,
abandoning home-n-uni he set out as monk.
Then one afternoon underneath the tree,
the monk awakened to prophetic dimension.
The saintly tiger then returned home,
Lo, commenced his sleepless self-education!
He had already mastered all divine sight,
Now he needed to muster a scientific arsenal.
During his making he met a Balkan xena,
she was everything he could ever dream of.
But the tiger still had plenty struggle ahead,
even for the perfect partner it was too much.
She had a beautiful heart which grew weary,
waiting for a giant with the world on shoulder.
The first whole love of the tiger came to halt,
after four magical years of timeless forever.
Though devastated, unable to think-n-work,
this time this was no longer a naive tiger.
Gloom galvanizes conviction invincible,
Shattered heart makes shade for the world.
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Abhijit Naskar (Dervis Vadisi: 100 Promissory Sonnets)
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Love Logic Intention (The Drunken Sonnet)
Love that keeps you sober is no love,
There is no soldier only drunken lover.
A thousand dazzling Vegas turn bleak,
When the soul shines with love's labor.
For once, let go of all judgment my friend,
Wipe out all cynicism from your core.
Close your eyes and look with your heart,
Either we are lovers or at death's door.
Nutty logic makes nice machines,
Nutty love makes a good society.
Scars of love add definition to life,
Tears of a lover are diamonds of divinity.
Right world is the result of right intention.
If you want light, burn, burn 'n burn again.
”
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Abhijit Naskar (Honor He Wrote: 100 Sonnets For Humans Not Vegetables)
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J'avais besoin de théorie pour structurer ma pensée et t'objectais qu'une pensée non structurée menace toujours de sombrer dans l'empirisme et l'insignifiance. Tu répondais que la théorie menace toujours de devenir un carcan qui interdit de percevoir la complexité mouvante du réel. (...) Tu n'avais pas eu besoin des sciences cognitives pour savoir que sans intuitions ni affects il n'y a ni intelligence ni sens. Tes jugements revendiquaient imperturbablement le fondement de leur certitude vécue, communicante mais non démontrable. L'autorité - appelons-la éthique - de ces jugements n'a pas besoin du débat pour s'imposer. Tandis que l'autorité du jugement théorique s'effondre s'il ne peut emporter la conviction par le débat.
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André Gorz (Letter to D: A Love Story)
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Toutes ces pages n'ont pas toujours de date, encore moins de visage, mais elles supposent qu'un homme s'est assis devant une table, un stylo à la main, qu'il a pris le temps de chercher les mots, peut-être de me répondre. Nous écrivions bien je trouve, et qu'importe finalement que l'élan ait duré une heure, une semaine, un mois ou un an, je sens nos cœurs serrés d'alors, l'ombre de la guerre derrière nous, qui nous commande de vivre. [...] Il fallait que nous fassions des phrases amicales, amoureuses, fâcheuses et menteuses. Il nous fallait nous écrire pour raisonner et nous orienter dans ce monde. Nous allions dans les graves du drame, puis dans les aigus du bonheur. Tout est là, dans une valise.
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Marceline Loridan-Ivens (L'Amour après)
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according to the great Medieval historian Marc Bloch: [I]n the ninth century, when one day there was a shortage of wine in the royal cellars at Ver, the monks of Saint-Denis were asked to supply the two hundred hogs-heads required. This contribution was thenceforth claimed from them as of right every year, and it required an imperial charter to abolish it. At Ardres, we are told, there was once a bear, the property of the local lord. The inhabitants, who loved to watch it fight with dogs, undertook to feed it. The beast eventually died, but the lord continued to exact the loaves of bread.”40 In other words, any gift to a feudal superior, “especially if repeated three or four times,” was likely to be treated as a precedent and added to the web of custom. As a result, those giving gifts to superiors often insisted on receiving a “letter of non-prejudice” legally stipulating that such a gift would not be required in the future. While it is unusual for matters to become quite so formalized, any social relation that is assumed from the start to be unequal will inevitably begin to operate on an analogous logic—
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David Graeber (Debt: The First 5,000 Years)
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his lifetime NRA membership in a blistering letter. It’s worth reading the whole text to get a sense of the totality of Bush’s fury: I was outraged when, even in the wake of the Oklahoma City tragedy, Mr. Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of N.R.A., defended his attack on federal agents as “jack-booted thugs.” To attack Secret Service agents or A.T.F. people or any government law enforcement people as “wearing Nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms” wanting to “attack law abiding citizens” is a vicious slander on good people. Al Whicher, who served on my [U.S. Secret Service] detail when I was Vice President and President, was killed in Oklahoma City. He was no Nazi. He was a kind man, a loving parent, a man dedicated to serving his country—and serve it well he did. In 1993, I attended the wake for A.T.F. agent Steve Willis, another dedicated officer who did his duty. I can assure you that this honorable man, killed by weird cultists, was no Nazi. John Magaw, who used to head the U.S.S.S. and now heads A.T.F., is one of the most principled, decent men I have ever known. He would be the last to condone the kind of illegal behavior your ugly letter charges. The same is true for the F.B.I.’s able Director Louis Freeh. I appointed Mr. Freeh to the Federal Bench. His integrity and honor are beyond question. Both John Magaw and Judge Freeh were in office when I was President. They both now serve in the current administration. They both have badges. Neither of them would ever give the government’s “go ahead to harass, intimidate, even murder law abiding citizens.” (Your words) I am a gun owner and an avid hunter. Over the years I have agreed with most of N.R.A.’s objectives, particularly your educational and training efforts, and your fundamental stance in favor of owning guns. However, your broadside against Federal agents deeply offends my own sense of decency and honor; and it offends my concept of service to country. It indirectly slanders a wide array of government law enforcement officials, who are out there, day and night, laying their lives on the line for all of us. You have not repudiated Mr. LaPierre’s unwarranted attack. Therefore, I resign as a Life Member of N.R.A., said resignation to be effective upon your receipt of this letter. Please remove my name from your membership list. Sincerely, [signed] George Bush
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Stuart Stevens (It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump)
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There should be no excuse as to why you don't invest quality time into your partner.
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Stephen L. Robinson (T.R.U.S.T.I.N.G Love (8 Letters That Will Revolutionize Your Relationship))
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But the bigger picture, throughout Paul’s letters, is about Jesus establishing his rule. His death is a vital and central part of how that is done. We cannot bypass it. We cannot downplay it. We cannot underemphasize it. But it makes the sense it makes within this picture: of the love of God, the covenant of God, the plan of God for the fulfillment of the whole of creation, not its abolition, and above all, the coronation of Jesus as the world’s rightful king and lord. Many times, when people preach the gospel and talk of Jesus dying in our place, you would never guess at any of these things. And you would be left clinging to a fragment of the biblical witness, supposing that the fragment belonged in a quite different story.
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N.T. Wright (Simply Good News: Why the Gospel Is News and What Makes It Good)