" Nobody was quite what the other people thought.'
'Stands to reason,' said Bill. 'Nobody is. That's what makes things interesting. Other people, that is.'
'I'm not sure. You get all muddled. Finding out. You don't know where you are.'
'Ah. But it's if you don't find out you've got something to worry about, son, you take my word for it. Soon as you're ready to believe another bloke might not be exactly what you think he is, you're halfway to being able to live with him. Or work with him, or whatever it is. "

― Penelope Lively , The Driftway