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21 " There’s an unseen river of communication that forever flows—dark and powerful. Tonight was about food and laughter, yes. But it was also about navigatin’ that river.” A "
― Sharon M. Draper , Stella by Starlight
22 " Stella expected to see fire in Mr. Spencer's eyes, fire like the flames that had made tinder of his house. Instead his eyes were soft, gentle, and brown like the earth. "I have to show them they didn't destroy me," he said simply. "
23 " And you, Jonah? Is your family behind you on this?” Stella’s father hesitated. “Georgia supports me, but she was a mite trembly this morning. I brought Stella, though.” He squeezed her shoulders affectionately. “I don’t want to just tell her about bravery—I want to show her what it looks like. "
24 " So Hobart and Harriett get their house burned down? What's next--a lynching?" Mrs. Bates jerked the bucket from the woman next to her."I've seen a body swingin'. Three times in my life," her husband said, his voice low.For a moment, except for the roaring of the smoky flames, everyone went quite. Stella wondered how silence could be so loud. "
25 " Twenty minutes later, just as Stella thought she was going to collapse with worry and anticipation, her father, the pastor, and Mr. Spencer emerged from the polling station, smiles lighting their faces. And now she saw what she'd expected to see earlier in Mr. Spencer's eyes. They were on fire. "
26 " Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the new president. He won in a landslide. Landslide makes me think of rocks and dirt falling down a mountain. Not sure what that has to do with an election. But maybe it does. My papa voted. He is a pebble. Lots of pebbles make a landslide, right? His vote counted. Roosevelt will move into the White House and will have a fine supper to celebrate, I guess. Papa had cornbread and buttermilk and beans with his friends at my house. I bet papa enjoyed his celebration more. "
27 " Sometimes I just get tired of bowin’ down and givin’ up, you know?” It "
28 " The people "
29 " Why are some people mean and some people nice?""I don't rightly know...But my job is to teach all of you to be the best people you can be... "
30 " Bad writers don't practice, Stella. It's the good ones who care enough to try, who worry about getting the words just right. You are probably better than you think" -Papa "
31 " As another stack of two-by-fours landed by her porch, Stella couldn't help but think about how folks had come together when Spoon Man showed up. This time, however, they managed to do a cook-up for a whole house! Nobody had everything, but everybody had something to offer. "
32 " As the children from Riverside School and the children from Mountain View School filed out of the store, each grabbing one silver-wrapped chocolate from Mrs. Cooper’s basket, it struck Stella that everyone got the same thing, no matter which school they went to. "
33 " You work real hard, and what do you have to show for it? "
34 " Ashes don't necessarily signify an end. "
35 " I think when we feel scared, they feel strong. "
36 " I think when get scared, they feel strong.'--Stella "