How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
"I wish they were precious stones, but they are only shells," he sighed, "shells that I collected in places where I traveled."
His mother held out her hands to show the shells—small and curved, frilled and ruffled, or smooth as teardrops. They were pink as cats' tongues, shiny brown and speckled, iridescent black, or creamy white.
"Kirei!" she said. So beautiful! (5.40.31-33)
For all of Manjiro's worries early in the novel about not providing for his family, you'd think that his mother would be one of those mothers who might complain about Manjiro's gift of shells, or at the least, pressure Manjiro for something more valuable than shells. But nope—this scene is heartwarming because his mother recognizes Manjiro's gift for what it is: shells collected for their uniqueness and natural beauty. Yay.