How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Something unexpectedly stirred in Lonnie then, something guilty and surprised. Perhaps he should have helped [Lily] more when he'd been at home—he was hopeless at housework and stuff, though. He'd only have gotten in the way, made things worse. (14.9)
A funny thing happens when you're away from your family for a long period of time: You start thinking about how things went down in your house and how, believe it or not, you kind of made some stuff worse. That's what Lonnie's doing as he thinks back about Lily's role in their home; for the first time, absent from his sister, he sees how hard her life is and wishes he'd contributed, even within his limitations.
Quote #8
Lon had Mum's eyes! How had he forgotten? Because Lon wasn't his grandson anymore, that's why! He didn't want to think of Lon; he didn't want to think he'd come all the way here because it was the color of Lon's eyes he was trying to remember. (23.75)
Stan goes to his old neighborhood in hopes of remembering a pretty small detail—the color of his mom's eyes—and instead he finds the answer in the very person he's trying to avoid thinking about: Lonnie. Oops. Stan, you may have written the kid off, but he's still related to you. There's no escaping genetics.
Quote #9
Lily threw her arms out wide, despairingly. "It could have been this brilliant, perfect day!"
"Lily, it will be."
"No, it can't be."
"Why not?"
"We're too… dysfunctional."
"Show me a family that isn't!" Marigold actually chuckled, infuriating Lily. (35.45-50)
Marigold gives Lily a much needed reality check here, but it's also probably one of the most important moments in the book. It's true that every family, simply by being an assortment of different people living together, has their own special brand of dysfunction, and this is a lesson Lily needs to get through her head.