Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons

"Have you ever noticed how the most intriguing individual in the room seems content to listen sooner than speak?"

"If you think the most courageous and difficult thing you can do is stubbornly stand your ground, try graciously giving in."

"The only thing you can justifiably claim that life owes you is an equal measure of what you have given out. And even that is debatable."

"It isn’t so much life’s problems that challenge us but the emotional turbulence stirred up while trying to deal with them. People possessing the gift of emotional detachment are lucky in that their personal problems seem far less problematic."

"It turns out the simplest choices have been far more important in the long run than I ever imagined."

"There’s always another option. There’s always another one. It’s never only 'this' or 'that,'The moon or else the sun. Don’t sigh and choose the greater Or lesser of two plights. But look to see the stars beyond For options vast and bright."

"Afraid of offending with an off word or the slightest insensitivity, I keep an unobtrusive and silent distance. Nevertheless, my pursed lips and offish stance are perceived as cold, managing to offend all."

"A great father is one whose children look up to him rather than away from him."

"Moments always blossom more beautifully in memories."

"Hatred is prevalent on this earth because it requires no real effort, unlike the investment it takes to genuinely understand a person."

"If you never bother to say the words, why should anyone believe you ever felt them?"

"You can teach a person all you know, but only experience will convince him that what you say is true."

"I scared a little porcupineand caught a quill in my behind. It hurt so badly in my tail,but tugging on it made me yell. The porcupine was still around,so I complained. He simply frownedand said, "Stop whining! Look and seehow many quills are stuck on me!"

"I slay dragons at night while you sleep. I see by the way your face contorts how they exist in your dreams. Willing a magic sword, I plunge into your deepest nightmares and swing at the beasts with all my might, dodging flames exhaled by monsters that would eat me alive to go on torturing the fair one I love. I see your face relax, eyes still drowsily closed, when the mighty dragon is slain. It may be that my fingers rub soft circles on your forehead as I imagine my brave fight as a knight reclaiming your dreams. You smile under the spell of my touch, and I am rewarded. And so, my love, as I await the dawn, I stand ready to slay dragons while you sleep."

"Sound. Noisethe air employs. Melodies sweet. Tweet, tweet, tweet. Soft. Loud. A roaring crowd. Cluck. Caw. Crow. Tet, tet. Tis, tis. Guttural growl. Harrowing howl. Drip, drip, drip. Tap, tap, tap. Moan and groan. Endless drone. Ding, dang, dong. A church bell song. Vibrations in my earto hear. Sound."

"Sipping teawith gleebeneath a gooseberry tree. I wish Alice were here. Oh, my dear,do not fear,she will be."

"What if dragons breathed bubbles and purred when they cuddled and giggled at chivalrous knights for their troubles?What if dragons felt soft, having scales made of cloth,and they moved rather slow like a brown-throated sloth?What if dragons were shyand did easily crywhen confronted by characters callous and sly?What if dragons did goodbut were misunderstoodso men mercilessly slew the beasts right where they stood?What if dragons aren’t missedbecause there is no listof extinct types of quarry that now don’t exist?"

"Silly little monster” all would say. They’d scratch its head and turn awayuntil it snatched their tiny noses. They couldn’t even smell the roses!Ever after, every childdreaded monsters, fierce or mild."

"A dragon grows in leaps and bounds,Like troubles mounting by the pound. Its stature heightens day to day,Imposing dread and deep dismay. A paralyzing roar it gains While from its snout hot fire rains. It sees you shrink. Your fear it knows. And by the hour the nightmare grows. Unless you slay the dragon soon,Your troubles may become your doom."

"Death lurks in the shadows, just out of view. Now and then I see his reaching hand, uncertain of the blurry image that passes before my eyes, but conscious of the crippling influence of his touch. Some say Death rears an ugly head, so hideous a view the beholder can scarcely gasp their last breath. Others call him beautiful, a sweet relief to look upon. But these are rumors babbled by the unknowing. For Death is like the gorgon, Medusa, who when perceived, turns the body to stone. Those who know Death take the knowledge of his shadowed face with them to wherever it is he leads our dearly departed by the hand. All who are left behind must wait their turn to glance into the eyes of the one who will close our mouths forever."