`` I'm a mess '', she said, and suddenly she was alarmed.

You see, he lied to us when he said he was leavin alone ''.

`` That was a terrible thing to do '', I said to Oso.

The War Department wrote Mr. Manuel a letter and said he was a hero.

`` But that was war '', I said.

What else he said was lost in the rattle of gunfire on all sides.

She said, and her tone had softened until it was almost friendly.

`` Oh, no '', he said, and he was without humor now.

Normally Hague wasted no words, but now he found himself unable to stop their flow although he knew Kodyke was aware of all he said.

When they reached their neighbor's house, Pamela said a few polite words to Grace and kissed Melissa lightly on the forehead, the impulse prompted by a stray thought -- of the type to which she was frequently subject these days -- that they might never see one another again.

An Ah coudn ansuh him an so Ah said ' Aw right, Ah gay-ess, an his fathuh didn uttuh one wohd an aftuh Huhmun was gone, the majuh laughed an tole me thet he an the bawh had been hevin an occasional drink t'gethuh f'ovuh a yeah, onleh an occasional one, but just the same it was behahn mah back, an Ah doan think thet's nahce at all, d'you ''??

She was still hugging the stained coat around her, so I said, `` Relax, let me take your things.

That was all she said.

This was the worst thing I could have said.

The girl took a couple of steps toward the man in shorts when Benson, in that barefoot courtliness Ramey could never decide was real, said, `` You don't want to go around there, Ma'am ''.

There was no doubt that Herr Schaffner meant every word of what he said.

But they never said anything, so he figured it was all right.

He said, lapsing into the profanity he often used when away from his parents and especially when he was with Charles.

While she was struggling to get her skirt down and get on her feet again, Jack ran over, offered her his hand and said, `` Gosh, I'm sorry, Miss Langford.

That should do it, he thought, because Miss Langford had said she was going to be strict about school work.

`` I only said I was hungry.

`` No, I don't think so '', said the big man, and it was the final clincher for Ernie.

`` I'd wind up full of bullet holes '', he said, and there was no question that he was talking about bullets fired by his coworkers.

`` I could use some help '', Morgan said finally, `` but I can't afford to pay you anything.

`` I know '', Jones said dejectedly.

`` I don't have many strays coming to my front door '', he said.

When they were finally satisfied, Jones said, `` I think he's going to give us work ''.

She said, `` I guess the Lord looks out for fools, drunkards, and innocents ''.

He stopped, embarrassed, and Morgan said, `` I understand that, but I don't savvy why you'd go off and leave your jobs in the first place ''.

`` All my life '', he said, `` I tried.

`` I hate to leave my garden '', Gavin said.

`` I think Montero did right '', Amy said firmly.

`` I saw your fire '', she said, speaking slowly, making an effort to control her anger.

I meant what I said about that fire.

`` I don't mind washing dishes now and then '', he said pleasantly.

`` I ought to '' -- he said.

`` I said go home, Joseph.

I had always, I said, hankered after working hard with my hands.

He said in a studied voice, `` I didn't do it for you.

`` Why, I meant what I said '', Lord declared.

Finally Hernandez said, `` I could offer you advice, Tomas, but you wouldn't heed it ''.