Important Quotations Explained
Dicey understood, just then, and wished she didn't, just what the Tillermans had done to Gram by coming to live with them. Because she did love them, and that meant not only the good parts, but also the worry and fear. Until the children came along, nothing could hurt Gram. And now…but Gram must have known that, she'd had children of her own, she much have now that when she said they could live with her. Dicey wished she didn't understand. She wished she could still be like Sammy, concerned only about whether or not he'd have as much steak as he wanted, already forgetting the worry since everything was all right again.
"But I'll tell you something else, too. Something I've learned, the hard way. I guess"—Gram laughed a little—"I'm the kind of person who has to learn things the hard way. You've got to hold on. Hold on to people. They can get away from you. It's not always going to be fun, but if you don't—hold on—then you lose them."
I got to thinking—when it was too late—you have to reach out to people. To your family, too. You can't just let them sit there, you should put your hand out. If they slap it back, well you reach out again if you care enough. If you don't care enough, you forget about them, if you can.
"You have to let go," Gram said harshly, in Dicey's ear. But she didn't loosen her arms. "You have to and I have to." Dicey understood. It was Momma they had to let go of. "I don't want to," she answered softly. Gram pulled her head back so she looked into Dicey's face. "Neither do I," she said. "But I will, and so will you. Because if you don't—let go—it can make you crazy."
What I mean, girl, is you keep trying. One thing after another. Sometimes just one, sometimes all three, but you have to keep trying. I don't have to tell you that, do I?
