I'll never look like that, she thought firmly. No matter what, I'll never let myself look like that."
-- Caroline (chapter 1)

Importance: Caroline is waiting to get her Social Security card and has noticed that most of the people in line seem downtrodden and unhappy. She is determined that she will make the most of her life and that she will not spend her life working for nothing. She is young but already sees the danger of falling into a life of drudgery.

Take you and me, for instance. I woke up this morning and as usual I was thinking about you. And all of a sudden I knew I was in love with you.
-- Mike Rice (chapter 7)

Importance: Mike is talking to Caroline and she notes that the meaning of his matter-of-fact speech does not penetrate her consciousness for a moment. Mike does deeply care for Caroline but he feels that their age difference precludes a serious...