"Just a few more minutes before another day in hell begins." p. 1

"I felt that if I fell off the face of the earth, less than half a dozen people would even notice." p. 31

"But more so, I had hoped that by becoming a fireman, I would somehow ease the loneliness and pain I felt that Father had lived with every day—because of a son, a wife, and a family he could not, would not save." p. 45

"Before I left her, I clasped my hands together, then made the sign of the cross and leaned toward her ear, whispering, 'May God be with you, Mrs. Pelzer, for no one else will be.'" p. 97

"By focusing on my future, I was able to reject the present." p. 100

"Like I said, it was a different era back then; for your parents, and their parents before them. Whatever...