Holes

Holes 

by Louis Sachar

“Well, let me tell you something, Caveman. You are here on account of one person. If it wasn't for that person, you wouldn't be here digging holes in the hot sun. You know who that person is?"

"My no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.” 

“A lot of people don't believe in curses.

A lot of people don't believe in yellow-spotted lizards either, but if one bites you, it doesn't make a difference whether you believe in it or not.”  

“Rattlesnakes would be a lot more dangerous if they didn't have the rattle.” 

“When you spend your whole life living in a hole, the only way you can go is up."

“Nothing in life is easy. But that's no reason to give up. you'll be surprised what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it.” 

“There is no lake at Camp Green Lake.” 

“You have only one life, make the most of it” 

“You make the decision: Whom did God punish?” 

“In a way, it made him sad. He couldn't help but think that a hundred times zero was still nothing.” 

“I'm not stupid. I know everybody thinks I am. I just don't like answering their questions.”

“What scared Stanley the most about dying wasn't his actual death. He figured he could handle the pain. It wouldn't be much worse than what he felt now. In fact, maybe at the moment of his death he would be too weak to feel pain. Death would be a relief. What worried him the most was the thought of his parents not knowing what happened to him, not knowing whether he was dead or alive. He hated to imagine what it would be like for his mother and father, day after day, month after month, not knowing, living on false hope. For him, at least, it would be over. For his parents, the pain would never end.”

“If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs,

"The bark on the tree was as soft as the skies."

While the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely,

Crying to the moo-oo-oon,

"If only, If only.” 

“If only, if only, the moon speaks no reply;

Reflecting the sun and all that's gone by.

Be strong my weary wolf, turn around boldly.

Fly high, my baby bird,

My angel, my only”