“Crystal chose from the living, just as she chose from the dead. On Sundays, she rescued travelers from the obituary page in the Hanley Herald. Over the week, she found them suitable companions: someone whose living spirit could support a dying one as it made its way. Companions needed to be caring. Travelers needed care. No one needed to know.”

“Coralene suspected that Gordon was disappointed in the simplicity of it all: Crystal’s cookies, Coralene’s hot dogs, and even Sheila’s idea – which would take more work, but could certainly be done. Gordon seemed to have a grander vision for how Nutrition Services would contribute to Hanley’s Fourth of July celebration. Coralene had no idea what that vision might be. She’d presented her hot dog plan without fanfare; fanfare wasn’t Coralene’s cup of tea.”

“When Sheila saw the announcement about Hildy Sherman’s retirement as lunch lady, she’d taken the job and moved out of the classroom for good. Soon it was flour under her nails instead of chalk dust. She got lost in being a lunch lady, layering anonymity and necessity atop the person she’d once believed she’d be, until that person was gone for good. Until the old Sheila quit showing up to pester the new one about all she didn’t have. All she was not.”