Ron Ripley > Quotes

“She doesn’t like ducks,” Shane said, nodding.  “I’ve seen a couple of dead ducks before my dad fishes them out.  He says they died naturally, but I know she killed them.  I don’t know why, though.”
― Ron Ripley, Berkley Street

“The most hurtful lies are those with a bit of honesty in them.”
― Ron Ripley, Berkley Street

“Absolutely, positively going to ignore the hell out of them. They do not need to know I can see or speak with them. I am looking forward to a job filled with peace, quiet, and only living people to occasionally speak with.” Jenny smiled at him. “Good.” She turned on her iPod, synced it with the car, and soon they had Social Distortion blasting through the speakers. Brian grinned and relaxed into the seat. Today is going to be a good day.”
― Ron Ripley, The Pauper's Crypt

“Of course, shock could kill them,” Brian said. “My point is, I’ve seen a hell of a lot worse things happen. I think the boys will be okay. They’re young, resilient, and if they have any sort of fight in them, they’ll be fine.” “I certainly hope so, Mr. Roy,” the Reverend said, looking at the Victorian. “I do certainly hope so.” A stately, elegant woman stepped out the front door of the Church. With long, even strides, she walked directly to Reverend Joseph.”
― Ron Ripley, The First Church

“The house and everything around it were oddly silent.”
― Ron Ripley, Berkley Street

“He turned his collar up against the bitter wind coming in off of the Atlantic and tried to pull himself into his pea coat. His pants were pressed against his legs by the stiff breeze and the sound of his boots on the pavement was ripped away by the same harsh wind. Five minutes of walking brought George to the house,”
― Ron Ripley, The Dunewalkers

“hand against the wall to steady himself. And the stone he pressed against moved. Not with the grace and ease of a hidden lever, but with a groan. Bits of mortar dropped to the floor, splashing in the water. Larry hesitated, and then he gave the stone a firm push. A second later, it fell in on the other side, crashing down loudly.”
― Ron Ripley, The Academy

“Larry better get a mason to take care of the wall, Bruce thought. Then again, they’ll probably have to bring in one of those artsy-types from Mystic since this is a ‘historic’ building.”
― Ron Ripley, The Academy

“The fear grew with every rotation of the tires.  With every foot, every inch they drew closer to the house.”
― Ron Ripley, Berkley Street

“drink it had been put on hold. Reverend Joe, it turned out, had to leave the office earlier than usual. Mrs. Staples, who was supposed to clean the Church, had gotten an emergency call from her pet sitter. One of her cats was stuck in a wall again. The Church would be empty. “How did you hear him?” Matt asked, keeping an eye on the Church office. The Reverend’s car idled in its parking spot. Their religious leader would leave at any moment. “It was last night,” Carlton said. “I was helping my mom clean up after youth group. She was pretty upset about something and was talking to Dan’s mom. When I passed by the Rev’s office, I heard him on the phone.” “What did he say exactly?” Matt asked, looking away from the Church, for a moment, and at his friend. Carlton brushed a stray lock of blonde hair out of his eyes and said, “The Rev said, ‘I’ve got a headless ghost running around the Church.”
― Ron Ripley, The First Church

“The building was small, painted white with dark green trim with the Atlantic behind it. The ocean was gray and harsh, whitecaps breaking upon dark sands while a cold, northern wind battered at the dunes and seagrass. William smiled at the dark clouds. Behind them, the sun had begun its slow descent, and soon William would be alone with the ocean and his thoughts. Closing the truck’s door, he walked around to the side, reached into the bed and pulled out his sea-bag. He threw it over his shoulder and walked up to the house. He bent down and moved aside a loose paving stone to find the key to the house, as Jeremy’s mother had said.”
― Ron Ripley, The Dunewalkers

“protected his houses. He was perhaps gentler than the King would prefer, but the guard was a man who maintained the peace. A loud creak followed by a thump, shattered the silence of the King’s quarters. He turned away from the window and made his way down a flight of stairs to the main hall. He paused and listened. Footsteps on the floor. The King retreated into his study and went to stand by the fireplace. He rested a hand on the marble mantle but kept his eyes on the doorway. A red light played across the hallway’s parquet floor, and the King heard voices. “... don’t have to worry,” a man”
― Ron Ripley, Middlebury Sanitarium

“before a janitor had found the setup. The class of 1980 had bleached a fair caricature of President Jimmy Carter into the school’s front lawn. This hadn’t made itself known until the following Spring when the grass sprouted anew. The class of 2016 had outdone them all, in terms of both logistical mastery and sheer destruction; the Academy, which was spread out over seven buildings on a large, forty-acre campus, had a total of one hundred and three toilets. Somehow, the senior class managed to get into every bathroom after hours, and”
― Ron Ripley, The Academy

“Will you be seeing him later on?” Uncle Gerry said. “Perhaps for dinner?”
― Ron Ripley, The Lighthouse

“Ready?” Larry asked. Bruce nodded excitedly. He watched as Larry fit the key into the hole. Larry turned it first to the left, and then to the right. A harsh ‘clack’ sounded, and the door moved out an inch or two. Bruce waited, his heart picking”
― Ron Ripley, The Academy

“Which was a pretty narrow niche. Charles Gottesman definitely knew how to handle ghosts, as did his wife Ellen, but Brian didn’t know if either of them spoke Japanese. Brian picked up his cellphone and sent a quick text to Jenny.”
― Ron Ripley, The First Church

“Words are power. And a few have the ability to end lives. They say the pen is mightier than the sword. This is true, but not in the way in which they think. You, dear reader, if you are skilled enough, can create havoc with your words. You can end relationships. You can create doubt. You can make mortal enemies of friends, and friends of mortal enemies. All you need is the will to do so.”
― Ron Ripley, The Academy

“Jimmy went to John’s truck, opened the door, and saw the keys in the ignition. He walked to the back and looked in the bed. Some of John’s camping gear, his bolt-action Enfield rifle, and his cellphone. “What the hell?” Jimmy murmured. He looked around the town, glanced down, and froze.”
― Ron Ripley, The Lighthouse

“The first thing Rick noticed was the lack of noise.
No birds sang in the trees. No squirrels ran across the yard.”
― Ron Ripley, Berkley Street

“Have you been drinking?” Doc asked. “Of course,” Shane said.”
― Ron Ripley, Sanford Hospital

“The damage was catastrophic. Principal Mitchell Roy wasn’t impressed with what the seniors had accomplished. What amazed him the most was that not a single one of them had posted to social media about it. No Tweets and no Facebook or Instagram posts either. Not a single mention in the electronic world.”
― Ron Ripley, The Academy

“The strange stairwell was dim, and Shane could barely see a door at the top. The sound of the violin came through it and rolled out and around him. Shane took a moment to build up his courage, and then walked up the stairs. The music increased in both tempo and volume.”
― Ron Ripley, Berkley Street

“The many joys of leadership, he thought, chuckling. “What’s funny?” Larry asked, looking at him. “Just thinking of the parents,” Mitchell replied. Larry rolled his eyes. “Better you than me, Mitchell. Anyway, I’ve got Bruce over at Deer Stag checking out the damage in the cellar. Soon as he gives me a report, I’ll pass it on to you.”
― Ron Ripley, The Academy

“I can’t die,” Jonathan whispered. “I have too much left to read.”
― Ron Ripley, The Burning Girl

“nasty, priggish colonel.” “How did you kill him?” Frank asked, looking up into Jack’s eyes. “I twisted his head off his neck, I did,” Jack said with satisfaction. “And did it cure him?” Frank asked. Jack frowned. “Cure him? Of what?” “Being an officer,” Frank said and walked towards the hallway as Jack let out his strange, braying laugh. The sound raced through the house, and Frank shook his head. He may be a madman, and a murderer, Frank thought, but he’s still a soldier, and I can work with that.”
― Ron Ripley, Lake Nutaq

“Northfield Free Academy, there was a long and proud tradition of seniors who attempted to do the seemingly impossible. In 1972, the senior class had managed to secretly rewire the school's public address system. The result had been one hundred and sixty continuous hours of Perry Como before a janitor had found the setup. The class of 1980 had bleached a fair caricature of President Jimmy Carter into the school’s front lawn. This hadn’t made itself known until the following Spring when the grass sprouted anew. The class of 2016 had outdone them all, in”
― Ron Ripley, The Academy

“Marie hesitated, then nodded. “You didn’t say the waves were going to be this rough.” Amy shook her head, grinning. “This is called a ‘calm sea,’ my friend. You should see it when it’s rough.” “There’s a reason why I live in a city, Amy,” Marie said, trying to keep focused on the lighthouse which drew rapidly nearer. “So, what made you decide to purchase a lighthouse?”
― Ron Ripley, The Lighthouse

“features strong and her eyes green. She smiled at him, and William realized two things. First, she was probably only in her early thirties. Second, she was dead. William could see the kettle and the red glow of the burner through her. And William found himself answering her in a low, rough voice. “Someone was walking through the grass, past the house.” The woman’s smile broadened. “You’ll get used to them,” she said. “There are lots of dune walkers here.” William started to reply, but the woman vanished.”
― Ron Ripley, The Dunewalkers

“Alopecia areata, he thought, running a hand over his smooth scalp. His pale skin looked sickly in the light of the fluorescent lamp above the mirror. Unexplained hair loss.”
― Ron Ripley, Berkley Street

“I will. You are not afraid of the dead?” “Not all of the dead,” he said.”
― Ron Ripley, Berkley Street