David Gates > Quotes

“That fist he was raising at me would wham into the cupboard door, hurting only himself. I saw it all happening, then it really did happen. But I didn't understand the whore thing. Why was he confusing the drinking with the other? Then I got it. Obvious. It was all mixed up for him, all the same thing: the drinking, the other, anything that could make a woman free.”
― David Gates

“Waking up in full daylight, he dials 0 and asks if this is Saturday. A reproachful second goes by before the operator says, “This is Friday, sir.”
― David Gates, Preston Falls

“Seth's official reason for still smoking weed is that he doesn't want to, quote, go native, meaning end up one more suit on the train. (He in fact does wear a suit to work.) He wants them to, quote, live nicely, in a big house where family can come visit (kids, of course, in the back of his mind), but at the same time he doesn't want to get less crazy. So he'll smoke up before he goes for a run, and he's found a dentist in Danbury who still gives gas.”
― David Gates

“You’re right,” I said. “It’s not up there with Neil Diamond at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. I can’t believe this is my life.” “Then you need to do something about it,” he said. “So you don’t think that if I whine loud enough, God will hear me?” “It hasn’t worked so far.” “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that,” I said.”
― David Gates, A Hand Reached Down to Guide Me: Stories and a novella

“That wasn’t completely my fault,” he says. “As you know. But I understand that I should have controlled myself. And I’m incredibly humiliated that you had to see it—and especially that the kids saw it.” “You were humiliated? Tell me something. Have you thought about trying to get some help in controlling yourself? Or with any of your other problems?” “Like what other problems?” “I don’t even really know anymore,” she says. “Whatever it is that’s making you so dissatisfied.” “Well, I’m hoping that I can use this time away to get a handle on some of that.” “But since you already spend as much time away from us as possible, I don’t quite see how this is supposed to help.” He says nothing. “You’re due back at work when?” she says. “October thirty-first. Halloween. Appropriate,”
― David Gates, Preston Falls