Status Updates From Jonah's Gourd Vine (A Novel)

Hattie knew, as do other mortals, that half the joy of quitting any place is the loneliness we leave behind.

“Funny thing,” he said sitting in Zeke’s kitchen with his wife, “things dat happened long time uhgo used to seem way off, but now it all seems lak it wuz yistiddy. You think it’s dead but de past ain’t stopped breathin’ yet.”

“And Isie, honey, stop cryin’ and lissen tuh me. Don’t you love nobody better’n you do yo’self. Do, you’ll be dying befo’ yo’ time is out.”