#ena

The watchful Mishmorat commented as she waited. “Your people are so bare—so pale and plain.” “Oh?” Eena turned her head towards Niki, zeroing in on her long spotted arms. Their skin was arguably more striking—darker, artistic, with varied patterns and rich color. “I’m sorry,” the Mishmorat quickly apologized. “I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just I’ve never seen such unblemished skin before. There’s nothing to look at.” Eena quickly pulled the new t-shirt down over her bare back. She chuckled at Niki’s comment. “I’ll admit your people are very beautiful, much more interesting to gaze at. But, I’m okay with my ‘plainness’.” Eena contemplated her own pale legs as she pulled the clean pants over them. “You’re kinda like a clear, cloudless sky,” Niki said, cocking her head wonderingly. “And you’re like…..a beautiful sky dotted with shapely clouds.” “Only dark clouds.” “Storm clouds.” “Yeah,” Niki grinned devilishly, “That’s me—a storm cloud. ↗

— Richelle E. Goodrich

#mishmorat #niki #richelle #richelle-goodrich #the-harrowbethian-saga

People who change their religion should face the death penalty. ↗

— Zakir Naik

#bigotry #death-penalty #fanaticism #islam #religion

Real terror is a crippling experience. You sweat so much that your skin goes all wrinkly like when you've been in the bath all afternoon. And then the scent of your sweat changes. It smells like cat pee, no doubt from the adrenalin. However hard you wash, it won't come off. It smothers you, as your muscles become frozen with acid and your mind paralysed by despair. ↗

— Tahir Shah

#despair #fear #sweat #terror #change

Don't be so quick to count out the teenagers. Some of the world's greatest changes, brilliant poetry, and innovations have come from the teenage mind. ↗

— Steve Maraboli

#children #innovations #kids #poetry #teenagers

Feelings change fast when you're a teenager. ↗

— Jacquelyn Mitchard

#young #change

Music is adrenaline printed in ink. ↗

— Taylor Rodgers

#music #music

What exactly did you find in Atlanta?” Frank unzipped his backpack and started bringing out souvenirs. “Some peach preserves. A couple of T-shirts. A snow globe. And, um, these not-really-Chinese handcuffs.” Annabeth forced herself to stay calm. “How about you start from the top—of the story, not the backpack. ↗

— Rick Riordan

#communication #frank-zhang #jason-grace #percy-jackson-and-the-olympians #the-heroes-of-olympus

Why do you think, A.J.," they say in unison, "that you find these boys so attractive?" I didn't say that this fiery chemical explosion leaps from somewhere inside me. Parents don't want to hear these things. I shrugged and said nothing. "Maybe you should try sitting on the intensity," Mom suggests, "just until your feelings catch up with reality." "We could chain you to the water heater," Dad offers, "until these little moments pass." You see what I'm up against. ↗

— Joan Bauer

#family-relationships #hormones #humor #parental-advice #parents

Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength. ↗

— Theodore Roosevelt

#perseverance #tenacity #courage

You or I might think that at least one would show courage and put up a fight. But neither you nor I have suffered as they, and even we have born witness in silence to lesser ills under less dire threat. Yet, in the face of evil, to sit silent is an even greater evil. Complacency is ever the enabler of darkest deeds; ↗

— Robert Fanney

#courage #enablement #evil #fantasy #fight